Celebrating Christmas in Australia comes with its own unique set of difficulties.
One family, for instance, returned home to discover their trees ornaments strewn all over the ground. The culprit quickly became obvious.
A koala had climbed into their tree while they were away.
@mcqueen1004 gotta love coming home and finding a koala in your christmas tree.. wtf #australia#koala
♬ stayin alive x poouussyy talk - DJ Lilli
The koala, who was quickly rescued after being untangled from the family's Christmas lights, became a star on social media.
A very Aussie Christmas? 🐨 A family in South Australia came home to find this wild koala had made itself comfortabl… https://t.co/sYGhJTuPup— The Guardian (@The Guardian) 1606975999.0
THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING: Just when you thought 2020 had nothing to offer, this - A koala up a Christmas tree!… https://t.co/sWs6JgiPFf— 10 News First Adelaide (@10 News First Adelaide) 1606949707.0
16-year-old Taylah McCormick, who recorded the koala in a viral TikTok, told The Guardian:
"It was pretty tangled up in the lights. It was a fake tree and very old, but she still tried eating the leaves off it. I saw her munch down on some, but she stopped when she realized it was plastic."
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me... a koala in a Christmas tree. An Adelaide woman has found… https://t.co/GpLCJ60AZ3— 9News Australia (@9News Australia) 1606909283.0
I'm dreaming of a koala showing up on my Christmas tree. https://t.co/3t9dFos9hT— Becky (@Becky) 1607012348.0
This is one of the great joys of 2020. A Koala seeking refuge in a fake Christmas tree. Only in Australia! https://t.co/VrTF8MQH80— Stephen Quartermain (@Stephen Quartermain) 1606989526.0
Taylah's mother Amanda McCormick commented:
"It must have crawled in when the doors were open. It would have been in our house for at least three hours."
This koala has single handedly saved 2020. Full story up soon on @GuardianAus https://t.co/NGvURdOTuJ— Matilda Boseley (@Matilda Boseley) 1606958980.0
"It was a fake tree and very old but she still tried eating the leaves off it. I saw her munch down on some". https://t.co/OTRyOwJyzF— Matilda Boseley (@Matilda Boseley) 1606965237.0
Christmas has come early for a family at Coromandel Valley, who found a koala had wandered into their home and nest… https://t.co/7CcLO3r8PS— 9News Adelaide (@9News Adelaide) 1606983245.0
The koala was quickly helped out of the tree by Adelaide and Hills Koala Rescue, whose co-founder, Dee Hearne-Hellon, described it as a healthy three to four-year-old female.
I want a koala in my Christmas tree.— Jeff Jachens (@Jeff Jachens) 1607080163.0
Bought a Christmas tree last night and v disappointed it doesn’t include a koala or an owl. 🌲 🐨 🦉… https://t.co/MMzE6446Ee— Andrew Stronach (@Andrew Stronach) 1606982696.0
The McCormick family nicknamed the koala Daphne and are happy to report she's now safe and sound in a nearby rescue organization.
The koala was taken to a rescue organization where it is reportedly healthy and safe. https://t.co/c4mFpBi3r0— KFI AM 640 (@KFI AM 640) 1607103964.0
So far I like this summer's koala stories much more than last summer's koala stories https://t.co/GrxEfc4CEQ— Josephine Tovey (@Josephine Tovey) 1606968036.0
Now we can all look forward to a new claymation special: The Christmas Koala!
Coming soon to the Hallmark Channel...
...or maybe Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas?