Meath couple rescue koala suffering from advanced Chlamydia

LOUISE WALSH

These are the cute pics of a Meath family living in Australia who rescued a koala bear dying from sexually transmitted disease Chlamydia.

It's estimated that tens of thousands of the adorable marsupials now suffer from the exceptionally painful and often lethal Clamydia which can cause blindness, infertilty and death.

Seanie and Amanda Farrelly gained the trust of the adorable koala bear after finding it while out walking in a forest near their home in Brisbane on Friday night.

The marsupial was trying to climb a tree but hadn't enough strength to limber up the trunk.

Amanda Farrelly (41), was out walking when the couple's black Labrador Jake started barking to attract her attention.

Seanie (51), who is originally from Navan, said: "Amanda went over to where Jake was barking and saw the koala on the ground.  He was trying to climb a tree but couldn't.  

"Amanda raced back to the house to get me and we returned with some water and a towel to wrap him in as they have very sharp claws and can lash out.

"We rang the animal rescue but their van was broken down so I gave the koala some water and gained his trust to let me pet him.  He knew I wasn't going to harm him.

Help for sick Koala

"I wrapped him in a towel and brought him home and we had the pleasure of his company for about an hour - he even fell asleep in my arms which was the cutest thing ever."

The couple, who moved from Johnstown to Brisbane in the 2003 suspected that the animal was suffering from Chlamydia because of a talk they attended at a sanctuary in recent weeks.

"While at a talk there, an expert told us that if you see a koala with a brown backside, or dirty tail as it's known, that's a sign it has chlamydia which is rampant in the koala world.

"If not treated, it can really affect their health and in a lot of cases, lead to a very painful death.  We noticed this when the koala was trying to climb up the tree."

The koala was taken to Australia zoo for treatment and eventual release back to the wild.

Amanda feeding the poorly marsupial

"I've been in contact with the zoo and the koala is very sick - he's developed cystitis which is very painful and a symptom of advanced Chlamydia.  It's touch and go at the minute.  I've to ring back in a few days.

"Hopefully he'll get through it and if so, would be placed in a rehabilitation sanctuary with other koalas and no human contact.  In time, he would be released back into the wild.

"Our son Darragh is going to the Zoo on a school tour later this week so might even get to meet the little fella again if he recovers."

This is the second koala rescued by the Farrellys who also found one that had been separated from its mother six years ago.

"Wow, we were so lucky to rescue another one and have him for so long this time.  What an amazing experience," he said.

Seanie with rescued Koala.

The koala has been listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2016 and it's estimated that there are only 100,000 left in the wild today.

It's reported that of the 1,000 koalas arriving annually in New South Wales and Queensland wildlife hospitals, 40% have untreatable late-stage chlamydia that makes the marsupials impossible to rehabilitate.

The infection can lead to blindness, severe bladder infections, infertility and even death.

It's not the same strain of chlamydia that infects humans but it is sexually transmitted in the same way.