RESURGING KOALA POPULATIONS REGAIN GENETIC VARIATION.

The article focuses on the rapid rebound of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in southeastern Australia and its positive impact on their genetic variation, which enhances their long-term survival prospects. After near extinction in Victoria due to the fur trade, koala populations have grown from about 500 to nearly half a million, aided by conservation efforts involving relocation to islands and reintroduction to the mainland. Genetic analysis of 418 koalas from 27 populations revealed that despite initially low genetic diversity, increased mating and new mutations have improved genetic combinations, reducing harmful traits. This case illustrates how species can recover from genetic bottlenecks, offering insights that may influence future conservation genetics strategies. [Extracted from the article]