Thirsty koala gratefully drinks from offered bucket

Feb. 9 (UPI) -- An Australian man who spotted a thirsty koala outside of an elementary school offered the animal a bucket of water, which the marsupial gladly accepted.

Craig Cook, a journalist with The Advertiser newspaper, said he was at the Mitcham Primary School reserve in Victoria when a koala climbed down from a nearby tree and started to follow him.

"I had never been so close to a koala and backed away but the koala kept following, eventually sitting at my feet," Cook said.

Cook offered the koala a bucket of water and filmed as the marsupial had a drink.

"The encounter was a reminder all animals need assistance with hydration in such hot weather and my family will be checking the reserve every hot night from now on," Cook said.