Jane Prentice (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Moggill Koala Hospital in the electorate of Ryan is achieving wonderful outcomes for the rehabilitation and treatment of ill, deceased and orphaned koalas. More than 70,000 koalas have been rescued by the hospital over the last two decades. The work conducted at the hospital is of the utmost importance, as the decline in the koala population of Queensland threatens the species. In order to combat the threats facing the health of koalas, researchers at the University of Queensland are working with the Moggill Koala Hospital. This collaboration includes undertaking three separate research projects that aim to provide insight into how ill koalas can best be healed. Among these research projects will be the study of male koala infertility associated with chlamydiosis. Researchers involved hope that this study will provide a better understanding of what proportion of koalas with clinical chlamydiosis have upper reproductive tract pathology that might impact on fertility, jeopardising the future of the koala species.

The hospital provides facilities that house koalas infected with both cystitis and conjunctivitis; a koala kindy to allow baby koalas to learn to climb and then become independent; an injury and intensive care unit; and an on-site plantation for koala food trees. I look forward to seeing the results of these studies and the improvement they will make to the koala survival. I thank all the wonderful and hardworking staff and the volunteers.