SUSTAINABILITY CONSERVATION
Get by with a
LITTLE HELP
Zoos Victoria’s mission to protect vulnerable species from extinction would not be possible without the help of our members and partners. WORDS Krysia
A
Bonkowski
side from the most dedicated twitchers, it’s likely few people would know an Eastern Bristlebird if they saw one. As is the case with some of the world’s most iconic animals, the survival of this shy, grounddwelling brown bird found in pockets of south-eastern Australia depends on us. Every day, more species move closer to extinction. Too many of them face the prospect of slipping over the brink unnoticed. As a world leading zoo-based conservation organisation, Zoos Victoria (ZV) is involved in conservation programs across six countries, eight community campaigns and more than 50 research projects, and leads recovery efforts for 27 threatened native species under its long-term Fighting Extinction strategy. The support of partner organisations is integral to this vital work. Collaboration is essential for finding long-term solutions with community support. Along with institutions such as Deakin University and citizen scientists, ZV is working to restore the Bogong Moth
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Corroboree frog eggs!
By teaming up with like-minded organisations, Zoos Victoria hopes to be able to continue to stem the tide of extinction long into the future. migration that the Mountain Pygmy-possum relies on for survival. With partners including Taronga Conservation Society Australia and former NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (now NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment), thousands of Southern Corroboree Frog eggs and adults have been released into the wild. Cooperation means the team can react to urgent threats, such as evacuating a population of Eastern Bristlebirds as the bushfires bore down in February, alongside partners including Parks Victoria and Monash University. By teaming up with likeminded organisations, Zoos Victoria hopes to be able to continue to stem the tide of extinction long into the future. ZN