14 DAY TRIAL // Australia's koalas must now figure out a way to deal with a major threat to their long-term survival: a chlamydia outbreak which affects females, males and even offspring.
Local conservationists are quite worried about how this outbreak will affect the species, more so given the fact that koalas are already dealing with several other issues.
Long story short, their natural habitats are being destroyed by humans and they themselves are hunted on a fairly regular basis.
According to International Business Times, the koala bears hit by chlamydia can turn infertile and/or blind. Needless to say, once this happens, their chances of survival in the wilderness are slim to none.
Conservationists fear that, should things continue to unfold in this manner, the species might soon become extinct in several parts of Australia. Since the animal is one of the country's icons, this would be a terrible thing indeed.