
Creating a Chlamydia-free community of Koalas
In the wild, Koalas are being decimated by habitat loss, climate change, and the infectious disease chlamydia. Left untreated chlamydia causes blindness, infertility, even death. Aussie Ark’s mission is to eliminate chlamydia from the Koalas naturally occurring in our 400-hectare Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary. We engaged a specialist Koala capture and vet team to catch the eight Koalas (including a gorgeous joey!) and test and treat them all for chlamydia. Post treatment – and chlamydia-free – the eight Koalas returned to the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary. They were fitted with innovative satellite trackers, for ongoing monitoring and intervention. This state-of-the-art technology enables the Aussie Ark team to monitor their movements and behaviour daily. We will also conduct ongoing health checks to ensure the population is genetically robust and strong, for many years to come.
Once our Koalas are chlamydia-free they will become one of the most genetically important cohorts in Australia, and this pilot program becomes a blueprint for Koala management nationwide. We plan to augment the population with more Koalas in the future, with the promise of many more healthy joeys! The equipment, medications, and staffing required for this ongoing monitoring and intervention is expensive. But we think every Koala is worth it!
As a not-for-profit charity conservation organization we rely on donations to continue this vital work. This is your chance to meet our eight wonderful Koalas; Flora, Grevillea, Gerbert, Manna, Blue, Scribbs, Banksia and joey Gymea. Read their stories, connect with their personalities, and feel free to choose your favourite as you join the donor journey.
Please help Aussie Ark help our Koalas by donating today and feel inspired, knowing you’re playing an active role saving this Australian icon.
Hello, I’m Flora

Chlamydia POSITIVE. Cysts found around ovaries & uterus. Chlamydia made her infertile. Transferred to QLD’s Toorbul Koala Sanctuary for surgery & treatment.
Long and slow recovery. Vet described it as ‘one step forward, two steps back’. Flora was very fragile, and stayed in care on fluids for longer than originally planned.
Once she was chlamydia-free and strong again she was collared & released into the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary.
Hello, I’m Grevillea

Chlamydia POSITIVE. Large painful cysts in her reproductive system (up to 5 cms big around left ovary). She was described by Vet as ‘a stressy but sweet girl’. Unfortunately chlamydia made her infertile.
She was transferred to QLD’s Toorbul Koala Sanctuary for surgery to remove cysts. She was also treated with antibiotics. She won’t be able to have joeys but she’s now pain-free and healthy.
Collared & released into the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary.
Hello, I’m Gerbert

Rescued from the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary in Oct/Nov 2024. Assessed by a specialist Koala care team at Aussie Ark’s onsite Vet Block clinic.
Chlamydia POSITIVE. Displayed conjunctivitis in eyes (most visual sign). Gerbert is a big gentle giant of a Koala and loved by the team.
He was transferred to NSW’s Port Macquarie Koala Hospital for treatment which included antibiotics.
Collared & released into Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary.
Hello, I’m Manna

Rescued from the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary in Oct/Nov 2024. Assessed by a specialist Koala care team at Aussie Ark’s onsite Vet Block clinic.
Chlamydia POSITIVE. But overall a very healthy Koala in his prime with distinctive cute boggly eyes!
Transferred to NSW’s Port Macquarie Koala Hospital for treatment which included antibiotics.
Collared & released into the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary.
Hello, I’m Blue

Rescued from the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary in Oct/Nov 2024. Assessed by a specialist Koala care team at Aussie Ark’s onsite Vet Block clinic.
Chlamydia POSITIVE. Shy and gentle nature.
Blue was transferred to NSW’s Port Stephens Koala Hospital for treatment which included antibiotics. He was described by the Vet as a ‘super cute guy’.
Collared & released into the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary.
Hello, I’m Banksia

Weight is a whopping 8.5 kgs! So she’s BIG.
Banksia is well known to the team, as captured & tagged previously.
Rescued from the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary in Oct/Nov 2024…with a joey on her back! Assessed by a specialist Koala care team at Aussie Ark’s onsite Vet Block clinic.
Chlamydia NEGATIVE. This is gold! She is still fertile, with no chlamydia-damage or cysts.
Banksia is a major hope for our Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary’s future population.
Collared & released straight away into the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary with joey Gymea.
Hello, I’m Gymea

Rescued from the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary in Oct/Nov 2024 with her mum Banksia. Gymea is the only joey in the Sanctuary and most loved for her enormous fluffy ears!
Assessed by a specialist Koala care team at Aussie Ark’s onsite Vet Block clinic.
Chlamydia NEGATIVE. Gymea is the youth and future of the Sanctuary! One day she will have her own joey/s and help save her species!
Released straight away into the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary with mum Banksia.
Hello, I’m Scribbs

Rescued from the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary in Oct/Nov 2024. Assessed by a specialist Koala care team at Aussie Ark’s onsite Vet Block clinic.
Chlamydia NEGATIVE. This is huge! He’s the only chlamydia-free male in the Sanctuary so did not require treatment. He’s in top health, ready to breed, and already famous for his hide & seek skills making it hard for our team to spot him!
Collared and released into the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary.