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Police Chase Koala Through Sydney Train Station

FILED - 19 July 2023, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Stuttgart: A koala climbs a tree in its new enclosure at Wilhelma in Stuttgart. Photo: Bernd Weißbrod/dpa
FILED - 19 July 2023, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Stuttgart: A koala climbs a tree in its new enclosure at Wilhelma in Stuttgart. Photo: Bernd Weißbrod/dpa
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Police Chase Koala Through Sydney Train Station

FILED - 19 July 2023, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Stuttgart: A koala climbs a tree in its new enclosure at Wilhelma in Stuttgart. Photo: Bernd Weißbrod/dpa
FILED - 19 July 2023, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Stuttgart: A koala climbs a tree in its new enclosure at Wilhelma in Stuttgart. Photo: Bernd Weißbrod/dpa

A wayward koala led police on a low-speed, early morning chase through a Sydney train station, video released on Tuesday showed, surprising commuters in the city.
Video provided by Transport for New South Wales showed the koala ambling through Casula station on Friday, around 34 km (21 miles) south-west of the city's central business district.
The video showed the koala checking out an elevator before opting to descend a stairway.
Trains in the area were ordered to slow as the koala - a normally reclusive species and one of Australia's best-loved animals - came dangerously close to the platform edge.
The marsupial eventually hopped the station fence after police officers were dispatched to chase it away from the tracks.
"All passengers, great and small, are reminded to stay behind the yellow line," Transport for New South Wales said in a statement.
Koala are listed as vulnerable to extinction in the state.

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'Amphibious Mouse' among 27 New Species Discovered in Peru's Amazon

A clearwing butterfly (Oleria sp.) specimen, from one of the 218 species of butterflies observed during an expedition to the Peruvian region of Alto Mayo, is pictured, June 8, 2022. Conservation International/photo by Marlon Dag/Handout via REUTERS
A clearwing butterfly (Oleria sp.) specimen, from one of the 218 species of butterflies observed during an expedition to the Peruvian region of Alto Mayo, is pictured, June 8, 2022. Conservation International/photo by Marlon Dag/Handout via REUTERS
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'Amphibious Mouse' among 27 New Species Discovered in Peru's Amazon

A clearwing butterfly (Oleria sp.) specimen, from one of the 218 species of butterflies observed during an expedition to the Peruvian region of Alto Mayo, is pictured, June 8, 2022. Conservation International/photo by Marlon Dag/Handout via REUTERS
A clearwing butterfly (Oleria sp.) specimen, from one of the 218 species of butterflies observed during an expedition to the Peruvian region of Alto Mayo, is pictured, June 8, 2022. Conservation International/photo by Marlon Dag/Handout via REUTERS

An "amphibious mouse" with partially webbed feet that eats aquatic insects was among 27 new species discovered during a 2022 expedition to Peru's Amazon, according to Conservation International.

Scientists also discovered a spiny mouse, a squirrel, eight types of fish, three amphibians and 10 types of butterflies, Trond Larsen, head of Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program, told Reuters this week.

He added that another 48 species found by investigators were potentially new, but needed further study.

The new species were found in Alto Mayo, a protected area with several ecosystems, Indigenous territories and villages.

"Discovering so many new species of mammals and vertebrates is really incredible, especially in such a human-influenced landscape as Alto Mayo," Larsen said.

The expedition between June and July 2022 was made up of 13 scientists plus local technicians and members of Indigenous groups.

"It was really fantastic to work so closely with the Awajun people. They have extensive traditional knowledge about the forests, animals and plants they live side-by-side with," Larsen said.

Among the new species, Larsen highlighted the spiny mouse that has stiff fur, the amphibious mouse, and a dwarf squirrel that measures 14 cm (5.5 in).

"(The squirrel) fits so easily in the palm of your hand. Adorable and beautiful chestnut-brown color, very fast," Larsen said. "It jumps quickly and hides in the trees."

Another favorite discovery was the blob-headed fish, a type of armored catfish, he said.

A total of 2,046 species were recorded during the 38-day expedition using camera traps, bioacoustic sensors and DNA sampling. Among them, 49 were classified as threatened, including the yellow-tailed woolly monkey and the tree monkey.

Larsen said the discoveries reinforced the need to protect the area.

"Unless steps are taken now to safeguard these sites and help restore parts of the landscape ... there's a strong chance they won't persist in the long term," Larsen said.