NSW Koala Research Plan

Organisation: Ulladulla Local Aboriginal Land Council
Funding awarded: $105,000

This project explores koalas and their connection to Country on the South Coast of New South Wales. Led by the Ulladulla Local Aboriginal Land Council, it uses a community-led approach that centres Aboriginal knowledge, storytelling and cultural values.

Over 12 months, Aboriginal researchers and rangers will work with scientific partners to combine traditional knowledge with ecological methods. Activities include on-Country visits, habitat mapping and community consultation, alongside training in new data collection techniques. The project will also develop secure digital tools to record and share knowledge.

Outcomes include stronger cultural connections, improved ranger skills and a protected koala knowledge repository. By bringing together Indigenous and scientific perspectives, the project will support more effective koala conservation and land management.

Organisation: Charles Sturt University
Funding awarded: $217,250

This project adopts a Two-Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk in Mi'kmaw) approach to koala conservation, bringing together Western ecological science and Aboriginal Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). The Two-Eyed Seeing framework is grounded in Mi’kmaq culture and recognises that Western science and Indigenous knowledge systems are not in opposition but instead complement one another, each offering different strengths. Applying this principle, the project aims to address key gaps in understanding koala habitat, fire regimes and land management by integrating Indigenous knowledge and perspectives throughout the research process. It also recognises the cultural relationships between koalas, Country and community.

The research includes a literature review to identify trends and gaps in existing koala studies, alongside the development of a culturally grounded framework for ethical knowledge sharing with Aboriginal communities. Future stages will involve on-Country engagement, including cultural mapping, field observations and community-led workshops.

These actions will help:

• identify research priorities
• strengthen the integration of cultural and ecological knowledge
• provide practical guidance for habitat restoration, fire management and conservation planning.

These actions will support more effective and culturally informed koala conservation.

Organisation: University of Queensland
Lead researcher: Celine Frere
Funding awarded: $160,000

Chlamydia and retrovirus are key threats to koalas, but detecting sick koalas in the wild is slow, difficult and expensive. Many koalas that reach wildlife hospitals often arrive too late for treatment, making it hard to manage disease before it becomes severe. Scientists can test koala scat to detect these diseases, but current methods only show whether a koala carries the infection not whether the infection has made it sick, because many infected koalas remain healthy. 

This project aims to improve how koala health is assessed by developing a low cost, non invasive test that can identify when a koala is sick. By analysing the full range of bacteria found in koala scats, the research will identify biological markers of poor health. These tools will help target on ground care and improve understanding of what a healthy koala habitat looks like.

Organisation: Western Sydney University
Lead researcher: Uffe Nielson
Funding awarded: $248,000

This project examines how quickly restored sites can begin to support koalas. In addition, it focuses on which restoration methods work best in the first 3 years after planting.

The first stage of the project will identify key signs that restoration benefits koalas, including how well koala food trees are growing, leaf quality and whether koalas are using restoration sites up to 20 years after planting.

The second stage will involve on ground monitoring of recent restoration experiments in important koala movement corridors around Appin in south western Sydney. Field data will be supported by other sources of evidence to build a strong picture of early habitat use.

By showing how long restoration takes to become useful for koalas, and which approaches encourage koalas to return sooner, this project can help guide future restoration efforts and support the long term conservation of koalas in the region.

Organisation: Griffith University
Lead researcher: Jun Zhou
Funding awarded: $170,000

Koalas face a range of threats, including habitat loss and fragmentation, vehicle strike, disease and dog attacks. Vehicle strike is the second-highest contributor to koala mortality and injury, with an estimated 3,500 koalas killed on NSW roads between 1980 and 2018.

The primary research objective of this project is to reduce koala injuries and roadkill by developing a prototype smart road sign. This road sign system comprises both hardware and software components that are integrated to provide real-time, reliable koala detection, with warning messages displayed on the road sign to alert drivers when koalas are detected near or on the road.

Organisation: Western Sydney University
Lead researcher: Rachael Gallagher
Funding awarded: $245,000

Effective ecological restoration depends on understanding how restoration type, design and maintenance influence ecosystem outcomes. This research project is evaluating koala habitat restoration by examining historical restoration sites across several regions to determine ecological outcomes. Success is being assessed through analysis of key habitat features and evidence of koala use, along with identification of restoration practices that contributed most to positive outcomes.

Contemporary koala habitat restoration sites have also been surveyed to assess whether established practices are being applied and to evaluate the likelihood of achieving effective restoration outcomes. 

The project seeks to define clear and defensible metrics for identifying restoration success, highlighting key practices applicable to current and future projects and identifying critical knowledge gaps.

Overall, the research is providing much-needed quantitative evidence on whether investment in koala habitat restoration delivers meaningful conservation and landscape-scale outcomes.

Organisation: University of New England
Lead researcher: Bradley Evans and Rajesh Thapa
Funding awarded: $20,000

This project assessed how landscape capacity for koalas has changed over time and how it is likely to shift under future climate conditions, identifying priority areas for conservation across New South Wales.

Using habitat suitability modelling and climate projections from 2000 to 2070, the study found that landscape capacity has already declined and is expected to shrink further. Inland regions are most at risk, while coastal and higher altitude areas are likely to remain more resilient.

The findings highlight the importance of protecting climate refugia and restoring habitat in areas where resilience can be improved through climate-ready planting. Strengthening habitat connectivity will help koalas move as conditions change. The modelling can also guide regional planning, land acquisition and long-term conservation investment.

Researchers recommend further work to refine predictions using finer-scale data and improved assumptions about water availability. They also suggest future models incorporate factors such as extreme events, fire and disease, supported by field validation to strengthen confidence in outcomes.

For more information, visit Koalas in the landscape technical report.

Organisation: University of New England
Lead researcher: Bradley Evans and Rajesh Thapa
Funding awarded: $311,874

This project identified climate-resilient habitats, future refugia and movement pathways for koalas under a range of long-term climate scenarios across New South Wales.

Using 12 climate scenarios and updated modelling of habitat, tree species and landscape connectivity, the study found that inland habitat is likely to decline sharply, while coastal and southern regions remain relatively stable. It also showed that targeted restoration can help create additional refugia and support long-distance movement as conditions change.

The findings highlight the need to:

• protect areas where multiple models agree on long-term suitability
• restore degraded habitat along future climate migration corridors using climate-ready tree species.

Targeted support for vulnerable inland populations may also be required.

Researchers recommend incorporating updated climate projections, extreme events and finer-scale environmental data into future modelling. They also highlight the importance of strengthening collaboration with local stakeholders to help translate modelling insights into practical, on-ground climate adaptation actions.

Organisation: 3D Ecology Mapping
Lead researcher: Mark Fisher
Funding awarded: $41,480

This project assessed how legacy development approvals and ongoing urban expansion are impacting koala habitat across 3 coastal local government areas: Tweed Heads, Coffs Harbour and Mid-Coast. Many older approvals do not reflect current environmental standards, creating hidden risks of habitat loss.

The team mapped approved and potential development areas against known koala habitat. Results found that more than 80% of habitat was at risk. Key habitat areas supporting koala population hubs and movement corridors are particularly exposed, especially in the Tweed region.

The project highlights the need to strengthen zoning and update koala plans of management to better protect high-value habitat. Priority actions include:

• safeguarding core habitat areas and corridors
• avoiding offsets in critical locations
• expanding restoration in urban green spaces to reconnect fragmented landscapes.

Researchers recommend further work to:

• improve population estimates
• refine habitat mapping for coastal areas
• establish long-term monitoring.

They also emphasise the importance of closer coordination between planning and conservation agencies to support sustainable development while protecting koala populations.

Organisation: Western Sydney University
Lead researcher: Rachael Nolan
Funding awarded: $55,000

This project mapped different types of vegetation dieback across New South Wales and identified where they overlap with high-quality koala habitat to better target conservation efforts.

By overlaying dieback datasets with statewide koala habitat maps, the study found that threats such as Phytophthora and salinity are affecting large areas of habitat. Risk is particularly high in coastal regions, where multiple forms of dieback often occur together, compounding impacts on ecosystem health.

The findings highlight the need to improve mapping for less well-documented dieback types and expand forest health monitoring. Priority actions include:

• focusing restoration in areas where multiple threats coincide
• protecting refugia with low exposure to dieback
• integrating dieback risk into land use planning and conservation strategies.

Researchers recommend further research to:

• Improve the accuracy of dieback data.
• Better understand how different species respond.
• Validate findings in the field.

This will help ensure management actions are targeted, effective and reflect real-world conditions.

Organisation: University of Western Sydney
Lead researcher: Rachael Nolan
Funding awarded: $42,000

This project assessed the causes of eucalyptus dieback and its implications for koala habitat quality, nutrition and long-term population viability across New South Wales.

A review of scientific and government literature found that dieback is driven by multiple interacting pressures, including climate stress, pathogens, salinity, invasive species, fire and grazing. Together, these factors are reducing canopy cover and the nutritional quality of leaves, directly affecting the availability and condition of koala food sources.

The findings highlight the need to:

• Strengthen monitoring through remote sensing and citizen science.
• Prioritise restoration in degraded but high-value areas.
• Protect refugia where tree health remains stable.
• Manage invasive species and grazing pressure.

Integrating dieback risk into conservation and land use planning will help improve long-term habitat security.

Researchers recommend further research to better understand:

• chronic dieback
• regeneration capacity
• how multiple stressors interact.

Research should be supported by finer-scale mapping and long-term monitoring.

Organisation: Biolink
Lead researcher: Steve Phillips
Funding awarded: $47,000

Effective conservation of free‐ranging koala populations has been impeded by a poor understanding of which elements of the landscape influence habitat use. Using an existing 20-year data set, this project will look at developing a statewide, hierarchical approach to understanding tree selection and associated aspects of habitat use by free‐ranging koalas.

The project will provide an assessment of tree selection and habitat use, mathematical models relating to tree use, and recommendations as to how this knowledge can be applied to koala habitat classification and modelling.

Organisation: University of Queensland
Lead researcher: Michaela Blyton
Funding awarded: $231,261

This project assessed how stress, landscape modification and variation in koala retrovirus load influence disease susceptibility in koalas.

The study explored the hypothesis that stress may increase retrovirus replication, increasing vulnerability to other diseases. Researchers measured stress hormone metabolites, retrovirus load and pathogen presence across landscapes with varying levels of human association.

Findings showed that high retrovirus load, rather than stress levels alone, was the strongest predictor of disease risk. Interestingly, peri-urban koalas exhibited lower disease and stress levels compared to those in rural areas or in national parks.

These results suggest that retrovirus load could be used as an early indicator of disease vulnerability. They also highlight that peri-urban environments may, in some cases, support healthier koalas due to more consistent resources and access to veterinary care. Management priorities should focus on:

• maintaining high-quality habitat
• monitoring retrovirus subtypes
• reducing environmental stressors where possible.

Researchers:

• recommend further research to –
  • better understand how acute and chronic stress interact with viral activity
  • clarify relationships between retrovirus, herpesvirus and chlamydia.
• highlight the need for larger long-term datasets and regional comparisons to determine how widely these patterns apply.

For more information, visit Temporal dynamics of koala retrovirus plasma RNA load in relation to faecal glucocorticoid metabolites and Chlamydia infection.

Organisation: Science for Wildlife
Lead researcher: Kellie Leigh
Funding awarded: $144,800

This project examined how koalas use the landscape under different seasonal conditions to inform conservation under climate change. Building on research before and after the 2019–20 bushfires, it covered 2 diverse sites in the World Heritage Blue Mountains.

Researchers used VHF and GPS tracking data from koalas, as well as temperature loggers distributed across the landscape, and combined this with biophysical, environmental and remote sensing data to model habitat selection, home ranges and movement. Chlamydia and koala retrovirus (KoRV) prevalence was assessed through veterinary swabbing and genetic testing of scats collected by detection dogs and citizen scientists.

Landscape diversity was found to improve species resilience to climate change, with gully microclimates providing key thermal refuges in warmer months. Koalas shifted habitat use seasonally, favouring high-elevation west-facing slopes in warm periods for cooling and north-facing slopes in cooler periods for warmth. Shelter trees were used in summer at only one site. One population was affected by chlamydia (43% scat prevalence, higher in rural areas), while another remained disease-free, suggesting the populations are not connected.

Findings highlight the need to incorporate microclimate, hydrological features and diverse landscape characteristics into habitat planning and restoration, alongside food and shelter trees. Researchers recommend:

• long-term monitoring to capture extreme climatic events
• the development of disease mitigation strategies to prevent transmission between disconnected populations.

For more information, visit Seasonal habitat selection in an arboreal mammal identifies landscape characteristics that improve species resilience under climate change.

Organisation: University of Sunshine Coast
Lead researcher: Samuel Phillips
Funding awarded: $211,423

This project evaluated whether partial vaccination can reduce overall chlamydia prevalence in a wild koala population.

Using non-invasive monitoring methods, including thermal drones, scat detection dogs and genetic identification, researchers tracked individuals and delivered targeted vaccinations in minimally disturbed landscapes.

Findings showed that disease prevalence was already low at the study site. Following partial vaccination, prevalence declined slightly, but the change was not statistically significant.

These results demonstrate that integrated, non-invasive monitoring is a practical and effective approach for population-scale vaccination trials. However, higher vaccination coverage and areas with higher baseline disease prevalence are likely needed to detect meaningful impacts.

Researchers recommend that future trials:

• Focus on populations with greater disease burden.
• Refine sampling frequency.
• Continue to improve welfare-friendly monitoring techniques.

They also highlight the need for further research to identify the vaccination thresholds required to achieve population-level benefits. Improving genetic identification tools, extending monitoring periods beyond 12 months and linking field data with epidemiological models will help better predict long-term outcomes.

Organisation: University of Sydney
Lead researcher: Valentina Mella
Funding awarded: $55,208

This project identified temperature thresholds linked to koala admissions and mortality risk across New South Wales, providing critical evidence for climate adaptation planning.

Using data from 11,862 koala hospital admissions alongside climate records, the study found that risk begins to increase at 27°C and more than doubles at 40°C. Adult koalas, particularly those already affected by disease, were most vulnerable to heat-related impacts.

The findings highlight the importance of protecting and restoring shade-rich habitats to help buffer extreme temperatures. Priority actions include:

• increasing canopy cover
• installing water stations during heatwaves
• focusing interventions in inland hotspot areas.

Improving hospital preparedness and integrating heat risk forecasting into emergency responses will also support better outcomes.

Researchers recommend further research to:

• Map microclimates.
• Understand how heat and disease interact.
• Validate forecasting tools.

They also highlight that long-term monitoring will be important to assess population-level impacts as extreme heat events become more frequent.

For more information, visit Hot days increase the risk of heat-stress-related deaths in endangered koala populations.

Organisation: Australian National University
Lead researcher: Karen Marsh
Funding awarded: $143,872

This project evaluated how fire affects koala diet composition and food quality across burnt and unburnt areas of the NSW Southern Tablelands. It also compared different survey methods to measure availability of koala food trees.

Results showed that transect and quadrat surveys provided more reliable estimates of species diversity than point surveys, which tended to underestimate diversity and could misrepresent koala food preferences. Diet analysis found that koalas did not alter their diet after fire, continuing to prefer 2 key species, Eucalyptus rossii and E. viminalis, in both burnt and unburnt habitats. However, diet quality differed, with koalas consuming diets higher in protein in burnt areas. This is likely linked to epicormic regrowth, which was found to have higher protein concentrations than mature leaves.

These findings suggest that epicormic regrowth can provide a valuable food source after fire and that healthy koalas can remain in burnt habitats where epicormic or mature leaves are available.

Researchers recommend further research to understand long-term impacts of fire on koala health, reproduction and population recovery.

Organisation: University of Queensland
Lead researcher: Jonathan Rhodes
Funding awarded: $195,420

This project identified the key drivers of habitat loss and assessed policy options to reduce land clearing across New South Wales.

Using expert workshops, spatial modelling and causal analysis, the study found that regulatory changes significantly impacted on clearing rates. Periods of deregulation were associated with increased habitat loss, while more targeted policy settings could substantially reduce clearing.

The findings highlight the importance of strengthening regulations, especially for self-assessable clearing, alongside improved monitoring, compliance and clearer guidance for landholders. Targeting investment in high-risk regions and addressing potential displacement of clearing to other areas will also be important. Integrating habitat loss modelling into koala strategy actions can help guide more effective decision-making.

Researchers recommend further work to incorporate updated socio-economic data and climate projections into clearing risk models. They also highlight the importance of ongoing research into landholder behaviour and adaptive monitoring to track the effectiveness of policy changes over time.

Organisation: University of Sydney
Lead researcher: Mark Krockenberger
Funding awarded: $309,500

This project assessed whether a recombinant vaccine against chlamydiosis could reduce infection, shedding and disease in wild koala populations with varying baseline prevalence.

Randomised vaccine trials were conducted across 3 populations, with repeated capture to assess immune response and disease outcomes.

Results showed that while vaccination increased immune markers, it did not reduce infection rates, pathogen shedding or disease severity in any of the populations studied.

These findings show that a single vaccine dose is not enough to control chlamydiosis in wild koalas, especially in areas where the disease is already established. Vaccination alone also cannot be relied on to protect disease-free populations from chlamydiosis.

Researchers recommend that management of affected koala populations should prioritise:

• habitat improvement
• targeted treatment of clinical cases
• continued development of more effective vaccines, particularly those that enhance mucosal immunity.

They also recommend that populations currently free from chlamydiosis be managed using multiple strategies to prevent diseased koalas from contacting the disease-free populations.

Researchers highlight the need for further research to:

• Identify immune pathways that provide true protection.
• Explore improved delivery methods, booster schedules and vaccination of juveniles.

Longer-term studies in high-prevalence populations with stronger sampling designs will be important for assessing whether next-generation vaccines can reduce transmission at a population level.

For more information, visit Evaluation of Chlamydia pecorum major outer membrane protein vaccine a management tool in wild koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations.

Organisation: Science for Wildlife
Lead researcher: Kellie Leigh
Funding awarded: $281,725

This project assessed the status and resilience of koalas across sites in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, focusing on population trends, fire impacts, climate refugia, genetics and disease. The region is genetically significant and was extensively affected by severe fires, making it a priority for recovery planning.

Researchers used radio tracking, scat surveys, habitat modelling, genetic sampling and disease testing to understand population distribution, habitat selection and health before and after fire. Koalas persisted but shifted into fire refugia. Populations were widespread, with high genetic diversity and some chlamydia-free populations.

The findings highlight the importance of protecting refugia, restoring burnt habitat and maintaining landscape connectivity. Researchers recommend:

• ongoing monitoring
• stronger integration of genetics and disease data into management
• landholder engagement.

They highlight a need for further genomic research and long-term monitoring, particularly to understand how refugia will perform under future climate conditions.

For more information, visit:

• Development and validation of a standardised genomic tool for conservation management of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
• Reversing the decline of threatened koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations in New South Wales: Using genomics to enhance conservation outcomes.

Organisation: NSW Department of Planning and Environment
Lead researcher: Brad Law
Funding awarded: $124,356

This project assessed koala presence in private forests and identified the landscape features that best predict where they occur. Private land supports much of the remaining habitat, but limited access has left important knowledge gaps.

Landholders deployed acoustic sensors and the resulting data were analysed by researchers using occupancy modelling to account for detection bias. Koalas were detected at 58% of sites. Road density was the strongest negative influence, while timber harvesting history showed no significant effect.

The findings highlight the importance of private forests for sustaining regional populations. Key priorities are:

• reducing road impacts
• maintaining habitat connectivity
• supporting landholder participation.

With careful management, forestry can coexist with koala conservation, and occupancy maps can help target on-ground actions more effectively.
Researchers recommend long-term monitoring on private land, along with further research into koala movement and how they use forest resources to guide best-practice management.

For more information, visit Mini-acoustic sensors reveal occupancy and threats to koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in private native forests.

Organisation: Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum
Lead researcher: Matthew Lott
Funding awarded: $56,490

This project identified genetic diversity, structure and connectivity across koala populations in New South Wales to help inform conservation priorities. Declining genetic diversity in fragmented populations increases extinction risk, highlighting the need for genomic evidence to guide action.

Researchers used a combination of whole-exome and genome-wide sequencing of 576 koalas from 29 regions to assess gene flow and diversity. There were 6 major genetic clusters identified, with generally low connectivity between them. Several populations showed low genetic diversity, while coastal areas were found to be important ‘source’ populations.

The findings show that no population is expendable. Protecting all regions helps retain unique genetic variation. Priorities include:

• restoring connectivity
• conserving habitat
• carefully planning translocations at appropriate scales using genomic data.

Researchers recommend further work in under-sampled areas, along with long-term monitoring and improved understanding of adaptive differences to strengthen conservation under a changing climate.

For more information, visit:

• Reversing the decline of threatened koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations in New South Wales: Using genomics to enhance conservation outcomes
• Development and Validation of a Standardised Genomic Tool for Conservation Management of the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).

Organisation: University of Sydney
Lead researcher: Damien Higgins
Funding awarded: $113,080

This project examined how disease strain movement, immune response and environmental stress interact to influence koala health and susceptibility to disease. Disease impacts vary widely across populations and can affect long-term viability, making it important to understand the drivers of infection and severity. The study used high-resolution strain typing, immune profiling and environmental analysis to investigate these relationships.

Findings show new strains are emerging, with immune suppression linked to heat and drought stress. High levels of koala retrovirus (KoRV) were also associated with poorer health outcomes.

The results highlight the importance of using strain-level information to guide translocations and conservation planning. Immune markers may also provide early warning signs of population stress, while habitat restoration can help reduce environmental pressures and improve resilience.

Researchers suggest future work focus on:

• national-scale strain monitoring
• long-term immune studies
• integrating disease data into habitat corridor and connectivity planning.

For more information, visit:

• Genetic markers of Chlamydia pecorum virulence in ruminants support short term host-pathogen evolutionary relationships in the koala, Phascolarctos cinereus
• Novel typing scheme reveals emergence and genetic diversity of Chlamydia pecorum at the local management scale across two koala populations
• A novel multi-variate immunological approach, reveals immune variation associated with environmental conditions, and co-infection in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
• The CARD9 Gene in Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus): Does It Play a Role in the Cryptococcus-Koala Interaction?
• Koala MHCII association with chlamydia infertility remains equivocal: a need for new research approaches.

Organisation: University of Queensland
Lead researcher: Jonathan Rhodes    
Funding awarded: $266,696

This project examined landholder motivations and barriers to adopting conservation practices and identified where private land actions can deliver the greatest benefits for koala habitat. A large majority of high-quality koala habitat is privately owned, so understanding what drives participation is essential for designing effective programs.

The study combined a large online landholder survey with spatial modelling of habitat value, likelihood of conservation uptake, and landholder responses to climate change.

Findings show that adoption is influenced by livelihood needs, trust in agencies and prior engagement. Uptake also varies geographically, with differences in costs and willingness to participate across regions. Uptake also varies with different landholder perceptions of future climate risk. These differences in landholders’ adoption intentions should be taken into account in private land conservation programs.

The results highlight the need for programs that reflect real land-use conditions, supported by adequate financial incentives and flexibility to adapt to climate change. Non-binding programs can also help build pathways toward formal conservation agreements, while trust-building with agencies remains critical. Considering how these strategies are affected by climate change is important for designing effective private land conservation programs.

Researchers recommend future work should further explore what drives participation under climate change to better understand how private land conservation can support both koalas and rural livelihoods over the long term.

For more information, visit:

• Practitioner and landholder perspectives on conservation covenants and extreme weather events
• Optimal investments in private land conservation depend more on landholder preferences than climate change
• Do private land conservation policies and programs adequately consider climate change?
• Can conservation covenants help sustain nature and livelihoods? Factors associated with conservation covenant adopters in Australia.

Organisation: University of Technology Sydney
Lead researcher: Wilhelmina Huston
Funding awarded: $70,000

This project aimed to identify new treatment options and optimise existing compounds to develop safer, more effective therapies for koala chlamydial infection. Current antibiotics can disrupt koala gut health and require extended treatment periods, highlighting the need for improved alternatives.

The study involved laboratory screening of new and repurposed drugs, chemical optimisation and testing in mouse models to assess efficacy.

While the original compound could not be improved to meet targets, several repurposed drugs showed strong inhibition of chlamydia, including one that demonstrated consistent effectiveness in mouse models.

These results suggest at least one promising candidate for further development. A broader range of treatment options would reduce reliance on a single antibiotic, lower the risk of resistance, and may enable combination therapies that improve outcomes and reduce gut disruption.

Researchers conclude that further work focus on:

• safety
• dosing
• pharmacokinetic testing in koalas
• expanded drug screening
• evaluation of microbiome impacts to support future clinical trials.

For more information, visit 

• Optimization of peptide-based inhibitors targeting the HtrA serine protease in Chlamydia: Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of pyridone-based and N-Capping group-modified analogues
• A pilot study of re-purposing drugs to treat koalas with chlamydia.

Organisation: Endeavour Veterinary Ecology Pty Ltd
Lead researcher: Jon Hanger
Funding awarded: $97,980

This project developed best-practice guidelines for koala translocations by reviewing the evidence and identifying key risks and success factors. As translocations are being proposed more often, clear, science-based standards are needed to improve outcomes and avoid past failures.

The team combined a literature review with expert workshops and cross-disciplinary surveys. They found that successful translocations rely on careful planning, suitable habitat, disease screening and long-term monitoring. Poorly designed programs were more likely to fail.

The resulting guidelines support consistent, evidence-based decision making. Translocations are most effective within a species’ existing range or to strengthen local populations, especially when combined with habitat restoration and broader regional programs.

Researchers conclude further research is needed to better understand:

• long-term genetic impacts
• the sustainability of source populations
• outcomes for koalas released from captivity.

For more information, visit:

• NSW koala translocation report: Part A – Translocation review
• NSW koala translocation report: Part B – Best practice guidelines.

Organisation: University of the Sunshine Coast
Lead researcher: Bonnie Quigley and Peter Timms
Funding awarded: $150,000

This project tested a combined vaccine targeting both chlamydia and koala retrovirus (KoRV) in wild koalas to assess its safety and effectiveness. As these diseases often occur together and worsen health outcomes, a dual vaccine could offer stronger protection.

Researchers vaccinated wild koalas and monitored their immune response, along with viral and bacterial levels. Both vaccines were found to be safe and the combined vaccine significantly boosted immunity and reduced pathogen load.

The results suggest the dual vaccine is a promising tool for managing disease, with potential to reduce deaths and improve fertility in high-risk populations. It may be suitable for broader use once long-term effects are confirmed.

Researchers identify the need for further research to understand:

• how long protection lasts
• whether booster doses are required
• the impacts at a population scale.

They also highlight the need for additional study into the mechanisms behind reductions in specific KoRV subtypes.

For more information, visit:

• Reduction of Chlamydia pecorum and Koala Retrovirus subtype B expression in wild koalas vaccinated with novel peptide and peptide/recombinant protein formulations
• Koalas first: lessons from a wildlife Chlamydia vaccine
• Dominance of Vaccine-Specific Chlamydia pecorum ompA Genotypes in Koalas From North-Eastern Australia
• Immunisation of koalas against Chlamydia pecorum results in significant protection against chlamydial disease and mortality.

Organisation: Western Sydney University
Lead researcher: Ben Moore
Funding awarded: $409,800

This project examined how heat, moisture and leaf chemistry influence koala feeding, physiology and survival, and used these findings to build climate refugia models and improve koala habitat suitability models. As koalas rely on leaf moisture and are facing more frequent heat extremes, models that incorporate physiology and leaf moisture availability are needed to better predict:

• risk of heat stress
• potential for dehydration and hyperthermia
• habitat suitability.

Researchers combined biologging, behavioural observations and satellite-derived estimates of foliar moisture content to better understand the potential for koala survival under different conditions. They found that koalas reduced feeding during hot and wet conditions. Foliar moisture content varied markedly across landscapes and through the day, and drought reduced leaf moisture and thus nutritional quality, decreasing habitat suitability for koalas.

These findings highlight the need to:

• Identify and protect high-moisture refuges.
• Prioritise restoration in drought-prone landscapes.
• Consider providing supplemental water during extreme heat.

Improved models of leaf moisture and habitat productivity can support climate-ready translocations and inform regional planning.

Researchers recommend further work to refine heat stress thresholds and better understand how changes in leaf chemistry and rainfall patterns influence resilience of koalas to climate extremes.

For more information, visit:

• Monitoring forest foliar moisture using Sentinel-2 reflectance and radiative transfer model inversion
• Identifying habitat productivity thresholds to assess the effects of drought on a specialist folivore.

Organisation: University of Sydney
Lead researcher: Mark Krockenberger
Funding awarded: $363,208

This project tested a synthetic peptide vaccine to assess whether it could reduce chlamydia-related disease (chlamydiosis), shedding and immune suppression in a high-prevalence koala population. As chlamydia significantly affects fertility and survival, an effective vaccine could support population-level management.

Researchers ran a randomised, placebo-controlled field trial with repeated recaptures to assess immune response, infection levels and clinical outcomes. The vaccine showed no measurable benefit, with weak immune responses and no change in disease.

These results indicate the formulation is not suitable for broad use. Researchers suggest future efforts focus on full-protein vaccines and target earlier-stage or low-prevalence populations. Vaccination should also be integrated with habitat and disease management.

Researchers recommend further research to:

• improve vaccine design
• assess booster requirements
• test suitability across different populations, including younger and healthier koalas.

For more information, visit Efficacy of a synthetic peptide Chlamydia pecorum major outer membrane protein vaccine in a wild koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) population.