Physiological Stress in Rescued Wild Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) Being Held in a Rehabilitation Sanctuary: A Pilot Study.

ABSTRACT: Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are one of Australia's most charismatic native small marsupial species. Unfortunately, populations of koalas are rapidly declining throughout Australia as they continue to face increasing pressure from a changing ecosystem. All wildlife species to some degree will use their hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in response to stress. Depending on the duration of activation, the stress response can lead to either acute or chronic side effects and is modulated through the neuroendocrine stress system with the release of catecholamines and glucocorticoids (e.g., cortisol). It is well known that rehabilitation sanctuaries are inherently stressful for all animals, in particular for rescued wild koalas, as it is an unfamiliar environment where the anima

SUBMITTER: Charalambous R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8532651 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature