Phew, what a scorcher: The koala who cooled down by taking a cold bath in a bucket



He had lost his mother, didn't know the way to his tree and felt very hot and ill.

Nothing that a nice cold bath could not fix.

This baby koala was forced to take refuge from Australia 's heatwave in a bucket of water placed out by some friendly neighbours in Maude, near Melbourne . First, he stuck his tongue in for a drink and then clambered in himself to cool off.

He sat in the bucket and waited quietly, with a very drippy muzzle, until wildlife officers arrived to rescue him.

When he has recovered he will be returned to his mother, who was waiting in a tree nearby. She had abandoned him after becoming disoriented in the heat.

The koala takes a cold bath to escape the scorching heat after being abandoned by its mother

Tracey Young found him huddled beneath a her veranda, shaking and looking very sick.

'The mum had become distressed and disorientated by the heat so she left the baby on its own,' she said.

'They're normally up the tree together, in a pair, and we see them all the time.

'I had to scoop water up in my hand to get it to drink and at first it wasn't very responsive.

Thirsty work: The koala began by having a long drink after becoming dehydrated

'Eventually it realised the water was in the bowl and it just climbed in itself.

'The kids, being very protective, circled the koala until the wildlife lady came and took it.'

The koala is being cared for by animal welfare staff until it is strong enough to be released.

Mrs Young, who lives in Maude, a town between Melbourne and Geelong, said its mother had returned to their backyard, apparently waiting for its baby to come back.



Bizarrely, the little koala has now become an internet star after pictures of it in the bucket were emailed around the world.

Australia 's wildlife has been suffering in temperatures which have stayed above 104f (40c) for six days in some parts. Many animals have become dehydrated and perished.

... it then appears to check the temperature with a paw before clambering into the bucket