SAN DIEGO (Jan. 9, 2024) – To apply cutting-edge technology to the conservation of koalas, San Diego Wildlife Alliance is partnering with Illumina, a leading genomic sequencing technology company, through the Illumina iConserve program to sequence the whole genomes (an individual’s complete set of DNA) of nearly 100 koalas residing in North America over the past 30 years. Whole genome sequencing is integral to learning more about Koala Retrovirus, KoRV – a virus that can insert into the koala genome and is associated with various health issues in koalas including immunosuppression and cancer.

The "Black Summer of Fire" in 2019-2020 was devastating for koalas in Australia's Blue Mountains. A collaborative recovery effort is underway.

Using data from eDNA techniques, scientists are exploring how to protect platypuses and their watery habitat.

SAN DIEGO (Feb. 14, 2022) – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance conservationists applaud the Australian government in declaring the koala an endangered species in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Koala populations in these areas have continued to show declines over the last decade. 

This vast wilderness landscape of Australia’s Blue Mountains was catastrophically impacted by the 2019–2020 bushfires in Australia. How will we respond next time?

Omeo (pronounced Ooh-me-ooh), a male koala at the San Diego Zoo, turned 1 year old (July 15, 2020) and received a special birthday celebration—complete with a heart-shaped ice cake made with natural flowers, and “presents.”