Healthy Land & Water’s $1.9 million Koala Threat Management Initiative is working to protect South East Queensland’s endangered koalas from chlamydia, one of their greatest threats.
Running across nine local government areas, field teams use thermal drones, traps, and climb-and-flag techniques to capture and assess koalas.
Since June 2025, nearly 150 koalas have been examined, with infection rates averaging around 59%. Healthy animals are tagged, vaccinated where possible, and released, while sick koalas are sent to wildlife hospitals for treatment.
The largest koala disease program ever undertaken in SEQ, it marks a significant milestone in protecting one of Australia’s most iconic species.
