Koala Health and Disease - Ask an Expert!

Koala health and disease: Ask an Expert!

Do you have burning questions about chlamydia treatment in koalas? Have you wondered about how the koala gut works? What is koala retrovirus and how does it affect koalas?

This live, online forum is an opportunity to engage with three experts on all things koala health and disease. Amber, Donald and Mark will answer questions and providing current and best-practive information on koala health and management of disease.

Professor Mark Krockenberger - Koala Health Hub, University of Sydney

Professor of Veterinary Pathology at Sydney School of Veterinary Scien ce, University of Sydney. Mark has undertaken koala disease research for the past 27 years, initially on cryptococcosis and more recently on chlamydiosis and the utility of vaccination as a disease management tool in wild koala populations. He has a particular interest in the challenges to koalas in the western parts of thier distribution, emergent or reemergent diseases of koalas and developing management strategies for koala populations under threat.

Dr Donald Hudson - Port Stephens Koala Hospital

Dr Donald has more than 25 years of experience in the treatment and husbandry of koalas as a practising wildlife veterinarian in the Port Stephens area. He is the Superintendent of the Port Stephens Koala Hospital as well as the principal treating veterinarian. He is also the Veterinarian for Oakvale Wildlife Park. Donald has compelted a master of philosophy thesis titled “Chlamydial Disease and other Environmental Pressures Affecting an Opportunistically Sampled Wild Koala Population in the Port Stephens Region” through Newcastle University.

Dr Amber Gillett - Australia Zoo

Amber has been a wildlife veterinarian since 2006 and is well known for her specialty in the treatment and rehabilitation of koalas. She has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters in the field of koala medicine, disease, ecology, and genetics and regularly presents on these topics at conferences and veterinary and wildlife associated events. Outside her veterinary career Amber is also a wildlife artist, and gains much of the inspiration for her art from the patients she treats, using her art to reach people and educate them about Australian native wildlife.

Wildlife Webinar Series

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in collaboration with Wildlife Heroes are delivering a series of webinars for the volunteer wildlife rehabilitations sector across various topics on wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and wildlife health. The webinars provide an opportunity for volunteer wildlife rehabilitators to connect with professionals in the field and provide an update on developments and current best practice in wildlife health.