A bus driver in Brisbane recently went out of his way to help an unexpected passenger in need — a frightened koala stranded near a busy road.
Late Saturday night, the driver spotted the animal scrambling across traffic before climbing a roadside lamppost to escape danger. The koala had narrowly avoided being hit by passing cars, and the situation could easily have turned tragic.
Not wanting to leave the animal vulnerable, the compassionate driver decided to step in.
According to Koala Rescue Brisbane South, the driver carefully used a jacket to gently cover the koala’s head and safely moved him onto the bus.
With traffic and noise finally behind him, the stressed little animal was able to calm down inside the vehicle.
Wildlife rescuers were soon contacted and arrived to help transport the koala, later named Peri, somewhere safe.
And as footage of the incident shows, his last stop was a much more fitting spot for a koala than where his journey had begun:
Fortunately, after receiving a medical evaluation, Peri was found to be healthy and unharmed.
The following day, rescuers released him into a protected bushland reserve where he could safely return to life in the wild.
Stories like Peri’s have become increasingly common as habitat loss pushes more koalas closer to roads, cities, and other human infrastructure.
But thanks to the quick thinking and kindness of one bus driver — along with the help of local wildlife rescuers — this little traveler’s journey ended safely instead of in tragedy.
To learn about more rescues like this one, follow Koala Rescue Brisbane South Inc. on Facebook.
