Koalas nearly went extinct 100,000 years ago — before humans arrived

A major DNA study has rewritten the koala's evolutionary history, revealing a dramatic population collapse around 100,000 years ago, long before humans arrived in Australia. Researchers analyzed hundreds of genomes and calculated the koala's mutation rate for the first time, finding that all living koalas descend from a small surviving group. That group later repopulated eastern Australia after surviving extreme climate shifts.

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🔬 Science K'gari's Lakes Dried Up 7,500 Years Ago Despite Heavy Rainfall, Ancient Sediment Reveals Science Daily · 8d ago 🔬 Science Australian ski resorts smash July heat records — 12°C above average The Guardian World · 8d ago 🔬 Science Scientists freeze koala sperm and eggs to save the species from extinction Smithsonian Magazine · 8d ago