Koalas and their joeys scamper about to a 1932 recording of 'The Teddy Bears’ Picnic' (by Henry Hall and His Orchestra). The Australian National Travel Association created this short to promote koalas as ‘the toy teddy bear come to life’.

A cute idea, it’s also wrong on many levels. Koalas are marsupials, not bears, for a start. Calling them ‘quaint and friendly’ is also a stretch. While not skittish or aggressive, koalas are wild animals that prefer not to be handled by humans.

Regardless, this clip is an example of the ongoing fascination with Australia's unique wildlife – and how easily native fauna could be softened or miscast to better appeal to both locals and visitors.