Koalas in the wild are exposed to chlamydia through sexual contact, and newborns can contract the infection from their mothers.

How do you know if a koala has chlamydia?

Koalas that have conjunctivitis, a common symptom of chlamydia, will have pink and swollen eyes, sometimes with discharge. Even just a slightly pink rimmed eye calls for attention. Conjunctivitis can cause blindness if not caught early, which can be seen from cloudy eyes.

Is it true that koala bears have chlamydia?

Chlamydia, a type of sexually transmitted disease also found in humans, has hit wild koalas hard, with some wild populations seeing a 100 percent infection rate. The infectious bacteria usually aren't fatal, but they can severely impact a koala's health.