Dehydrated Koala Grabs at Water Bottle Near Adelaide Bushfire

On December 30 with temperatures reportedly reaching 40 degrees, and warnings of “catastrophic danger” in the region, Melissa Katherine found a koala clinging to a tree in Adelaide Hills, South Australia.

The “distressed” koala was found a 10-to-15-minute drive from bushfire-affected areas with its mouth open, Katherine, a wildlife student, told Storyful.

The koala can be seen gulping water before grabbing the bottle offered to it in the video, which was uploaded to Twitter on January 4.

“After we filmed we kept feeding the koala water. Every time we took the water away he reached out for more clinging to the water bottle,” Katherine said, “once he had enough he sat back on the ground.”

“He didn’t seem to have an injury but I didn’t handle him at all. Koalas usually get the water they need from their food but hotter, drier weather and the bushfires are making koalas desperate.”

“It’s important humans take the time to help voiceless and vulnerable in need,” Katherine added.

Bushfires in Adelaide Hills destroyed more than 80 homes and more than 500 other buildings, South Australia country fire chief officer Mark Jones told, media on January 7. “This is still a large fire, which is not controlled,” he added.

On January 4, the South Australian Country Fire Service announced that the Kersbrook fire was contained, however, they warned of “increasing fire weather conditions” forecasted for January 8. Credit: Melissa Katherine via Storyful