Koala stops cyclists to ask for water as Australia’s heatwave and bush fires continue

Thousands of koalas are believed to have died from the intense heat and bush fires gripping Australia

Meanwhile, the fire danger in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory has been upgraded to severe as temperatures rise

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A thirsty koala in Australia gets a drink from a cyclist. Photo: Instagram, via Reuters

Published: 8:07pm, 28 Dec 2019Updated: 2:11pm, 1 Jan 2020

A desperate koala suffering in 40 degree-heat in Australia approached a group of cyclists to drink from a water bottle, according to media reports, as thousands of koalas are feared to have died from the intense heat and bush fires gripping the country, with the fire danger increasing on Saturday as temperatures soared.

The cyclists near Adelaide saw the koala in the middle of the road and when they stopped, the koala approached them, appearing to ask for water, Anna Heusler told local media on Friday.

A koala looks at the camera while receiving water from a cyclist during a severe heatwave in South Australia. Photo: Instagram via Reuters

The bush fires that have ravaged South Australia and the east coast of the continent for the past three months have resulted in the loss of at least 2,000 koalas, a parliamentary inquiry heard earlier in December.

Koalas are native to Australia and are one of the country’s most beloved animals, but have been under threat due to a loss of habitat.

The animals died either in bush fires or from starvation and dehydration afterwards, North East Forest Alliance president and ecologist Dailan Pugh told the inquiry.