Koala takes wrong turn, causes train delays in Sydney

Sydney, Oct 9 (EFE).– Sydney commuters got an unexpected visitor when a curious koala wandered into a train station, causing train delays as police gently guided the furry guest off the tracks during its brief station escapade.

In a video posted by the New South Wales Transport Department on Tuesday, the marsupial is seen navigating stairs, changing platforms, and even waiting for a lift during its rare visit to Casula station in the southeastern part of the city early on Friday.

The koala entered the station after jumping a fence and walked along the platform’s edge, putting itself in danger, Transport for New South Wales said in a statement on Tuesday.

The transport authority said trains were advised to slow down to ensure the iconic Australian traveler wasn’t harmed.

Finally, two police officers managed to guide the koala back over the fence and towards a nearby national park.

Koalas, a solitary species endemic to Australia, are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Estimates of the wild koala population vary widely, with authorities suggesting around 450,000 in the south and 180,000 in the east of the country, while the Australian Koala Foundation believes the total population could be as low as 50,000 to 80,000.

Koalas have lost significant habitat due to urban, agricultural, and mining development, as well as climate change.

They also face risks from road accidents, animal attacks, and diseases like chlamydia, which can be fatal. EFE

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