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IT was hotter than a koala could bear.
After yesterday's temperature hit 45 degrees at Garvoc, east of Warrnambool, this koala came down out of the trees seeking relief.
Tanya Wickenton said she startled the male koala on the ground about 5pm on Tuesday at her home when he was looking very hot and weary.
The family gently sprayed him with a hose to cool him down and noticed he was licking water off his nose.
So they gave him a gentle stream from the hose and he drank up, and up, and up.
Ms Wickenton said her children had the hose going for about an hour while the koala rehydrated.
The kids got bored so she took over and the koala let the family get up close and pat him.
He eventually recovered to climb back up a tree where she showed his gratitude by grunting through the night, keeping the family awake.
By Wednesday, he had disappeared back into the bush.
Ms Wickenton said koalas were a common sight in the trees around her home at Garvoc, sometimes mothers with cubs.
ehimmelreich@fairfaxmedia.com.au