Australian police find baby koala hidden in woman's handbag

Credit: South Brisbane Police

A police stop in Australia took a very unexpected turn - when the woman revealed that she had a baby koala bear concealed in her handbag.

Officers in Queensland had detained a woman of 50 over "outstanding matters" when she confessed that she was carrying a baby animal.

"Not quite believing their ears the officers cautiously unzipped the bag and found this gorgeous boy," the force said.

A police officer shares a hug with the baby koala Credit: South Brisbane Police

The koala was handed over the the Queensland RSPCA, where he is said to be recovering well from his ordeal.

Police are looking into the woman's claims she found the joey in the road a night before her arrest and was caring for it.

The RSPCA has urged anyone who finds a koala not to pick it up but instead to contact them if it appears to be in distress.

The RSPCA said that people should not handle wild koalas Credit: South Brisbane Police

Koala bears are officially deemed a "vulnerable" species across Australia and are protected by law.

The Australian Koala Foundation warns that it is illegal to catch, transport or interfere them unless the animal is in distress and in need of immediate human assistance.