DNA study finds koalas suffered massive population collapse 100,000 years ago

A recent genomic study has unveiled a surprising chapter in the history of Australia's iconic koala.

Published in Molecular Biology and Evolution, the research reveals that koala populations suffered a dramatic collapse around 100,000 years ago, long before humans arrived on the continent.

By analyzing the genomes of 457 wild koalas and establishing a specific mutation rate for the species, scientists determined that the crash was caused by severe climate changes during the late Pleistocene.

As Australia became drier and colder, habitats shrank, forcing the species through a genetic bottleneck.

While this study highlights the koala's historical resilience, it also underscores the urgency of current conservation efforts.

Understanding the koala's evolutionary baseline is now a crucial step in developing effective strategies to protect the species from further endangerment in the face of ongoing climate and human-induced pressures.