Koalas Given Clean Bill of Health

Some good news from Australia, where scientists have spent considerable time and money establishing that 27 koalas haven’t got chlamydia. The koalas, presumably, could have told them that. The scientists have discovered a thriving population of around 2,300 koalas near Newcastle, apparently free from chlamydia, a disease that can cause blindness, infertility and death in the Koala population.

Tests on 27 wild koalas found no trace of infection, although researchers aren’t declaring the entire population disease-free just yet. Thermal-imaging drones helped locate the animals, whose numbers have surprised conservationists.

With plenty of youngsters appearing, these koalas seem to be doing rather well. Apparently, keeping one’s distance from the neighbours has its advantages.