Early research into the bionic ear took place in Australia which led to the first cochlear implant operation in 1978.
As stated in the episode, there is a chlamydia epidemic amongst the koala population which hit a peak of 90% in some areas in 2013. If untreated, the infection leads to blindness and infertility. The obvious signs are conjunctivitis (inflammation of the inner lining of the eye) , and a condition dubbed "dirty tail", caused by urinary tract infections and incontinence. The koalas are treated with antibiotics and quarantined for several months before they are sent back in the wild.