Australian researchers say freezing koala sperm could help save endangered marsupials.
Experts from the University of Newcastle in the state of New South Wales suggested establishing a biological laboratory with the collected sperm.
It was stated that these sperm could then be used to ensure the future of the species and to improve genetic diversity.
Tens of thousands of koalas died in forest fires in Australia in recent years.
Nature conservationist Dr. Ryan Witt stated that these recommendations are a low-cost method of avoiding inbreeding, so that genetic diversity can be increased in koalas living in the wild outside of zoos.
“We currently do not have an insurance policy against natural disasters such as the 2019-2020 bushfires, which threaten to wipe out large numbers of animals. If the koala population dies in such fires, there is no way to restore the species or preserve its genetic makeup,” said Witt.
The researchers say they have obtained koala pups in a lab setting using freshly harvested or frozen sperm.
Newcastle University’s Dr. “By using frozen sperm, we can re-increase the genetic diversity of wildlife without displacing koalas. We have identified 16 wildlife hospitals and zoos across the country that could be koala sperm collection centers,” said Lachlan Howell.