AssetID: 55855255
Headline: Aussies bank koalas' sperm and eggs in bid to save country's iconic bears from extinction
Caption: BY MARK WORGAN Australian conservationists are planning to save the country’s beloved koala bears by banking their eggs and sperm. It’s part of an effort to create the first co-ordinated sperm and egg bank for the marsupials is being established in Queensland in a bid to safeguard the species' genetic future. The project, led by the University of Queensland (UQ), aims to preserve the reproductive cells of koalas that die from illness or injury, creating what researchers describe as a vital "genetic safety net" for a species under increasing pressure from habitat loss and disease. Reproductive biologist Dr Andres Gambini said many koalas admitted to wildlife hospitals each year do not survive, meaning their unique genetics are permanently lost. "Every year, many koalas are admitted to wildlife hospitals because of illness or injury and sadly, not all of them survive," Dr Gambini said. "At the moment, their valuable genetics are lost forever. "Losing genetic diversity can weaken future generations and decreases the ability of the species to adapt to challenges. "This project will create a safe and systematic way to rescue and preserve koala spermatozoa and eggs to support future conservation programs." The initiative builds on the university's expertise in marsupial reproduction, which includes the birth of the first koala through artificial insemination and the production of kangaroo IVF embryos. Over the past year, PhD candidate Patricio Dandy Palacios has developed procedures for the rapid collection and transport of koala ovaries and testes from wildlife hospitals to the laboratory. The reproductive cells will be stored in liquid nitrogen at UQ's Gatton campus. Wildlife reproduction specialist Associate Professor Steve Johnston said the bank would work closely with wildlife hospitals across the state. "We will work with wildlife hospitals to harvest sperm and eggs from koalas that have died or can no longer breed because of trauma or disease," Dr Johnston said. "The samples will be screened for genetic value and tested for Chlamydia pecorum, one of the major diseases affecting koala health and fertility. "We have the technology now to remove the infection from the samples. "In the future this material may be crucial to reintroduce genetics back into the population through artificial insemination or IVF embryos." Researchers say the bank is intended to complement, rather than replace, existing conservation efforts aimed at protecting Australia's iconic marsupial. "Koalas need habitat protection, disease management and strong population monitoring," Dr Gambini said. "But they also need a genetic backup system, and this sperm and egg bank can help preserve diversity while reproductive technologies continue to improve. "We cannot wait until populations are smaller and genetic diversity is harder to recover. "By preserving sperm and eggs today, we are giving future conservation programs more options to protect koalas tomorrow."
Keywords: feature,photo,video,koalas
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