Do koala bears have STDS?

Image caption Koalas love eucalyptus leaves - and they help reassure Penny as she wakes from her anaesthetic The koala is unique to Australia and is an important symbol of the country. But numbers are plummeting and the survival of koalas is under threat. One of the reasons is the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia. read more

Complicating the issue, around Queensland, is the fact that the koalas there are almost all infected with a retrovirus that takes out their immune system. Fortunately, there is a vaccine available that seems to work on female koalas. Unfortunately, C. pneumoniae can be transmitted to humans. Koala's incredible cuteness works on the disease's behalf. read more

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease in people, but when it claimed the lives of many koalas in Australia, no one ever knew it could have taken a deadly toll. read more