An Adelaide Hills family has returned to their home after a short outing to find a koala perched on the Christmas tree in their lounge room.
Key points:
- Koalas are usually found in eucalypts, but one took a liking to another kind of tree
- Wildlife rescuers initially thought the call to help remove the animal was a prank
- The koala was safely relocated to a nearby tree outside
Coromandel Valley home owner Amanda McCormick told ABC Radio Adelaide she was “shocked” to discover the animal sitting in the plastic tree, surrounded by baubles, stars and snowflakes.
“I got home from work and the dog made a beeline for the Christmas tree and I noticed all of the decorations on the floor,” she said.
“It was interested in something further up and I looked and straight in my face was this beautiful, little gorgeous koala bear.
“I could not believe it, I was in shock. It was right in my face.”
The koala had made its way inside after Ms McCormick’s daughter left the door open.
“Normally we do [lock the door] but … we left it open just for the dog to go in an out,” she said.
“She went out for a couple of hours and we all came home together and there it was.”
Ms McCormick called in wildlife rescuers to assist in removing the koala from the Christmas tree, but said they initially believed the phone call was a hoax.
“I know what [koalas] can get like so I thought, ‘I’ll leave that one to the professionals and get them round’,” she said.
“But they didn’t believe me when I rang, they thought it was a prank call.
“She didn’t want to leave actually, they had a bit of a fight trying to get her off the tree. I think she was quite comfortable.”
The koala was relocated outside to a nearby tree and has since moved on.
But Ms McCormick said it may not be the last she sees of the cuddly intruder.
“It’s probably trying to get back, inside to be honest,” she joked.
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