Wildlife experts fear that the spread of an AIDS-like virus could force already threatened koalas into extinction.
Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations are in serious decline – victims of habitat loss, domestic dog predation, vehicular deaths, and bushfires.
Sadly, a new and deadly danger is facing the iconic koala: The koala retrovirus.
The spread of the koala retrovirus is having a catastrophic effect on the species.
According to a recent Scientific American article, director of research and ecological services at the Australian Wildlife Hospital, Jon Hanger, says that the retrovirus is already forcing smaller populations of koalas into extinction.
After its discovery in 2000, Dr. Hanger was the first person to genetically sequence the koala retrovirus – and he warns it is as serious as the deadly devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) which is decimating Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) populations, and threatening the species with extinction.
An alarming number of fatal medical issues have been linked to the koala retrovirus, as it infects and alters the DNA:
- Leukemia
- Bone marrow failure
- AIDS-like immune deficiencies
In addition the retrovirus, chlamydiosis is a threat to Australia’s koalas. It is estimated that up to 50 percent of the species are infected with the disease. Combined with the retrovirus – which compromises the immune system -chlamydiosis is likely to be a death sentence for its victims. World-famous Sam was euthanized earlier this year as a result of irreparable damage to her urinary and reproductive tracts, caused by chlamydia.
The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) warns that there are fewer than 100,000 koalas left in the wild.
The Australian Koala Foundation’s (AKF) research indicates that the koala is in trouble and that extinctions of local populations have already occurred. In contrast to the millions of koalas which were thought to be present at the time of European settlement, the AKF believes that there could be less than 100,000 remaining today. If this rate of decline continues … the koala is at risk of extinction.
To learn how you can help protect koalas from the deadly koala retrovirus, please visit Wildlife Warriors Worldwide.
Image source: flickr.com/piston9/ / CC BY 2.0
About Rhishja Cota-Larson
