A regulator in Australia has approved a world-first vaccine designed to protect koalas from chlamydia, a disease that causes infertility and high death rates in this endangered animal. The single-dose vaccine was developed at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland after more than ten years of scientific research led by microbiologist Professor Peter Timms. Studies confirmed that the vaccine reduced the risk of koalas developing symptoms during breeding age and lowered death rates in wild populations by at least 65 percent. The recently announced approval permitted the use of the vaccine in wildlife hospitals, veterinary clinics, and conservation areas. Reports explained that chlamydia was responsible for almost half of deaths in koala populations, with infection rates in some regions reaching up to 70 percent. This situation created a critical threat to colonies in southeast Queensland and New South Wales, where some groups are close to local extinction.

The development of the vaccine was considered a notable step in protecting Australia’s most iconic marsupial. However, experts cautioned that habitat destruction caused by wildfires, urban growth, and climate change continues to intensify population decline. Conservation groups argued that vaccinating thousands of koalas may be unrealistic, while also stressing that the preservation of natural forests should remain the main priority. Government support through the A$76 million Saving Koalas Fund was described as a significant contribution to the success of the project. Experts added that the vaccine may inspire further research but warned that combined threats could still push koalas toward extinction by 2050.