A surprising kitchen tool helps preserve endangered species

This simple tool proves surprisingly effective in collecting DNA from koala bears - Australia's famous animal.

Known for their bushy ears, round faces and large black noses, koalas spend most of their time sleeping in the eucalyptus canopy. Their high-climbing habits and sedentary lifestyle make this Australian icon difficult to track.

Kitchen filter cloth has become a very effective tool to preserve animal DNA - (Photo: THE SPRUCE FATS)

However, that could soon change thanks to a new technique that can "sniff" out the location of koalas.

In mid-October, the new method was published in the journal Applied Ecology .

Accordingly, the research team used filter cloths to capture the DNA of this marsupial in its natural environment. These are the filter cloths commonly found in kitchens to filter cheese, juice or milk.

The team used a set of filter cloth fixed between two stainless steel plates, placed at 26 locations in four nature reserves in Queensland, Australia.

Each site is equipped with two sets of filter cloth: one set is placed about 1.5m above the ground and uses a fan to draw in air.

Additionally, another filter is placed closer to the ground to capture debris.

After several days, the researchers recovered the filters and analyzed the retained genetic material.

The results were surprising as scientists identified koala DNA as well as DNA from 11 other animals that live in the area, including the bicolor wallaby and the ring-tailed possum .

Koala bear - an animal on the brink of extinction - (Photo: SCIENCE NEWS)

According to Science News , the number of koala bears ( Phascolarctos cinereus ) - Australia's iconic animal - has declined sharply in recent years due to widespread bushfires and disease.

In 2022, the Australian Government listed koalas as endangered species.

Previous conservation efforts have relied on advanced equipment such as thermal drones and audio recording devices to detect koalas. However, these measures are expensive and not very effective.

Using kitchen filters in animal conservation is a breakthrough, according to a team of experts from the University of Queensland. The new DNA sampling device is less expensive and requires less skill to operate, the researchers said.

"It's very simple. People, landowners, even schoolchildren can use these filters," said evolutionary biologist Celine Frere, from the University of Queensland, who was part of the research team.

In addition, the new research has added another tool for scientists to use in detecting environmental DNA (eDNA).

Experts have vacuumed the air in zoos and forests, swabbed plant surfaces, and even tested the filters of air pollution monitoring stations for eDNA.

'Some of the work in this study is really important first steps ,' says ecologist Matthew Barnes of Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

However, the experiment took place in an uncontrolled environment where there were many uncertainties and there was a risk that strong winds or rain could affect the results.

'The fact that they were still able to have some real success is encouraging ,' Barnes added.

Frere and his team are currently building a genetic data library for many different animal and plant species, which will allow them to collect reference materials that will allow them to find eDNA in the most efficient way.