A Scottish Journalist Has Been Tricked Into Holding A Vicious Drop Bear

All Australians know the legend of the fearsome drop bear, the lethal cousin to our loveable koala.

It’s our nation’s favourite hoax, and one British journalist has just been caught out in the best way — in full protective gear, on camera, while reporting for an international news channel.

As reported on The Feed, the unwilling victim was Debi Edward, UK’s ITV News Asia correspondent, who is in Australia to report on the bushfires. She was at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park when she was given a quick introduction on what drop bears were.

“We’ve been told that this is quite a dangerous bear that has been known to attack people, it’s called a drop bear,” she said as she is handed the koala. “I’ve had to put on all this protection gear because of what it might do to me.”

“I’m trying not to be worried because I’m told he can sense if I’m worried.”

To her credit, she’s remarkably calm for someone who fully believes she is holding a creature that viciously attacks and routinely hospitalises people with its venom.

Veterinarian Dr Garnett Hall — who is also a Captain in the Australian Defence Force — was the one who really sold the gag, seriously outlining the dangers that drop bears pose as Debi listens.

“The third most common injury that we see in tourists in Australia is actually from drop bear attacks,” he deadpanned.

Debi seems to panic a little when discussions turn to dart guns, but she soon realises they’re having a laugh when Dr Hall gives the koala a hug — and she takes the joke like an absolute champ.

The video was first posted to Facebook by Australian video producer Sean Mulcahy.

“In times of tragedy and incessant misery, sometimes humour is the best medicine,” he wrote alongside the video. “I have had the pleasure of working with (Debi) now on a number of occasions and she is an exceptional journalist and a lovely lady. However, I am Australian and by proclamation a dirty rotten scoundrel.”