Australia's diverse genetic koala could help save endangered colonies
March 29, 2022, 12:08 pm

Australia's diverse genetic koala could help save endangered colonies

A koala with diverse genetics could turn around the fate of endangered koala colonies along Australia's east coast (File photo: Pixabay)

Researchers from the Living Koala Genome Bank pilot program told Xinhua that a koala with diverse genetics could turn around the fate of endangered koala colonies along Australia's east coast.

Jagger is the first koala to be bred as part of the pilot program, led by the University of Queensland, and was introduced to the public on Tuesday.

The koala has been released into a colony at a conservation park on the Gold Coast, with the hope to improve the genetic diversity of the population in the long term.

Researchers said as Jagger is now in a new wild population, it will bring new genetics into that population to help improve the genetic makeup of the population that researchers are trying to conserve.

One of the researchers from the program, Dr. Tamara Keeley from the University of Queensland, told Xinhua: "The more diverse your genes are between animals, the more likelihood you have a greater number of unique genes in your population."

Jagger is the first koala to be bred as part of the pilot program, led by the University of Queensland, and was introduced to the public on Tuesday 29-03-2022 (File photo: Pixabay)

Keeley said the smaller the number of koalas, the higher the risk of inbreeding. It will not only accelerate the reduction of genetic diversity but also heighten the risk of getting diseases.

Keeley said: "When you have similar genetics between individuals, the animals within that population, they'll start to become more and more related to each other. Then you end up having cousins breeding with cousins, and you're reducing the genetic diversity."

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"It sometimes also reduces health, causing potential genetic abnormalities or deformities. They may not grow well."

Keeley said they evaluated the genetics of a number of wild koalas and selected Jagger's parents who have the most different genetics, which would allow for the production of a young koala with quite diverse genetics.

Researchers will also follow Jagger up in a couple of years, to see if it produced some offspring and see what the genetic makeup is of those offspring.

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With most east coast koalas now listed as endangered, Keeley added they will also further improve breeding techniques and continue to do genetic analysis of these populations.

Source: xinhua

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.