Koala was rescued after the build-up of 5 cars on the Australian motorway

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) – A koala has been rescued after causing a build-up of five cars while trying to cross a six-lane motorway in South Australia.

Police said the crash in heavy Monday morning traffic in the city of Adelaide caused injuries, but no one needed an ambulance.

The animal rescuer said she got out of her car to investigate what had caused the overcrowding. Nadia Tugwell, with her coat in her hand, teamed up with a stranger who was grabbing a blanket to try to capture the marsupial. A concrete road divider had blocked the koala crossing.

“The koala was not harmed in any way,” Tugwell said. “He was very active, but very calm.”

Once the koala was in his trunk, Tugwell drove to a gas station to deliver the animal to the savages of wildlife. Meanwhile, the koala was able to climb from the trunk to the cabin of the SUV.

“He decided to come to the front, so I said,‘ Okay, stay here. I will go out, ”he said.

“He started sitting for a while behind the wheel: (as if) saying,‘ let’s drive ’and that’s when I started taking pictures,” he added.

Tugwell said he had learned from past experience how to calm koalas by covering his eyes. He lives near a eucalyptus forest on the outskirts of Adelaide and has twice called on animal handlers to rescue wounded koalas in fights with other koalas.

“I live in the hills and if you let them do what they want and they don’t chase them or anything, they’re fine,” Tugwell said.

The leather trim of his luxury vehicle was scratched by the animal, but Tugwell said the happy ending was worth it.

The koala was later released into a forest, far away from the highway.