A Scottish Journalist Was Tricked Into Holding a Dangerous Aussie Drop Bear

She was dressed in full body protective gear.

Every Australian is familiar with the terrifying drop bear. As the urban legend goes, the animal is known to 'drop' on bushwalkers, resulting in horrendous injuries.

Of course, everyone down under also knows it is simply a hoax designed to scare the living daylights out of your slightly gullible friend, or an unsuspecting traveller.

The same cannot be said, however, for Scottish journalist Debi Edward, the UK’s ITV News Asia correspondent who is in Australia to cover the bushfires. As reported by The Feed, Debi was visiting Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park when she was introduced to the fearsome creature.

"So, drop bears are a close cousin of the koala, but they are actually really vicious," Dr Garnett Hall explained.

He added, "They’re bigger, they’ve got longer claws; they’ve actually got really small fangs, and the interesting thing about the fangs is they have a really mild venom."

Debi’s face says it all.

When Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park co-owner Sam Mitchell approached with a normal koala, Debi remained exceptionally calm.

"I’m trying not to be worried, because I’ve been told that he can sense if I’m worried," she says.

"I’ve had to put on all of this protection gear because of what it might do to me. I’m not quite sure what it’s doing right now."

But despite Debi’s best efforts, after someone in the background announces they’re "going to grab the dart gun", she simply cannot hold it together for any longer.

In a state of panic, she hands the savage drop bear to Dr Hall, who gives him a big hug. That’s when she realises she’s been totally pranked, and the animal is nothing more than a cuddly koala. 

The video was first uploaded to Facebook by producer Sean Mulcahy.

"In times of tragedy and incessant misery, sometimes humour is the best medicine. This is the UK’s ITV News, Asia correspondent Debi Edward. I have had the pleasure of working with her now on a number of occasions and she is an exceptional journalist and a lovely lady," Sean wrote in the caption. 

"However, I am Australian and by proclamation a dirty rotten scoundrel."

Header Image: Facebook (Sean Mulchay)