Heartbroken Koala Spotted Mourning Its Female Friend In Upsetting Footage Filmed In Adelaide

It's the kind of scene that pulls at the heartstrings, leaving many reaching for the tissues.

In a video that quickly spread like wildfire, a male koala is seen in a moment of profound grief, clutching the lifeless body of a female koala.

This poignant scene was captured in the Adelaide Hills of Australia and has since captured the attention of millions worldwide, with viewers finding the koala's display of emotion strikingly human-like.

Originally, the Koala Rescue Service was called out to aid what was thought to be a solitary koala.

However, upon their arrival, they discovered a somber scene: a female koala lying still near a tree with her grieving partner by her side.

The Rescue Service shared their heartache on Facebook:

The tear-jerking video shows the male grieving a female koala as he holds her tightly. Credit: Facebook/Koala Rescue

"It is always devastating to attend a rescue involving a deceased koala, but it was even more heartbreaking to witness the male koala actually holding and hugging the deceased koala."

Fortunately, after a thorough examination, the male koala was found to be in good health and was subsequently released back into his natural habitat.

The emotional footage spurred a wave of reactions online, with viewers expressing their sorrow over the koala's loss.

One wrote: "Omg this breaks my heart."

Another added: "I dislike that as humans we think we're the only species that feels - animals have very complex and intricate minds - we aren't the only species who can feel a vast array of emotions - or think - anyway not sure why his koala wifey passed but may she rest in eternal peace." 

The heartbreaking video has gone viral. Credit: Facebook/Koala Rescue

While a third wrote: "So SOOOO sad poor little Koala wish I could give him a big hug."

And someone else commented: "Absolutely heart wrenching." 

Koala Rescue highlighted the rarity of such emotional displays in koalas, who are typically solitary by nature. 

"This type of behavior is rarely witnessed by our rescuers, but confirms the empathetic and caring nature of koalas."

"Our rescuer retrieved both koalas and after ensuring that the male koala was in good condition, released him nearby."

"This male koala's reaction to death really does represent the truly beautiful nature that koalas are capable of demonstrating."

The male koala's gender was easily determined by his size, which is notably larger than that of female koalas.

Males possess a broader face and a distinctly darker nose.

Additionally, male koalas have a significant scent gland on their chest, a feature that aids in distinguishing them from females.

Animal behavior experts note that koalas generally lead solitary lives, which makes the captured moment of shared grief even more striking and poignant.

This incident serves as a powerful reminder of the depth of emotion and complexity found in the animal kingdom, touching the hearts of those who witness it.