Koala Sleeping Eucalyptus Near Novosibirsk Stream

Grey fur matted by rain clings to a koala draped over a eucalyptus branch. Water droplets hang from the grey-green leaves, catching the low morning light that breaks through the horizon haze. The animal remains motionless, its dark eyes closed, nestled in the crook of the wood. Below, a glacial stream flows rapidly, its surface rippling under the brief sun shower. Pale spring grass lines the bank in the background, blurred by the shallow depth of field. Raindrops slide down the koala's rounded ear, pooling briefly before falling into the churning water. one drop of water rests on the tip of a leaf, refracting the pale sky.