Curious koala casually strolls through childcare centre
A curious koala has stumbled into a childcare centre on the Gold Coast and tried to make itself at home.
The inquisitive marsupial managed to sneak into the Gumleaf Gully Childcare facility at Burleigh Heads on Thursday about 5.30pm.
Educational leader Caroline Horsfall said she spotted the surprise guest down the hall and decided to follow it to make sure it didn’t get into any trouble.
“It sniffed a few things and tried to climb a few curtains,” Ms Horsfall told Yahoo7.
The educational leader started filming when the koala, now affectionately nicknamed ‘Blinky’, approached the Possums Room, where the three to four-year-olds are looked after during the day.
“We do have a Koalas Room but he didn’t find his way in there,” Ms Horsfall joked.
She said the koala also scaled a door as he explored the facilities.
It is believed the marsupial squeezed through a gate, which was shut, and then managed to get inside via a door which was ajar.
Ms Horsfall was going to call someone to help rescue ‘Blinky’ but the curious visitor eventually made its way out on its own.
“It was not phased by my presence… Didn’t want to get to close though,” Mr Horsfall said.
The unexpected visit caused some excitement on the evening as a couple of children, whose parent was picking them up at the time, were able to come face to face with Blinky.
But more people were amazed after seeing its adventure in a video on the centre’s Facebook page.
The leaders at Gumleaf Gully Childcare facility have made sure Blinky continues to generate excitement among the kids, introducing a new activity where binoculars are used to try to spot the marsupial – just in case it lives in the area.
Staff at the centre saw Blinky on the lawn of a nearby church after it left and hope it scuttled up a gum tree there.
