Photo © Wildlife Queensland

The Bligh Government has contributed $400 000 towards research to uncover new ways to reduce the impacts of disease on koala populations.

'The different research groups being funded are at the cutting edge of koala disease research' according to Hon Kate Jones. 'More research is the key to better understand the koala's exposure to disease and how we could combat this threat.'

The research groups at University of Queensland aims include the relationship between stress, disease and infertility as well as establishing the relationship between habitat loss and other environmental stressors for disease in koalas. It will build on previous and current research on the effect of habitat loss, fragmentation and climate variability on Queensland’s koala populations.

Queensland University of Technology is looking at a possible vaccine against Chlamydia. The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Zoo will assess Chlamydia infection and identify factors that determine the prevalence of clinical diseases from infection which are not well understood.

Without doubt the research findings will benefit not only koalas in SEQ but throughout the state assuming the findings are implemented.  

These research grants on top of the $43 m over five years earmarked for koalas clearly indicates that the Bligh Government has listened and acknowledged that critical action is needed now if there is any chance of koala survival in SEQ.  The funding will focus on acquiring new habitat and rehabilitating existing habitat. Local governments will be assisted in developing new planning laws to assist Koala survival.

Unfortunately Wildlife Queensland, while acknowledging the Government’s recent actions, has major concerns that all these efforts won’t arrest the decline in the SEQ koala population.
However Wildlife Queensland lives in hope.

What is Wildlife Queensland doing.

Wildlife Queensland has been lobbying Government for action and will continue to do so. Members will continue to serve on various working groups, advisory committees or assessment panels as and when requested. Wildlife Queensland will avail itself of media opportunities when presented. Wildlife Queensland will monitor progress of the implementation of the various plans to facilitate the long term survival of the koala in SEQ and state wide.

What you can do

Use the local media and radio to commend or condemn actions that impact on the SEQ koala population. Inform your local elected government representatives of your concerns.

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, call us on +61 7 3221 0194 or send us an email.