Xinhua
05 May 2021, 08:00 GMT+10
SYDNEY, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Sick, injured or orphaned koalas in the Australian state of Queensland are to receive a much-needed helping hand with the relaunching of a medical centre for the iconic marsupials.
The Moggill Koala Rehabilitation Centre has undergone an 830,000 Australian dollar (about 640,600 U.S. dollar) refurbishment with the facility now equipped with the latest diagnostic equipment.
One of the centre's main tasks is to administer vaccines for Chlamydia, a disease which is having a devastating impact on koala populations.
"It's vital we take care of the health of the state's koalas as their long-term survival is under serious threat," said Queensland Environment and Science Minister Meaghan Scanlon at the centre's relaunch this week.
Chlamydia can cause infertility which directly reduces reproduction and the future viability of the population, he said.
Aside from Chlamydia, koala numbers have been hard hit in recent years by a series of environmental and ecological changes.
Ever-increasing land clearing to create pastures in rural areas have destroyed their natural environments, while koalas in urban areas are more likely to be injured or killed by cars as roads increasingly cut through their habitats.
The WWF-Australia estimates that more than 61,000 koalas may have perished during the massive Australian bushfires of late 2019 and early 2020.
It is predicted such bushfires will increase in frequency and intensity in coming years due to climate change.
As a consequence of the many threats to koalas, the federal government announced last November it would spend 18 million Australian dollars (about 13.9 million U.S. dollars) to help protect them.
The program will include funding for health research and medical support and the restoration of key habitat sites through revegetation, weed control, fencing and managed grazing.
Get a daily dose of Australian Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Australian Herald.
More InformationATLANTA, Georgia: The United States is facing its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, with 1,288 confirmed cases so...
In the past month alone, 23 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza—three more than the number of remaining living hostages held...
LONDON, U.K.: At least 13 people are believed to have taken their own lives as a result of the U.K.'s Post Office scandal, in which...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: An elaborate impersonation scheme involving artificial intelligence targeted senior U.S. and foreign officials in...
SLUBICE, Poland: Poland reinstated border controls with Germany and Lithuania on July 7, following Germany's earlier reintroduction...
Kingston [Jamaica], July 12 (ANI): Australia's Test captain Pat Cummins is set to sit out next month's white-ball series against South...
Kingston [Jamaica], July 12 (ANI): The combination of the pink ball and the conditions at Sabina Park has prompted Australia to reassess...
(Photo credit: Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Steve Allan of Australia rode a red-hot start to a...
London [UK], July 11 (ANI): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday provided an update on India's swashbuckling...
London [UK], July 11 (ANI): Former Indian skipper Anil Kumble praised all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy as a promising all-round option...
New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): Ahead of his 100th Test of his career, Australian pacer Mitchell Starc said it's quite funny that...