Study Reveals ‘Grim’ Outlook for Queensland’s Iconic Koalas

A University of Queensland study has uncovered alarming trends for koalas admitted to veterinary hospitals in South East Queensland. 


Read: Uncovering History: Toohey Forest’s Hidden Past


The research, analysing records from 1997 to 2019, shows that euthanasia was the most common outcome for these iconic marsupials.

The study, led by PhD candidate Renae Charalambous, examined over 50,000 koala sightings and hospital admissions. Only 25 percent of rescued koalas were released back into suitable habitats, while diseases like chlamydia accounted for nearly 30 percent of admissions. Car strikes and dog attacks, linked to habitat loss, emerged as significant threats.

Photo credit: Geoff Williamson/Pexels

“Many of the animals died before arriving at a vet hospital and those that did make it were often euthanised on the grounds of welfare, despite vets and carers doing their best to save them,” said Ms Charalambous.

Ms Charalambous describes the statistics as “grim,” noting that koalas hit by cars were four times more likely to be found dead than treated and released. Adult females and those with chlamydia faced higher risks of euthanasia.

“Seven percent of the koalas admitted to hospital had been attacked by dogs but were twice as likely to be found dead, and if they were taken into care alive, they were twice as likely to be euthanised than released. 

This research comes at a critical time, following the reclassification of koalas as endangered in Queensland in 2022. Population estimates suggest koala numbers have halved over the past decade.

Toohey Forest: A Koala Haven at Risk

Koala at Toohey Forest (Photo credit: Bunami/Google Maps)

Toohey Forest, a known koala hotspot in Brisbane, also faces an uncertain future as the city prepares for the 2032 Olympic Games. Recent plans to redevelop the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) for the Olympics have raised alarm among conservationists. 

The Quirk Review, assessing potential Olympic venues, suggested that this redevelopment might require clearing local bushland and widening the pathway between QSAC and Griffith University.


Read: Toohey Forest in Tarragindi Continues To Show a Spike in Wildlife Sightings


As planning for the Olympics continues, stakeholders are being urged to consider innovative solutions that can accommodate both urban development and koala conservation. The situation in Toohey Forest serves as a microcosm of the larger challenges facing koala populations across Queensland, emphasising the need for careful urban planning and strong conservation measures.

Published 10-September-2024

Experts Study Caterpillar Venom in Toohey Forest for Medicines, Pest Control

Doratifera vulnerans is a caterpillar found in Toohey Forest that has venomous spines that produce a sharp and burning pain to anything it stings. Researchers at the University of Queensland have been studying its potential for biotechnology in the fields of medicine and pest control.



According to Dr Andrew Walker of UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience, scientists previously had no clues as to what was in the venom. Now, they were able to unlock a source showing peptides with “151 different protein-based toxins from 59 different families.” 

The researchers were able to synthesize 13 of these protein-based toxins to learn their blueprint and sequences. 

“This will enable us to make the toxins and test them in diverse ways,” Dr Walker said.  “Our research unlocks a novel source of bioactive peptides that may have some use in medicine, through an ability to influence biological processes and promote good health.”  

Toohey Forest
Photo Credit: University of Queensland

In its initial studies, Dr Walker’s team learned that the venom’s potency could be high enough to kill bacteria from nematode parasites that attack livestock or cause diseases in animals. 

But the researchers still need to learn what each of the toxins does so the experts could determine how they might be used. 

​​The study has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in the U.S.



The Doratifera vulnerans is a binomial name that means “bearer of gifts of wounds.” Also known as the Eucalypt cup moth, this native Brisbane caterpillar has a hard, smooth oval or pear-shaped cocoon (cup) resembling a eucalypt “gumnut.” 

According to the Toohey Forest Environmental Educational Center, these caterpillars are among the few venomous caterpillars. They love to eat Eucalyptus leaves but they are easy prey for birds, wasps, flies, and midges.