A chlamydia-riddled koala has invaded the I’m A Celebrity camp for the first time ever.
Producers were stunned to find the cuddly-looking creature had crept onto their jungle set over the last few weeks.
And although there has been much action around the camp setting up for the series, the koala is “perfectly happy” kipping above them in the trees.
The crew have even given it a name – Karl.
However, a high proportion of the Australian native animals carry the sexually transmitted infection chlamydia.
Although unlikely, some strains of the disease can be passed from koala to humans by urine.
(Image: PA)
But Olly Nash, series producer, insists there’s no need for alarm.
He said: “They move so slowly but it might just appear one morning and hang around for 20 hours.
“He’s around here somewhere, he’s on the side of the valley somewhere hanging around a ridge.
“It’s the first one I’ve ever heard of in the camp.
“They’re not dangerous but they are a bit smelly.”
(Image: Getty)
Despite being one of Australia’s most famous symbols, koalas are rarely seen in the wild and spend most of their days asleep high in the branches of trees.
That means this year could see a camp of 11, with Karl joining Jacqueline Jossa, Caitlyn Jenner, Ian Wright, Nadine Coyle, Myles Stephenson, Adele Roberts, Andrew Maxwell, James Haskell, Kate Garraway and Roman Kemp, who were confirmed as this year’s I’m A Celeb line-up earlier this week.
I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! kicks off on Sunday at 9pm on ITV
