Australia's koalas: Freeze sperm to save species, say researchers

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Koala sperm could be frozen to help protect them from extinction.

This could be used to improve the species' genetic diversity and future-proof it.

Koalas have been killed in recent fires.

Dr Ryan Witt said the proposals were a cost-effective way to prevent inbreeding and help preserve the genetic diversity of koalas beyond small colonies of captive animals.

We don't have an insurance policy against natural disasters like the 2019-2020 bushfires that threaten to wipe out large numbers of animals.

If the koala population dies in a fire event, there is no way to bring them back or preserve their genetics.

Koala young have been born using fresh or chilled sperm.

By using frozen sperm, we can reestablish genetic variation into wild koala populations without having to relocate koalas.

He said that 16 wildlife hospitals and zoos across Australia could be used to collect koala sperm.