Overview
- Wilhelma confirmed that seven-year-old Scarborough was euthanized on January 29 after her condition rapidly worsened.
- Pathology reported severe anemia and detected Bordetella in lung, liver and kidney tissues, with the causal link to her death still undetermined.
- In recent months two juveniles born in June 2024 died from severe pneumonia attributed to Bordetella infection.
- Lead veterinarian Tobias Knauf-Witzens said the zoo will now vaccinate its koalas regularly, noting there had been no prior European guidance for such cases.
- Wilhelma staff are consulting specialists in Australia and other European zoos, as the institution underscores the conservation role of reserve populations amid steep declines in parts of Australia.