Strathmerton resident, Kellie Payne, was feeding her pet Highlander cows, Bundy, Galloway and Bryza, when she remembered she left the hose running in the children’s swimming pool.
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When she entered the yard she saw something sitting on the grass where the overflowing water had formed a pool.
“I realised it was a koala who had been hanging around in trees for three weeks, which we have called ‘Branches’.
“So I grabbed one of our four cavaliers, Bobbie Jo, and took her inside with the others.”
Kellie moved closer to the little pool as she didn’t seem to be in any fear or stressed.
“I’m sure all she wanted was the water, no doubt after the horrendous heat we had the week before.
“She stayed drinking for 45 minutes. The sheep were in the backyard a few feet from her and our pet goat’s pen was just near her as well, which she didn’t seem to be fazed about either.
“Once she realised the pool was there, she decided to go into it. I ended up putting a log in it so she could climb on it if she wanted to.”
“She watched me fill up the other pools around her.
“She went up a gum tree once she had finished. She disappeared for about three days.
“She’s back now, going between our peppercorn trees and gum trees.”
Back up in the tree.
Ahh, feels cool under the armpits...
First stop in the backyard was a puddle.
Avid readers of the Country News may remember this shot taken by Kellie Payne from 2017. We don’t think it’s the same koala, but worth running the picture again.