Australian scientists have started vaccinating (接种疫苗) wild koalas against the disease chlamydia (衣原体病) in an ambitious trial in New South Wales (NSW). They want to test a way to protect the animals against the widespread condition that causes blindness, the inability to have babies, and death.
"It's killing koalas because they become so sick that they can't climb trees to get food and females are unable to have babies," said Dr. Samuel Phillips, a microbiologist at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Around half of the wild koala population in the Northern Rivers region of NSW—about 50 animals—will be caught and vaccinated. "We want to evaluate what percentage of the koalas we need to vaccinate to meaningfully reduce infection and disease," said Dr. Phillips.
The first koalas were caught and vaccinated in March and the effort is expected to last about three months. Researchers use telescopes to spot koalas in the trees, then build fences around the tree bases with doors leading into cages. After a few hours or days, the koalas climb down from one tree to seek tasty leaves on another and wander into the harmless traps.
After a check-up to make sure the animals are in good condition, researchers give them anaesthesia (麻醉) to make them sleep before they manage the vaccine. They watch the koalas' health for 24 hours after they wake up to make sure there are no side effects. The goal is to vaccinate healthy koalas to prevent them from becoming infected with chlamydia. The researchers mark the koalas' backs with pink dye so the same animals aren't caught twice.
It is not known what caused koalas to catch chlamydia. But the scientists believe it was probably from exposure to the infected sheep and cattle. It spreads when koalas mate, or it can be passed from a mother to her babies.
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