Koala refuses to leave after being found in family’s fake Christmas tree

Image: Facebook/@1300Koalaz

A koala that made her way into a house in Australia surprised a family when they found her on their Christmas tree.

When Amanda McCormick first saw the koala on Wednesday, Dec. 2, she thought a stuffed animal had been placed there as a joke. She was shocked to discover that a live koala was, in fact, clinging on to the tree, The Guardian reported on Thursday, Dec. 3.

When she called for a wildlife rescue service, 1300Koalaz, the rescuers assumed she was making a prank call, as seen on their Facebook post of the incident.

Taking the koala down the tree was not as simple as expected.

”She didn’t want to leave actually, they had a bit of a fight trying to get her off the tree. I think she was quite comfortable,” Amanda told ABC Radio Australia.

Amanda believes the koala may have come in before the family left the house at around 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

The McCormicks returned home about 6 p.m., and the dog, which was left outside, immediately began sniffing the Christmas tree.

They found baubles on the floor and when they looked up, they saw the koala. According to Amanda’s 16-year-old daughter Taylah, the koala tried to eat leaves “but stopped when she realized it was plastic.”

“We’ve had them in our trees before but not inside on our Christmas tree,” said Amanda.

The wandering koala was then placed on a tree outside — this time a real one. Niña V. Guno/JB

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