With each chew of the eucalyptus leaf, the koala’s eyes dart towards the outside of her face, before retreating back in at the end of the chew.

Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary manager Kelly Bartlett said it was likely a responsive action triggered from dehydration.

“We believe that it is not a quirk but a responsive action when koalas are dehydrated and the second eyelid attempts to help hydrate the eyes. When she was eating, it highlights this,” she said.

“After a couple of days her eyes were not doing this as much.

“This is one of the indications that she was fully recovered and ready for release.”

The video of Bella eating has already been viewed more than 40,000 times on various Facebook pages.

Bella was brought in to Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary after employees Cheryle and Jess found her on the road on their way to work.

“They tried to get her back up a tree but she did not have the strength nor the want to do so,” Ms Bartlett said.

“Bella was dehydrated and lacking energy.”

The sanctuary has since nursed Bella back to health and released her back into the wild. 

“Bella was kept in our enclosure purely to recover and await advice from the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources and KI vets,” Ms Bartlett said.

“We give lots of juicy fresh leaves, Bella seemed to favour blue gums, and water and privacy to our animals to help and watch recovery.

“She is a recently tagged koala, which means she has been sterilised and recorded in the program, so we had to convey her number to parks to help keep track of her.”

Ms Barlett used the opportunity to remind people to slow down on the Kangaroo Island’s unpredictable roads.

“All of our rescued wildlife, so far, has been released back into the wild to live out wild lives,” she said.

“We are more than happy to help anyone with injured wildlife and encourage people to slow down when driving as you never know what’s waiting around a bend.”