THEY might look great hanging off the shoulders of world leaders but it sounds like owning a koala brings with it a killer set of problems.

At least it could for anybody interested in purchasing GumNut: the apparently racist koala with a penchant for extreme violence against domestic animals.

That’s if you believe an advertisement posted on the trading website Craig’s List and reported by British-based media website Metro.

The listing claims the three-year-old marsupial is housebroken but can become aggressive when “coming down from his high” after eating too many eucalyptus leaves.

Posted under the Denver, United States, chapter of the online marketplace, the advertisement also identifies GumNut as disliking Asians and claims he has assaulted other animals living in the home.

“He raped and killed my wife’s cat “Miss Kitty”, the post reads.

For those with a sceptical mind, Koala organisations state it is illegal to own a koala anywhere in the world.

“It is illegal to have a Koala (sic) as a pet anywhere, even in Australia,” writes the Save the Koala organisation on their website.

“The only people who are permitted to have a Koala (sic) in their possession, besides suitably authorised zoos, are ... scientists, and the the people who are taking care of sick or injured Koalas or orphaned joeys.”

To add to the scepticism, some rumours have speculated the listing could be the handiwork of renowned satirist and all-round troublemaker David Thorne.

The Australian-born-and-raised author behind the satirical website 27bslash6.com now lives in the United States with his - one can only presume - long-suffering wife Holly.

However, while the advertisement smacks of the writer’s style, it is riddled with incorrect grammar - something the writer is known for being a stickler about.

It also incorrectly refers to the Koala as a “bear” when all good Australians know it is a marsupial.

The advertisement has since been removed, but this is what it said:

Koala Bear (Aurora)

I have a 3 year old Koala bear named GumNut, that I am desperately trying to find a new home for. I bought him in January figuring it would be an awesome pet that would enjoy living in my greenhouse, sadly I was wrong. I paid $3200 for him back in January and I am not sure what the used Koala bear market is like in a good economy or the one we have now; so I am open to offers. Please use some common sense before contacting me, don’t be an idiot, i am not interested in trading my Koala Bear for your busted up 1980’s Camero, pictures of your naked wife, or an offer to paint my garage door.

GumNut’s stats:

The GOOD:

1. He is somewhat housebroken, uses a cat box most of the time.

2. For the most part he is very quite [sic]; this also falls into the bad category which we will touch on in a moment.

3. He eats spiders, (not kidding) we haven’t had a spider in our house since we got him.

4. He hates watching Desperate Housewives, used to be my wife’s favorite show until GumNut bit her for changing the channel from jeopardy, to Desperate Housewives.

5. Gets along well with one of my two dogs.

6. Loves to go for car rides.

Now for the BAD:

1. He eats a lot of eucalyptus, which is not as cheap as I expected.

2. Apparently eucalyptus is like a drug for Koala Bears, when GunNut [sic] is coming down from his high he becomes very violent and aggressive.

3. He raped and killed my wife’s cat “Miss Kitty” (Honestly, I wanted to put this in the good section because I’ve been trying to find a way to get that worthless cat out of the house for two years, thanks to GumNut.)

4. He does not like Asians, I have no idea where this Koala was raised but someone of Asian Decent must have really mistreated him.

5. Loves Vin Diesel movies, not sure why, he just does.

6. He has extremely sharp claws and teeth which he uses often.

7. Loves shiny objects, steals and hides them frequently in my dog’s rear end.

8. He is quiet, and as a result has snuck in on my wife and I during intimate moments. I mind him watching; maybe it won’t bother you as much.

9. GumNut smells terrible and is not easy to wash. I had to hold a gas soaked rag over his mouth till he blacked out to get him in this tub for a bath.

10. Once he is in the water he is fine, getting him into the water IS the challenge, he will scratch you, he will bite you, and you will bleed.