Cassidy’s pregnancy a sign of hope for koalas
RESEARCHERS have received a positive sign in their fight against a major threat to Australia’s dwindling koala population.
One of the koalas participating in Currumbin Wildlife Hospital’s chlamydia vaccine research trial has fallen pregnant.
Australian koalas are in the grip of a chlamydia epidemic, with the sexually transmitted infection thought to be the key driver of dwindling koala numbers.
Chlamydia or related conditions claimed 18 per cent of the koala population over four years to 2018.
Currumbin Wildlife Hospital partnered with Queensland University of Technology’s Professor Kenneth Beagley to administer the lifesaving chlamydia vaccine to 154 koalas that have been released back into the wild.
The hospital’s senior vet, Dr Michael Pyne, said the aim of the research trial was to control koala chlamydia and boost the marsupial’s reproduction.
Cassidy is expected to be the first baby born during the trial.
“It’s encouraging that Cassidy is pregnant and negative to chlamydia, not only for the research trial but for the entire koala species,” Dr Pyne said.
“It’s still very early stages and too early to say if the vaccine will be a long-term solution. However, Cassidy is making us hopeful.”
The hospital and QUT are working to establish the vaccination level needed in the species to prevent the localised extinction of koalas.
The research trial is based in the Elanora koala popu
lation, in which 88 per cent of these animals admitted to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital test positive for chlamydia. Eleven koalas in the trial have been released in the wild.
The researchers aim to capture and vaccinate a total of 30 koalas in the Elanora area and track each one for three years.
They would be recaptured every six months to test for chlamydia, general health, reproductive status, and vaccine immunity.
Professor Beagley said Cassidy’s pregnancy was positive news: “I do have cautious optimism for the future of the species. Hopefully we can repeat this and see the koala population increase over time.
“I look forward to continuing to assist Currumbin Wildlife Hospital in their efforts to vaccinate all koalas prior to their release back into the wild.”
The hospital’s chlamydia vaccine research trial is still in its early stages, with community support needed to continue this critical work.
IT’S ENCOURAGING THAT CASSIDY IS PREGNANT AND NEGATIVE TO CHLAMYDIA, NOT ONLY FOR THE RESEARCH TRIAL BUT FOR THE ENTIRE KOALA SPECIES
DR MICHAEL PYNE