A targeted new program aimed at addressing one of the greatest threats to koala survival in South East Queensland (SEQ) is now underway. Healthy Land & Water is delivering the Reducing the Threat of Chlamydia in SEQ’s Wild Koalas program, a $1.9 million initiative focused on treating and administering vaccines to suitable wild koala candidates against chlamydia, a disease that severely impacts koala health, survival, and reproduction across the region.

This work is a sub-program of the larger SEQ Koala Threat Management Initiatives (KTMI), funded by the Queensland Government Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI), and is a collaboration between Healthy Land & Water, research partners, local councils, wildlife hospitals, and veterinary experts.

Understanding the need

Chlamydia ranks among the top three threats to SEQ's koala populations, alongside habitat loss and vehicle strikes. The disease can cause blindness, reproductive issues, and even death in affected koalas. Chlamydia is typically fatal and is the leading cause of koala mortality in our region.

"This disease has devastating effects on koala fertility and survival rates," explains Indigo Kuss-Patterson, Environmental Project Officer and Project Lead at Healthy Land & Water. "Implementing targeted treatment, which can include vaccination, aims to reduce disease prevalence and improve population health outcomes across multiple council areas."

A collaborative approach

The sub-program brings together an impressive group of collaborators, including:

• Nine local councils across South East Queensland.
• UniSC's Detection Dogs for Conservation.
• Wildlife hospitals, including Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital and Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.
• Veterinary and conservation experts.

Working across multiple sites in Somerset Regional, Ipswich City, Lockyer Valley, Sunshine Coast, Noosa Shire, Logan City, Redlands City, Gold Coast City, and Brisbane City council areas, the program will run until December 2026.

How the sub-program works

The initiative follows a process that prioritises koala welfare while delivering meaningful conservation outcomes:

1. Detection: Using non-invasive methods like live thermal imaging drone surveys and detection dogs.
2. Health assessment: Qualified wildlife veterinary experts conduct thorough examinations of koalas in target locations.
3. Treatment: Providing antibiotics and care for koalas with chlamydial symptoms.
4. Vaccination: Administering vaccines to suitable koala candidates when possible.
5. Monitoring: Using fit-for-purpose tracking methods and devices to follow treatment outcomes and gather valuable data.

Read the full snapshot here Reducing the Threat of Chlamydia in SEQ’s Wild Koalas program.

Putting koala welfare first

The sub-program operates under strict animal ethics protocols, with all procedures conducted by qualified wildlife professionals.

Every aspect of the work is designed to minimise stress for the koalas. From detection methods to the tracking approach, the least invasive techniques that can deliver the necessary outcomes will be used.

When tracking is required to monitor treatment success, the team will assess the best option from a range of purpose-built lightweight devices that don't restrict movement or natural behaviours. These might include lightweight radio or Bluetooth ear tags or purpose-built collars. Individual project needs drive what tech is chosen, and that choice is made on the basis of what’s going to be minimally invasive and still deliver the required outcome.

Looking to the future

As this sub-program progresses to December 2026, we anticipate several important outcomes for SEQ's koala populations. The treatment and vaccination efforts aim to reduce chlamydial disease prevalence among wild koalas across the target areas.

This reduction should, in turn, lead to improved fertility rates and overall population health, critical factors for the species' regional recovery.

Beyond the immediate health benefits, the data collected throughout this initiative will deepen our understanding of how chlamydial disease impacts koala populations, specifically in South East Queensland. These insights will help shape practical conservation approaches for the region's koalas in the years ahead.

How can you help koalas every day?

Did you know you play an important role in koala conservation across South East Queensland? Each of us can make a real difference in protecting these iconic animals, even with simple everyday actions.

Community members can contribute by:

• Slowing down when driving in koala habitat areas.
• Keeping dogs contained at night in koala habitat areas.
• Planting koala food trees if you have suitable property.
• Reporting koala sightings via the app or your local council’s sighting platform.
• Sharing factual information about koala conservation programs.
• Actively monitoring koalas for signs of disease and reporting sick koalas to rescue organisations.
• Making your pool koala safe.
• Educating yourself on how to identify sick koalas - https://savethekoala.com/about-koalas/what-to-do-if-you-find-sick-injured-or-dead-koala/.

Questions about the program?

If you, any friends or local residents have a question about the program, make sure you reach out directly to us:
Project inquiries - Indigo Kuss-Patterson – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0419 133 543.
Media inquiries - Suzi Moore – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0427 641 239.
Also, check out the end of this article for the most frequently asked questions and answers.

This sub-program is funded by the Queensland Government Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation and runs in collaboration with Sunshine Coast Regional, Noosa Shire, City of Gold Coast, Ipswich City, Lockyer Valley Regional, Somerset Regional, Brisbane City, Logan City, Redland City councils, UQ, UniSC’s Detection Dogs for Conservation, Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Moggill Koala Rehabilitation Centre, QUT, Wild Animal Solutions, Wattle Ecology & Veterinary Services.

Frequently asked questions

Q: How do you find and monitor koalas?
A: We use a combination of non-invasive methods, including live feed thermal drone surveys and specialised detection dogs trained to locate koalas and their scats. When necessary for health assessment, we capture koalas following strict animal welfare and ethically approved protocols.

Q: How do you track treated koalas?
A: We prioritise the use of less-invasive monitoring methods where possible, such as lightweight tracking devices (radio or Bluetooth ear tags and collars) that often attach to standard identification tags. These cause minimal distress while allowing us to monitor treatment effectiveness and koala movement patterns. Individual project needs drive what tech (ear tags or collars) is chosen, and that choice is made on the basis of what’s going to be minimally invasive and still deliver the required outcome.

Q: Why do koalas get tagged?
A: Without a tracking device, it is nearly impossible to find a koala again. Koalas that receive the QUT developed vaccine need to be tracked and given a booster dose after 4 weeks. Being able to check on the koalas after treatment due to disease or injury is important to help track the koalas’ health after it is released from a wildlife hospital. Tracking is also important for research projects to understand how well a vaccine or treatment performs and to understand where koalas are living and what habitat they are using.

Q: Is a tracker implanted under the koala’s skin?
A: No, the only item implanted under the skin is a microchip that is the same as with domestic cats and dogs.

Q: Is it painful or uncomfortable for a koala to have tags fitted?
A: Most tagging and veterinary health assessments are conducted while the koala is under general anaesthetic – they don’t feel anything during the procedure. It is very common for koalas to start eating leaves as soon as they wake up. If they felt significant pain or discomfort, they would not do this. After release the koalas are monitored for signs of discomfort and will be attended to if such signs are found.

Q: Do tags or other tracking devices (collars, for example) restrict their movement and feeding, and other behaviour?
A: The tracking devices are purpose-built to fit on a koala's body and work with them as they move around their natural environment. Collars are purpose built to break/fall off if caught/snagged to prevent injury.
Here are some photos of the tracking devices:
Business as usual for Elsa, chewing away on some eucalypt with her collar on.

Business as usual for Maya, having a nap while the sun is out.

Joya and Olive are enjoying the sun while Mum has her tag on.

Q: Why is treating chlamydia important?
A: Chlamydia can cause pain, blindness, infertility, incontinence and death in koalas and is one of the top 3 threats to SEQ koalas. By treating infected individuals, we can improve their welfare and potentially increase survival and reproduction rates in the population.

Q: How are koalas captured and handled?
A: All captures are conducted by experienced professionals using established and ethically approved protocols that aim to minimise stress. Each koala receives a thorough health assessment, and handling time is kept to a minimum.

Q: Are koalas tagged just for scientific research?
A: No. This is a management program which aims to have a real, positive impact on koalas. Tagging koalas will help us to detect when they are at risk, sick or injured.

Q: Where do koalas go after they are captured?
A: All koalas will be assessed either on-site or at a wildlife hospital by a registered veterinarian. If they are deemed healthy they will be released at their point of capture. If they are unwell or injured, they will be transported to the nearest wildlife hospital for treatment.

Q: How are koalas with severe health conditions managed within the program?
A: Koala health and welfare are our absolute top priorities. Our program's primary goal is to improve koala health outcomes through intervention before conditions reach such advanced stages. In some cases, veterinary professionals may identify koalas with advanced chlamydial disease or other severe health conditions that cause significant suffering and are beyond effective treatment. In these situations, veterinary experts may recommend humane end-of-life care as the most compassionate option. These difficult decisions are made only by qualified wildlife veterinarians after thorough health assessments, always with the individual koala's welfare and quality of life as the guiding principle.

Q: Can I report a koala sighting to help the program?
A: Yes! Community sightings are valuable. Please report sightings of koalas in the CSIRO Koala Spotter app, Atlas of Living Australia, iNaturalist or your local council's sighting platform.

Q: How do I know if I am in a koala habitat area?
A: Property-scale maps, including koala habitat areas and koala priority areas, can be accessed by downloading a free vegetation management report on the Queensland Government website. Koala habitat mapping is also available via the Queensland Globe, an interactive map where users can view a range of spatial layers. To find out more about the maps and how to access them, visit https://environment.desi.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals/living-with/koalas/mapping/koalamaps.

*Images supplied by Indigo Kuss-Patterson.