(Photo credit: The University of Queensland )
The University of Queensland is establishing the first coordinated sperm and egg bank for the state's koalas.
Reproductive biologist Dr Andres Gambini said the project will be a vital genetic safety net for a species facing increasing population pressure from habitat loss and disease.
"Every year, many koalas are admitted to wildlife hospitals because of illness or injury and sadly, not all of them survive," Dr Gambini said.
"At the moment, their valuable genetics are lost forever.
"Losing genetic diversity can weaken future generations and decreases the ability of the species to adapt to challenges.
"This project will create a safe and systematic way to rescue and preserve koala spermatozoa and eggs to support future conservation programs."
The project builds on UQ's expertise in marsupial reproduction, including the birth of the first koala through artificial insemination and the production of kangaroo IVF embryos .
PhD candidate Patricio Dandy Palacios has spent the past year establishing protocols for the timely collection and transportation of ovaries and testes.
Wildlife reproduction specialist Associate Professor Steve Johnston said the bank of reproductive cells will be stored in liquid nitrogen cylinders at UQ Gatton.
"We will work with wildlife hospitals to harvest sperm and eggs from koalas that have died or can no longer breed because of trauma or disease," Dr Johnston said.
"The samples will be screened for genetic value and tested for Chlamydia pecorum, one of the major diseases affecting koala health and fertility.
"We have the technology now to remove the infection from the samples.
"In the future this material may be crucial to reintroduce genetics back into the population through artificial insemination or IVF embryos."
Dr Gambini said the koala bank does not replace existing conservation actions but adds an important new tool.
"Koalas need habitat protection, disease management and strong population monitoring," he said.
"But they also need a genetic backup system, and this sperm and egg bank can help preserve diversity while reproductive technologies continue to improve.
"We cannot wait until populations are smaller and genetic diversity is harder to recover.
"By preserving sperm and eggs today, we are giving future conservation programs more options to protect koalas tomorrow."
Collaboration and acknowledgements
The project is proudly funded by the Queensland Government's Protecting Queensland's threatened species: Applied research grants program and involves researchers at UQ's School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability and School of the Environment . It is a collaboration with the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, RSPCA Queensland, Endeavour Veterinary Ecology and the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
