WIRES and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) have joined forces to help save threatened Australian wildlife in response to the tragic loss of wildlife and biodiversity resulting from the castastrophic fires over Black Summer. AWC and WIRES are committed to securing the future of Australia’s wildlife. WIRES is contributing more than $1.6 million to AWC’s bushfire recovery projects and towards saving the endangered Northern Bettong and Kangaroo Island Dunnart from extinction.
Under the partnership, the funds will be applied towards:
- Protecting threatened wildlife on Kangaroo Island (KI), including one of Australia’s most endangered mammals - the KI Dunnart;
- Searching for critical refuges to conserve Koalas and Long-nosed Potoroos;
- Undertaking ecological assessments and providing strategic advice to help drive the recovery of bushfire affected wildlife and plants;
- Creating a fenced feral predator-free area at AWC’s Mount Zero-Taravale Wildlife Sanctuary to protect the highly endangered Northern Bettong; and
- Undertaking research to develop ‘ecologically-friendly’ burning practices for southern Australia, learning from Traditional Owners and knowledge gained from AWC’s northern fire program.
WIRES Chief Executive, Leanne Taylor, said “The catastrophic bushfires last summer have been devastating for Australia’s wildlife. We are very grateful to the global community whose outpouring of support has made investments in these major projects possible. We are proud to partner with AWC to restore native wildlife populations that have been driven to the brink of extinction.”
When the Western River Refuge has been completed on Kangaroo Island, the 370-ha area will protect up to 7 threatened species.
It is the unwavering support of the community that makes it possible for organisations like WIRES and AWC to effectively conserve Australia’s wildlife and the habitats in which they live.
