Recently, in a suburb of Sydney, Australia, a train station witnessed a chase between a police officer and a koala, bringing unexpected joy to the commuters inside.
According to a video released by Transport for New South Wales on Tuesday, this cheeky koala snuck into the Casula railway station, located approximately 34 kilometers from the center of Sydney, around 4 am last Friday. It squeezed through a gap in the station’s fence.
In the footage, the koala climbed onto the platform, crossed the yellow line, leisurely wandered along the platform’s edge, then headed straight for the stairs, winding its way up to the pedestrian overpass. It seemed to consider taking the elevator down to the platform but ultimately chose to walk down the stairs. During its escapade, a commuter happened to come face to face with the little fellow and took out a phone to capture a close-up photo with it.
At that moment, a security guard on a passing train noticed the koala and promptly informed the station to alert other trains to slow down when passing through.
Local police arrived at the scene around 4:30 am in response to the report. Concerned about the wandering koala being near the platform edge, the officers cautiously followed it, eventually guiding it through the fence and safely back to the nearby bushland.
In a humorous statement, Transport for New South Wales reminded all passengers, regardless of size, to stand behind the yellow line on the platform.
Koalas, typically known for their reclusive nature, are considered an iconic symbol of Australia and one of the most beloved animals by Australians. The southwestern part of Sydney is home to a significant population of koalas, but urban development poses an increasing threat to these animals.
In February of this year, the Australian Department of the Environment officially raised the conservation status of koalas residing in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and Queensland from “vulnerable species” to “endangered species.” To protect the species, the New South Wales government has allocated millions of dollars with the goal of doubling the koala population within the state by 2050.
Interestingly, this koala is not the first four-legged commuter to surprise Sydney train station workers this year. In April, a runaway racehorse mistakenly entered a train station in the southwestern area of Sydney and trotted back and forth on the platform for a few minutes before being safely captured by emergency personnel.