Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are marsupials that tend to live in higher branches of eucalyptus trees where they can reach the leaves that are their only source of food. They have very strong claws but the wind was so fierce on this day that the upper tree branches were swaying wildly and the koala had a hard time hanging on. He had quite a roller-coaster ride.

This video was shot near Melbourne, Australia, in Oct. 2019 -- a time when many koalas were being threatened by extreme weather, including drought and bushfires that would only get worse as the Australian summer progressed. Climate change is increasing the risks to koalas, which are vulnerable to heat stress and dehydration.

Koalas, which are endemic to Australia, are classified as threatened/vulnerable on the international conservation status list and many have been killed by bushfires, loss of habitat and other environmental threats.