Koalas

Koalas are dying from chlamydia. A new vaccine effort is trying to save them

Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in an ambitious field trial in New South Wales.

FILE - A young koala looks through eucalyptus leaves in a zoo in Duisburg, Germany, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. Koalas have been declared officially endangered in eastern Australia as they fall prey to disease, lost habitat and other threats. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

Koala declared endangered as disease, lost habitat take toll

This photo released by Nadia Tugwell, shows a koala inside Tugwell's car in Adelaide, Australia on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. The koala has been rescued after causing a five-car pileup while trying to cross a six-lane freeway in southern Australia. (Nadia Tugwell via AP)

Koala rescued after 5-car pileup on Australian freeway

This image released by Netflix shows Ali Bee, from left, Izzy Bee and Tim Bee in a scene from "Izzy's Koala World," which follows an 11-year old girl as she helps her veterinarian mom take care of koalas. (Netflix via AP)

New Netflix series features an 11-year-old ‘koala whisperer’

This 2017 photo provided by David Stowe shows a female regent honeyeater in Capertee National Park, New South Wales, Australia. There are only 300 to 400 of the birds left in the wild, says Ross Crates, an ecologist at Australia National University. They are dependent on nectar from certain eucalyptus tree blossoms, but the dry weather has meant that many trees are producing no nectar. (David Stowe/davidstowe.com.au via AP)

Scientists seek rare species survivors amid Australia flames

Australian leader threatens to fire ministers over koalas

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian state leader on Friday shut down a revolt in her coalition government over a policy to protect koala habitat by threatening to fire seven renegade ministers.

This image made from video shows dead kangaroos and sheep after wildfires hit the Kangaroo Island, South Australia Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. Milder temperatures Sunday brought hope of a respite from wildfires that have ravaged three Australian states, destroying almost 2,000 homes. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation via AP)

Wildfires threaten unique critters on Australian ‘Galapagos’

SYDNEY (AP) — It has been described as Australia’s Galapagos Islands and has long been a refuge for some of the country’s most endangered creatures.

FILE - In this Sept. 1, 2011, file photo, two Koalas climb a tree at a zoo in Sydney, Australia. Conservationists fear hundreds of koalas have perished in wildfires that have razed prime habitat on Australia’s east coast. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith, File)

Hundreds of koalas feared dead in Australian wildfires

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Conservationists fear hundreds of koalas have perished in wildfires that have razed prime habitat on Australia’s east coast.

This Sept. 12, 2017 drone photo provided by Tipton County Emergency Management shows an accidental milk spill at a food processing business that ended up turning a central Indiana creek white in Tipton, Ind. The change in the hue of Cicero Creek in Tipton was noticed on Tuesday and investigators determined that no more than 300 gallons of milk spilled at Park 100 Foods. Officials indicate the spill wasn't dangerous. (Tipton County Emergency Management via AP)

This week in odd news: ‘Sewer war’ and record-setting cats

KOALA SURVIVES 10-MILE AUSTRALIA TRIP IN WHEEL ARCH

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — For a stowaway who made a 16-kilometer (10-mile) journey squeezed in the wheel arch, a koala was lucky to escape with just scratches.

This Sept. 9, 2017 image taken from a video, shows a koala in the wheel arch, in Adelaide, Australia. The koala survived a 16-kilometer (10-mile) trip in wheel arch. (Metropolitan Fire Service via AP)

Koala survives 10-mile Australia trip in wheel arch

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — For a stowaway who made a 16-kilometer (10-mile) journey squeezed in a wheel arch, a koala was lucky to escape with just scratches.