Australian scientists have started vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in a field trial in New South Wales (NSW).
The goal is to test a method to protect koalas against a widespread disease that causes blindness, infertility, and death, as reported by APNews.
Initially, the scientists aimed to catch, vaccinate, and monitor around half of the koala population in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. Thus, this means vaccinating around 50 animals.
The Safety of the Vaccine
The single-shot vaccine has been designed specifically for koalas, and its safety and effectiveness have been tested by vaccinating a few hundred koalas brought to wildlife rescue centers for other afflictions.
Now, scientists want to understand the impact of vaccinating a population of wild koalas.
Read also: Scientists Who Discovered Hepatitis C Virus, Awarded With Nobel Prize for Medicine
How They Vaccinate the Koalas
The first koalas were caught and vaccinated in March. They used binoculars to spot them in eucalyptus trees. From there, they built circular enclosures around the tree bases with doors leading into cages.
After a few hours or days, the koalas will eventually climb down from one tree to seek leaves on another and wander into harmless traps.
The researchers check the animals first before they administer anesthesia and shots of the vaccine to them. Then, the koalas were placed under observation for 24 hours after they woke up. This is to ensure that there are no unexpected side effects.
Before they are released to the wild, the researchers mark them with a dab of pink dye on their backs to ensure the same animals aren't caught twice.
On March 9, the first vaccinated koala was returned to her habitat. The scientists placed her cage at the base of a tree and opened the door. She emerged and bounded up the tree trunk quickly.
The Koala Population in Danger
The koala, with its adorable appearance and unique behavior, is one of Australia's most iconic animals. However, despite their popularity among tourists and locals alike, the koala population has been steadily declining over the years due to various factors.
One major threat to koalas is habitat loss caused by deforestation for agricultural purposes or urbanization. As more land is cleared for human activities such as farming or building homes and roads, less space remains for these marsupials. This results in a fragmentation of their habitats, making it difficult for them to find mates and food sources.
Another significant danger facing the koala population is bushfires, which have become increasingly frequent in recent years due to climate change.
In addition to external threats like habitat destruction and bushfires, diseases also pose a serious risk factor affecting wild populations worldwide, including chlamydia infection found commonly amongst Koalas. It can lead directly toward extinction unless efforts are made on time.
Fortunately, the vaccination program aims at addressing this issue, thereby ensuring long-term conservation measures are put into place so that future generations may enjoy seeing these lovable creatures thrive once again.
The plight of the Australian Koalas serves as an urgent reminder about how our actions impact wildlife species across ecosystems around us.
To conserve biodiversity, it becomes imperative for humans now than ever before to take proactive steps towards sustainable development while prioritizing nature protection initiatives wherever possible.
Related article: Koalas' Sexy Mating Call as Low as an Elephant's Thanks to Mysterious Organ (VIDEO)
