A female koala has had the ride of her life, clinging to the axle of a four-wheel drive in Adelaide.
Earlier in the month a driver realised they had a passenger on the wheel well of their car after driving 16 kilometres through the Adelaide hills.
Realising they were not 'koalaified' to remove the marsupial from the car, they called Fauna Rescue of South Australia's Koala for help.
That's when koala specialist Jane Brister stepped in.
Upon arriving to the scene Ms Brister realised the gravity of the situation.
"I could also smell burning fur," she told 7 News.
The rescue team removed the car's wheel and realised the koala wasn't stuck, but frozen with fear.
Once she released her grip, rescuers realised the koala was not seriously injured, but very dirty and covered in oil and grease.
Ms Brister realised the koala must have had a joey as she was lactating, but they were unable to find it.
After several days of recovery, the koala was taken back to near to where her journey originally began and released.
Newshub.
