A beekeeper encountered a koala trying to look inconspicuous near his hives in Australia.

Ben Moore, 45, from Blackburn South, a suburb of Melbourne, found the composed marsupial sitting on a tree near one of his remote apiaries on December 20.

Ben, who called the encounter his 'highlight of the year,' said: 'This rare sighting was a delightful surprise. It added a touch of wildlife wonder to the already successful year.'

The entrepreneur said he appreciated that the clip drew 'even more attention' to apiculture and 'the importance of preserving natural habitats for such unique wildlife encounters.'

Ben, who harvested an astonishing four tonnes of honey in 2023, added: 'The koala sighting not only became a symbol of the thriving business but also highlighted the harmonious coexistence of wildlife and human enterprise.'

It was not the first time that one of Ben's videos caused a stir. In November 2022, he stunned his followers by posting a clip in which he coolly stretched out his right hand directly at the entrance of a hive.

The 20-second footage shows the pollinators swarming around and sitting on the palm of his hand. A small snail is resting there at the same time.

Ben said: 'Bees like any animal just require the right mindset to be able to handle them. Plus, a bit of cool smoke passives them.'

In June 2023, Ben issued a passionate appeal to support small businesses. He published a list of activities which were priced at AUD 0.00. The chart included tasks such as 'referring friends and family',' subscribing to their e-mails' and 'sharing their content.'

Ben captioned the post saying: 'With Australia's economy on the downturn and food and fuel prices at all-time highs, this is what everyone can do to help small businesses across the country.'