Max follows nose to rare, chlamydia-free koalas

English springer spaniel Max has sniffed out an unknown population of rare, chlamydia-free koalas in Northern NSW – but conservationists warn their homes are under threat by logging.

English springer spaniel Max has spectacularly sniffed out an unknown population of rare, chlamydia-free koalas in Northern NSW.

But conservationists warn their homes are under threat by continued logging.

Max and other teams from Canines for Wildlife were recruited to survey for koalas across 115 sites in the Coffs Harbour and Bellingen areas, ranging from coastal regions to the Dorrigo Plateau, whose findings have revealed a broader koala population with a high genetic diversity.

Koalas at a private property in Fernbrook were found completely free of the disease, which is one of the leading causes of a decline in koala numbers.

One of the new group of koalas found inland of Coffs Harbour that appear to be chlamydia free and genetically different to the rest of the koala population. Picture: WWF-Australia

“It’s bigger, it’s got darker fur and it looks like a koala that lives in cold country and high altitude,” Worldwide Fund for Nature conservation scientist Dr Stuart Blanch said.

The findings mean the koalas would be more likely to survive coming decades as climate change impacts their environment.

Jack Nesbitt from Canines for Wildlife with Max. Picture: Jack Nesbitt

Dr Blanch said logging must stop immediately in the region, which is being earmarked for inclusion in the government’s plan for the Great Koala National Park.

“If we keep chopping down their homes or crushing koalas when trees are felled, more koalas will die,” he said.

Canines for Wildlife director Jack Nesbitt said the data should spark an urgent need for conservation of the habitat. Training to detect their first odours takes handlers and their dogs over a year to perfect.

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