DETECTION DOGS UNCOVER RARE CHLAMYDIA-FREE KOALAS IN BREAKTHROUGH SURVEY

Did you know Chlamydia is one of the leading causes of the catastrophic decline in koala numbers? Sadly, only a few populations are untouched by the disease. However, a scent detection dog has unearthed a potential lifeline for these iconic Australian marsupials, offering a glimmer of hope for conservationists.

The project

As part of the ‘Cores, Corridors and Koalas’ project, conservation groups Great Eastern Ranges and Canines for Wildlife have been conducting koala surveys in northern NSW. Supported by WWF-Australia, along with our partner Koala, dedicated teams surveyed 115 sites across the Coffs Harbour and Bellingen regions, where habitats range from coastlines to the cool heights of the Dorrigo Plateau, soaring nearly 1,000 metres above sea level. Remarkably, over 80% of these locations showed signs of koala activity.

At the heart of these surveys are scent detection dogs, specially trained to sniff out koala scat (poo). This scat provides invaluable insights into the health and genetic diversity of endangered koala populations. “We can identify the gender of the koalas—which ones are male and which are female—and from there, we can determine which are carrying the Chlamydia infection and which are not,” says Lynn Baker, ecologist for Canines for Wildlife. Why dogs? Finding koalas in their natural environment can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, especially when it comes to spotting scat. “With their strong sense of smell, koala detection dogs help us find scats efficiently and accurately, often uncovering them in unexpected places,” she adds. These clever canines explore without the preconceived biases that humans often have, enhancing their likelihood of unveiling crucial data.

The findings from these surveys play an instrumental role in our ongoing koala conservation strategies, which help to protect the native species from the threat of extinction.

A rare discovery

The results of these recent scat surveys have conservationists celebrating! One detection dog, Max, identified a group of Fernbrook koalas on the Dorrigo Plateau that stand out as genetically unique and seemingly Chlamydia-free. Baker describes these Fernbrook residents as ‘fluffier’ and ‘darker’ than their coastal cousins, donning what acts like winter coats to survive the chill of the area’s cooler climate.

The surveys also revealed encouraging news for the broader koala population in Coffs Harbour and Bellingen. Genetic testing of 90 koalas found a healthy, diverse population, with only 32.9% showing signs of infection—a significant contrast to other NSW regions where infection rates can skyrocket to 100%.

But this raised an intriguing question: Are these koalas isolated to the habitat on these properties, or are they connected to other Chlamydia-free populations that remain untested? Canines for Wildlife is hoping to conduct more surveys in the areas surrounding Fernbrook to explore this further. The survey also highlighted close genetic ties among koalas across habitat corridors, emphasising the importance of maintaining interconnected habitats for healthy koala populations. However, caution is crucial—connecting habitats must be approached carefully with regard to Chlamydia. Although most koalas do have Chlamydia, they often show no visible signs and appear healthy. However, if the infection advances, it can severely impact their reproductive capabilities and overall health. Common symptoms of Chlamydia in koalas include eye problems such as conjunctivitis, which can lead to blindness, as well as urinary tract infections, all of which can result in death when left untreated. “As this insidious disease spreads through direct contact among koalas, in any attempts to connect koala populations, we must ensure that we do not inadvertently introduce Chlamydia by linking them to koalas from adjacent areas that are carriers. This is vital information to consider," explains Lynn.

Protecting the future of koalas

While these findings are cause for celebration, the need to protect this rare group of Chlamydia-free koalas becomes increasingly urgent. “These are going to be the critical populations that might be more resilient to stress going forward,” says Lynn. “These surveys paint a picture of a robust, genetically healthy koala population, but that will change very quickly if we allow logging to knock down food trees and sever vital habitat corridors,” warns Dr Stuart Blanch, WWF-Australia’s Senior Manager, Towards Two Billion Trees. Habitat loss is one of the leading threats to their survival, alongside Chlamydia. These high-value koalas face heightened threats as they reside in areas like Pine Creek, Tuckers Nob, and Tarkeeth State Forests, which are currently subject to logging by the state-owned Forestry Corporation. This includes areas earmarked to form part of the Great Koala National Park. To help safeguard these endangered species and achieve WWF-Australia's goal of doubling koala numbers on the east coast by 2050, it is imperative to halt logging in state forests that contain koala habitats.

“Without this crucial survey, we could easily have lost this koala population without ever knowing how critically important it is. Now, the government has the chance to help bolster this genetically diverse koala population’s survival by quickly protecting the remaining habitat in the region before it is gone for good,” states Gary Howling, CEO of Great Eastern Ranges. These surveys and their breakthrough findings underscore the importance of longstanding partners who share a unified vision. Since 2017, we have collaborated with Koala, united in our mission to protect threatened and endangered wildlife. Throughout our partnership, Koala has donated over AUD $3.6 million towards our initiatives, including our work with koala detection dogs and bringing these recent insights to light. "Our partnership with WWF-Australia is one that is close to our hearts - and not just because it's in our namesake. Through our collaboration on projects like these vital surveys, we are proud to play a part in protecting the endangered wildlife that call Australia home,” says Dany Milham, co-founder and CEO of Koala. “Through our collaboration on projects like these vital surveys, we are proud to have played a part in protecting the endangered wildlife that call Australia home.”

How you can help

Our conservation efforts to date, including these pivotal koala surveys, would not have been possible without your generosity. To continue this vital work and tackle the challenges ahead, your support is needed now more than ever. Here’s how you can lend a small helping hand and make a big difference:

• Help bring our threatened Australian animals, like koalas, from the brink of extinction by signing our petition, urging for stronger national nature laws.
• Make a donation to help protect our precious wildlife and the places they call home.
• Adopt a koala. Your symbolic adoption can help protect them against deadly Chlamydia that’s decimating their populations. Plus, it’s creating safe habitats by protecting and restoring their forest homes.