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Peri the Koala's Unexpected Bus Ride Saves Her from City Road Crash

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Friday, December 19th 2025 at 1:55 GMT by The New Zealand Herald

A Koala’s Unlikely Ride: How “Peri” Escaped a Brisbane City‑Road Crash

On a typical rainy Tuesday in Brisbane’s inner‑city suburbs, a sight that could have been lifted straight from a wildlife documentary instead unfolded on the back of a public‑transport bus. A lone koala, named Peri, found herself perched on a bus seat after a near‑miss with traffic on City Road, and the vehicle’s driver became an impromptu wildlife rescuer. The incident, captured by the driver’s smartphone and later shared on social media, drew attention not only to the resilience of the iconic marsupial but also to the everyday dangers it faces in urban Australia.

The Incident

Peri was discovered on a 12‑minute ride between the Westfield Chermside shopping centre and the nearby Brisbane Airport by the driver of a Translink Citybus, Route 14. According to the driver, the koala had apparently wandered onto the bus’s passenger seat after a traffic jam at the intersection of City Road and Oxford Street. A heavy truck was idling on the corner, and as the bus slowed to a stop, the koala leapt onto the seat, looking bewildered but unharmed. The driver, Mark Williams, described the moment as “a shock – I’ve never seen a koala on a bus before.”

When the bus pulled to a halt, Williams quickly assessed the situation. He had no spare wheel or medical kit on hand, but he did have a phone. “I called the Department of Environment and the local wildlife rescue service, and I stayed on the bus until help arrived,” Williams recounted. While waiting, he kept the koala calm, speaking softly and moving gently. When the emergency response team arrived, they handled Peri with care, using a hand‑tied stretcher and transporting her to the Gold Coast’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.

Rescue and Rehabilitation

The rescue team, led by wildlife veterinarian Dr. Emma Sullivan, confirmed that Peri had sustained no serious injuries, though she had suffered a slight scrape on her flank from the bus’s seat. “She’s a young koala, probably around one and a half years old, and she’s otherwise healthy. The main concern is stress and potential dehydration,” Dr. Sullivan explained. Peri was placed in a temporary holding cage and given water and a balanced diet to help her recover from the shock of the incident.

The Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, which is funded in part by the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), noted that Koalas are increasingly found in urban and peri‑urban environments as habitat loss pushes them closer to human settlements. “Each time a koala is found in a city setting, it’s a reminder of how fragmented their natural habitat has become,” said DELWP spokesperson, Michael Nguyen. “We are monitoring Peri’s health closely and will release her back into the wild once she is fit.”

Public Response

Within hours, footage of Peri’s bus ride went viral on social media. Users praised the driver for his quick thinking and shared the story on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, tagging the Translink official accounts. Several local media outlets, including the Brisbane Times and ABC News, picked up the story, highlighting the unusual yet heartening tale. The incident also sparked conversation about road safety for wildlife, with wildlife experts and environmental groups urging the public to stay alert for animals in urban settings.

The Translink organisation, which operates bus and train services across the greater Brisbane area, released a statement thanking the driver and the wildlife response teams. “We are proud that our staff was able to act responsibly and quickly in an emergency situation,” the statement read. “We encourage all our passengers to remain vigilant and report any wildlife sightings to the appropriate authorities.”

Broader Context: Koalas in Queensland

Koalas are native to the eucalyptus forests of eastern Australia, but in recent decades their numbers have declined dramatically due to habitat loss, disease, climate change, and human activity. The Queensland Government’s “Koala Conservation Strategy” – available on the DELWP website – outlines measures such as habitat restoration, disease monitoring, and public education to protect the species. According to the strategy, Queensland hosts approximately 30,000 koalas, with most found in the coastal ranges of the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.

One of the major threats to koalas in urban areas is vehicle collisions. A 2018 study by the University of Queensland estimated that roughly 1,600 koalas were killed by traffic each year in Queensland alone. To address this, the government has installed wildlife crossing signs on major roads, implemented “koala crossings” in some suburbs, and promotes “koala‑friendly” driving habits such as reducing speed during peak migration seasons.

What Happens Next for Peri?

As of the latest update from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Peri is in stable condition and showing signs of recovery. Her rehabilitation will include a gradual reintroduction to her natural habitat, which is located in the Moggill area – a nearby eucalyptus woodland that serves as a refuge for many urban koalas. The centre’s rehabilitation protocol involves careful monitoring of the koala’s diet, activity levels, and health markers, as well as a plan for eventual release.

“We’re hopeful that Peri will return to the wild and thrive,” Dr. Sullivan said. “Her experience highlights how close our lives are intertwined with these animals. We all have a role in protecting their safety.”

Takeaway

Peri’s bus‑ride saga is more than a heart‑warming tale; it’s a reminder of the hidden dangers that urban wildlife faces daily. The swift actions of a bus driver, the coordination of emergency wildlife responders, and the community’s engagement underscore the collective responsibility to safeguard koalas and other native species. As the story of Peri circulates, it raises a vital question: How can we, as a society, create safer roads and more wildlife‑friendly cities? The answer lies in public awareness, government policy, and the continued collaboration of all stakeholders in protecting one of Australia’s most beloved icons.