The deaths of dozens of koalas in Victoria prompted Australia regulators to issue hundreds of animal cruelty charges. In 2020, dead koalas were found at a timber plantation that was partly cleared at Cape Bridgewater. Due to dehydration and injuries incurred during the incident, other koalas were euthanized.
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The key to the survival of Australia’s globally iconic koala species may be found in its faeces, a Central Queensland scientist has found.
The critical revelation could determine how long future generations can see the magnificent marsupials in the wild, after a World Wildlife Fund commissioned report announced more than 60,000 koalas were impacted by the devastating 2019-2020 bushfires.
Central Queensland University koala researcher Dr Flavia Santamaria has spent the past year prying through piles of poo to determine the mammals stress levels.
Just like how humans became more vulnerable to diseases and illnesses when stressed, Dr Santamaria said so did koalas.