Koalas in a Heat Wave (LOTS of really cute pictures)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

From a friend of a friend in Australia:

Australia has had a record heat wave with devastating fires as a result. Koalas if you don't know are not social and don't come out of trees or down to the suburbs very often. But the main thing is that they don't actually drink water normally at any time. All their food and water source is provided from the eucalyptus leaves that they eat. That's why they sleep about 22 hours of the day because the calories and liquid intake is not enough to keep them awake long enough, but they consume enormous amounts of leaves in that time. So.. the following photos are even more amazing once that fact is known.

I truly am from a remarkable country! And we have THE cutest animals (AND some of the most deadly - I know!) But I thought you would appreciate how cute this is...!

At home in Victoria the temperature has been above 44 degrees (about 111 F*) all week and they are forecasting another week of 40+ temperatures*. Power is failing, trains have stopped running because tracks are buckling under the heat . It?s just scorching, and it seems that the people are not the only ones suffering.

Check out these photos of a little Koala which just walked onto a back porch looking for a bit of heat relief. The woman filled up a bucket for it and this is what happened!

[LostInAnomie]

1. How can something be aos cute and so ugly at the same time?

I hear they can be very mean too.

Great pics.

[jeff30997]

2. Wow! Fantastic pictures !

Thanks a lot Velveteen Ocelot. :)

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. OMG....*thud*

I can't handle that.

[Sigh Sister]

4. Thanks for sharing!

So cute.

[LostinVA]

5. Those four on the bottom?!

OMG!!!

That little tongue.

[jeff30997]

9. Yeah,cute.

:)

[mainegreen]

11. The one in the tub.

Looks like a furry little kid.

:D

[quakerboy]

6. I thought you weren't supposed to let them touch water

and above all never feed them after midnight.

[Sigh Sister]

7. They do look like little gremlins

or whatever they're called before they turn into gremlins.

[LostinVA]

17. Mogwais

[jeff30997]

8. Yeah but...

In australia the rules a completely the opposite
than in the northern hemisphere.I thought everybody
knew that.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. If a koala flushes the toilet which way does the water swirl down the drain?

[Suich]

10. Those are really, really cute pics, Velveteen Ocelot!

And I learned something about koalas re: water that I didn't know before!

Thanks!

:)

[grace0418]

13. Those poor hot babies! So ridiculously, insanely, hard-to-fathom adorable.

I want to squeeze them all!

[SeattleGirl]

14. Those are adorable!

And the two with the koala in the tub? :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[Oeditpus Rex]

15. WANT!

:bounce: :loveya:

[Fleshdancer]

16. I LOVE these pics!

So cute!

[Blue_Tires]

18. i'm glad they were able to survive in the oppresive heat....

[Raffi Ella]

19. That's crazy!

they don't look real.