Sat Nov 16 12:47:39 IST 2024: ## Koala Causes Chaos in Adelaide Home
**Adelaide, Australia** – An Adelaide couple received an unexpected visitor in the early hours of Wednesday morning: a koala. Fran Dias Rufino and her husband, Brunno, returned home around 12:30 AM to find the marsupial inside their bedroom, having apparently entered through their dog door.
Ms. Rufino, originally from Brazil, described her initial reaction as one of sheer surprise, reverting to Portuguese in her shock. The koala, after initially climbing onto bedside drawers, leaped onto the bed, prompting a frantic attempt by the couple to guide it outside. Video footage of the event shows the couple’s attempts to coax the koala out.
Mr. Rufino employed a strategy of gently nudging the koala with a blanket while keeping other doors closed and the front door open. The koala eventually exited the house, only to find refuge in a tree in the back garden.
Koala Rescue, a wildlife recovery group, advised residents not to handle koalas found in their homes, but to contact experts immediately. The group suggested covering the koala with a laundry basket to facilitate safe removal by rescuers.
Ms. Rufino, despite the initial fright, expressed fondness for the unexpected guest, jokingly suggesting it might be part of the family now. The incident serves as a reminder of the sometimes surprising encounters possible with Australian wildlife.
First Piper 