Overview
- A Brisbane CityGlider driver spotted the koala on a light pole on Wiles Street at Camp Hill and, fearing a fall into traffic, covered its head with a jacket before bringing it onto the bus.
- Video and photos from Koala Rescue Brisbane South show the koala, later named Peri, gripping a handrail inside the bus while rescuers were called.
- Peri received a check at an RSPCA wildlife hospital and was given a clean bill of health before being released in Seven Hills Bushland Reserve.
- Rescuers cautioned that koalas can inflict serious injuries and advised using dark, ventilated containment such as a laundry basket covered with a towel while waiting for trained help.
- The case unfolded as conservation groups note koalas in eastern Australia were listed as endangered in 2022 due to habitat loss, disease, traffic strikes and dog attacks, with some estimates placing the national population below 60,000.