Max the spaniel's remarkable discovery: chlamydia-free koalas
Max the dog, an English Springer Spaniel, has made a discovery that could benefit Australia's wildlife significantly. His tracking led to the identification of a group of koalas north of Sydney that may be free of chlamydia. WWF likened it to "striking gold."
WWF Australia reported on their website about a crucial discovery near Coffs Harbour, north of Sydney in New South Wales. Thanks to the diligent work of Max, a dog trained to track koalas, an unexpected clue was found. Max stumbled upon koala droppings, which were not just ordinary, but turned out to be a significant find.
Chlamydia is one of the main causes behind the sharp decline in the koala population in Australia. Over the past few years, the population of these marsupials has decreased at an alarming rate, with chlamydia being responsible for numerous cases. This disease, caused by the bacterium chlamydia, is sexually transmitted and renders healthy koalas quite uncommon in Australia.
Max, a specialized detection dog, is trained to find koala droppings, which allows for research on the health of these animals' populations. This time, his detection was groundbreaking – in the area north of Sydney, there appear to be koalas free from chlamydia bacteria.
This discovery was confirmed by scientific research, which found that koalas in this region differ from others. These animals have darker fur and fluffier coats. Researchers emphasize that if this group of koalas is indeed genetically distinct and free of the disease, urgent protection is needed.
Diseases are killing koalas
Few areas remain in New South Wales where koalas free from chlamydia exist. It's important to note that in the last hundred years, the number of koalas along the coast of New South Wales has decreased by one-third, mainly because of diseases.
The koala, a marsupial inhabiting primarily eastern Australia, particularly in Queensland and New South Wales, is relatively healthier in this region compared to other parts of the country. In this part of New South Wales, for example, only 33% of koalas are infected with chlamydia, whereas in other areas of Australia, some populations are completely infected. Currently, it is estimated that between 60,000 and 240,000 koalas live in Australia.
