As scorching temperatures and wildfires continue to sweep across Australia, the country’s wildlife is struggling to stay safe — and hydrated. But one determined koala wasn’t about to wait around for help to arrive.
Last week, Anna Heusler and a group of friends were cycling near Adelaide when they spotted something unusual in the road ahead: a lone koala, sitting calmly in their path.
They slowed down to get a better look — and to their surprise, the koala didn’t run away. Instead, he walked right up to Heusler and climbed onto her bike.
“He literally came straight toward me as I was riding down, then reached up and climbed onto my frame,” Heusler said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
It quickly became clear that the little koala wasn’t lost — he was just desperately thirsty.
Heusler grabbed her water bottle and offered it to him. The koala immediately began drinking, wrapping his tiny paws around the bottle as if he knew exactly what to do.
The rest of the cyclists soon followed suit, offering their own bottles to the thirsty visitor. The koala drank eagerly from several of them, rehydrating in the middle of the dry and dusty landscape.
Once the koala had his fill, the group gently guided him off the road to a safer spot, where he could rest and continue on his way.
Koalas are usually shy and wary of people, but in this case, desperation seemed to outweigh instinct — and luckily, he chose exactly the right group of people to approach.
For Heusler and her fellow cyclists, the unexpected encounter was nothing short of magical.
“It was honestly one of the most incredible moments we’ve ever experienced,” Heusler said. “We were all a bit emotional afterward.”
In the midst of so much devastation, one small act of kindness made a world of difference — reminding everyone that sometimes, even the wildest creatures just need a little help.
