Adelaide researchers say Kangaroo Island koalas could be the last in Australia entirely free of chlamydia, with a new study finding no koalas on the island tested positive for the disease compared to 47 per cent of mainland koalas.
The bacterial infection has had devastating on koala populations Queensland and New South Wales, although koala numbers in South Australia have increased in recent years.
University of Adelaide PhD candidate Jessica Fabijan says the isolated chlamydia-free population holds significant importance as insurance for the future of the species.