The baby koala which took refuge in a bucket of water during last week's Victorian heatwave had been deserted by its sick mum and left to roast in the blistering temperatures.
PHOTOS: Cute, cuddly and orphaned
"The mum had become distressed and disorientated by the heat so she left the baby on its own without realising," said Tracey Young, who found the young koala shaking beneath her verandah.
"They’re normally up in the tree together, in a pair, and we see them all the time."
A wildlife rescue officer collected the joey after its quick dip and it remains in care.
Mrs Young says the joey’s mother has returned to their backyard tree and seems to be waiting for its baby to return.
The baby koala made headlines earlier this week thanks to a viral email showing photographs of it taking a dip in a makeshift pool.
The photographs were taken on a rural property in Maude, between Melbourne and Geelong.
Mrs Young says her nephew discovered the koala crouching and "looking very sick" beneath her verandah.
"I had to scoop water up in my hand to get it to drink and at first it wasn’t very unresponsive," she told ninemsn.
"Eventually it realised the water was in the bowl and it just climbed in itself.
"The kids, being very protective, circled the koala until the wildlife lady came and took it."
Mrs Young's sister Rebecca, who lives next door, said an older koala sought shelter at her home later that night.
"It was hiding underneath the decking in the shade," said Rebecca Durran.
"We thought the one we got was young but it was an older female that was just very thin.
"We just gave her a shallow dish of water and she just drank constantly."
Wildlife rescue offices collected that koala as well.
Both animals will eventually be released back into the wild.
Wildlife Victoria said last week's heatwave — which saw temperatures soar into the 40s across Victoria and South Australia — caused hundreds of injuries among native wildlife.
The Age reports that ring-tailed possums are the latest casualties, suffering burnt feet.
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