New research led by Western Sydney University Stress Lab’s Dr Edward Narayan, has found the psychological state of wild koalas and the location they are rescued from, can have significant impacts on their chances of recovery and rehabilitation.
New research led by Western Sydney University Stress Lab’s Dr Edward Narayan, has found the psychological state of wild koalas and the location they are rescued from, can have significant impacts on their chances of recovery and rehabilitation.
The research, which used faecal sampling to assess rescued koalas admitted to the Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Hospital in South Australia between 2015 and 2016, focused on quantifying the stressors experienced by koalas in the wild such as trauma and disease.
“Koalas are often rescued without obvious signs of injury such as burns or injuries from animal attacks or car accidents — but that doesn’t mean these animals aren’t harbouring physiological stress that could impact on their recovery,” said Dr Narayan.
The study, published in Frontiers in Endocrinology, represents the first time physiological stress has been assessed in wild rescued koalas.
Continue reading at Western Sydney University.
Image via Creative Commons (CC0).
