A study from the University of Queensland indicates that the main outcome for koalas admitted to veterinary hospitals in South East Queensland was euthanasia.
PhD student Renae Charalambous and her team at UQ’s Faculty of Science reviewed over 50,000 records of koala sightings and hospital admissions from 1997 to 2019.
“Diseases such as chlamydia accounted for nearly 30 percent of hospital admissions, alongside numerous threats linked to habitat loss, such as dog attacks and vehicle collisions,” stated Ms. Charalambous.
“Only 25 percent of rescued koalas that were taken to hospitals were eventually released back into suitable habitats.
“Many of these animals died before they could reach the veterinary hospitals, and for those that did arrive, euthanasia was often the chosen option for welfare reasons, despite the efforts made by veterinarians and caregivers to save them.”
Koalas injured by vehicles represented about 20 percent of total admissions but were four times more likely to be discovered deceased rather than treated and released by vets.
“Koalas reaching animal hospitals after being hit by cars were nearly three times more likely to be euthanised than to be released,” Ms. Charalambous noted.
“Seven percent of the koalas admitted had been bitten by dogs; however, they were twice as likely to be found dead, and if they were brought into care while still alive, they were also twice as likely to be euthanised compared to being released.”
“These statistics paint a rather bleak picture, suggesting a troubling future for koalas.”
The analysis further revealed that adult female koalas, along with those suffering from chlamydia, faced a greater risk of euthanasia compared to being released.
In February 2022, the conservation status of this iconic marsupial was elevated from vulnerable to endangered in Queensland, following estimates that their population has halved over the past ten years.
Ms. Charalambous emphasized the importance of understanding these unique challenges to help shape future conservation strategies for koalas in eastern Australia.
“It’s not too late to revive the healthy koala populations in the region, and this presents a significant opportunity to address and reduce the threats they encounter,” she expressed.
“I hope this research identifies gaps in policy so that decision-makers can focus on targeted strategies to protect the remaining koalas.”
Ms. Charalambous thanked UQ’s Dr. Kris Descovich and Dr. Edward Narayan for their invaluable contributions to the study.
