Koala breeding program celebrates early successes

The joeys, born at Cleland Wildlife Park in March, are the first generation born as part of a state government-led initiative to breed genetically diverse koalas, free from chlamydia and koala-retrovirus.

The breeding program is based on a colony formed by about 20 koalas originally from Kangaroo Island, as well as four male koalas from the Strzelecki Ranges in Central Gippsland, Victoria.

It is planned that these disease-free, outbred animals will be available to support the conservation of koalas, particularly the populations in Queensland, NSW and the ACT, which are considered endangered under federal government legislation.

Koala Life director Chris West said this was the programs first breeding season with the Strzelecki males and the koalas had performed exceptionally well to produce four joeys.

"If koalas die out in certain parts of Australia due to natural disasters, climate change or disease, this breeding program is the insurance policy we need to reintroduce the species," he said.

Bushfires across the country, including the 2019-20 blazes on Kangaroo Island, have reduced koala populations and contributed to the species being listed as endangered in those eastern states.

The main challenges to the survival of koalas and their forest homes are habitat destruction, climate change with drought and fires, diseases and the impact of humans, such as traffic accidents and attacks by dogs.

SA's koala populations are not of conservation concern but do have a lower genetic diversity, compared with those from the Strzelecki Ranges.

Cleland Wildlife Park general manager Michelle Hocking said staff were looking forward to watching the joeys grow up.

"We are fortunate to have koalas at Cleland that are free from both chlamydia and koala retrovirus to help produce a genetically diverse and healthy captive population in SA," she said.

"Cleland's strategy is to engage, learn and conserve, and this breeding program is a perfect example of that."

The program is a partnership between the Department for Environment and Water and Koala Life - an independent not-for-profit organisation established for the science-based conservation of koalas, working with researchers at Flinders University and The University of Adelaide to create a genetic profile of the koalas and address any health and disease issues.

The breeding program is continuing and it is hoped more joeys will be born in 2024.

Climate, Environment and Water Minister Susan Close said the program was an example of the high calibre of wildlife research conducted in SA.

"It is vital that we safeguard the welfare of this iconic species and research ways to protect them from the diseases that have an impact on their conservation," she said.