Koala Admissions Surge at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital
Did you know that Koala admissions are the highest they’ve been in three years?
There has been a 20% increase since 2022 due to many threats including natural disasters, vehicle strikes, habitat destruction, dog attacks and chlamydia.
Hershey the one-year-old Koala featured here is an example of the species’ plight as she is suffering from conjunctivitis, a symptom of chlamydia.
Learn how we’re saving Koalas from this deadly disease.
Chlamydia affects more than half of the Koala patients at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital and is the disease affecting the species’ survival.
“Koalas may become extinct in large areas of Eastern Australia as early as 2050 without intervention,” said Dr Michael Pyne OAM, Senior Vet of Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.
The success of the Koala Chlamydia Vaccine Research Program will ultimately reduce patient numbers in the long term and minimise the risk of extinction.
This research now includes 53 Koalas and 30 joeys that have been born into the program.
So far, over 350 Koalas have been vaccinated against chlamydia.
The signs of chlamydia in Koalas include conjunctivitis eyes and a wet bottom.
It costs $7000 to treat, rehabilitate and release a single Koala which usually includes a 4-6 week course of antibiotics.
Please donate to make an immediate difference to the Koalas treated at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital every year.