Koala hitches ride on bus after driver rescues it from busy road

A koala is going viral for hitching a ride on a Brisbane city bus after its driver rescued it from crossing a busy street full of traffic.

Koalas are an iconic symbol of Australia. The furry marsupials live in eucalyptus trees and feed on their leaves, and are famous for sleeping most of the day (18-22 hours, in fact).

Like any natural wildlife, these critters can get caught in tricky situations when they encounter humans, something that happened on Saturday, December 14.

Koala saved by Brisbane bus driver in viral rescue

That night, Koala Rescue Brisbane South received a phone call from a CityGlider bus driver claiming that he’d rescued a koala from traffic while driving his routes.

According to the driver, the koala was doing its best to avoid oncoming vehicles before “scrambling up a light post” in a median on the road.

Acting quickly, the driver pulled over and ran toward the critter, using his jacket to cover its body and to protect himself from possible harm before retreating to his bus.

The koala, later named Peri, joined the CityGlider’s passengers for a time before being dropped off at a local RSPCA wildlife hospital, whose staff gave him a thorough medical checkup before approving him for release the next day.

Peri is now safely munching on eucalyptus leaves in Seven Hills Bushland Reserve. Koala Rescue Brisbane thanked the brave bus driver for his valiant rescue, writing on social media, “A huge thanks to the bus driver for caring enough to stop to help. We’re so grateful that you did!”

However, they also made sure to warn readers of the potential dangers that scared koalas can pose to untrained rescuers, pointing out their sharp claws and teeth.

“We don’t recommend handling koalas unless you’re trained. They have incredibly dangerous claws, can bite, and gripping them around their ribs can cause serious damage,” they wrote.

“If you find an injured koala, and it’s safe to contain it without touching it until help arrives, please do so; anywhere dark is good for wildlife. Usually we recommend a laundry basket covered with a towel, but if needs be, a bus will do!”