We're filing this one away in our 'Only in Australia' folder (there are plenty of other gems in there too).
A teenager in the state of Victoria came home recently to find the front seat of the family car occupied ... by a koala. Sam Box told Nine News that he'd just climbed off the school bus when he spotted the koala “trying to drive” the family's Land Rover. The natural response to seeing a wannabe marsupial motorist is – obviously – to grab your phone and take some photos, which is exactly what the 15-year-old did.
Koalas apparently make regular appearances in this rural part of the country, but it's still pretty unusual to see them hanging out in cars. Despite being caught red-handed, the koala seemed unrepentant, and Box recalls that when he opened the car door, it simply jumped out and ambled off into the bush without a backward glance.
Schoolboy finds koala 'trying to drive' family car – in pictures http://t.co/7f6n75RNHa pic.twitter.com/ht0zrR2i6a
— The Guardian (@guardian) February 24, 2015
Just another day in Australia: Koala busted trying to steal family's car. http://t.co/DkeI9TwDHQ pic.twitter.com/zytDB1lWlI
— Nigel Britto (@NigelBritto) February 24, 2015
The Guardian has more photos.
Top header image: Justin Brown, Flickr