COMMUNITY
After the fires The balm this country needed after the summer bushfires came in the tidal wave of support for Australia’s precious wildlife. Now, the work to regenerate and rebuild continues.
H WORDS Steve
Colquhoun
ILLUSTRATION Phil
Constantinesco
eartbreaking images of native animals in distress dominated our television screens last summer as catastrophic bushfires engulfed the east coast of Australia. As saturation coverage of the devastation featured on news bulletins around the globe, offers of assistance began to pour in. That meant veterinarian teams, keepers, managers and scientists from frontline organisations such as Zoos Victoria could call upon every available resource to protect imperilled wildlife, including critically endangered species whose habitats were directly in the paths of fires. Zoos Victoria staff
were heartened as donations arrived from all over the world. “Initially, we didn’t put a call out for support,” recalls Jodie Odgers, Philanthropy Grants Manager at Zoos Victoria. “In January, we established the Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund, and people saw that as an opportunity to give and make a difference.” In the local community, children sold cookies in the streets and adults held fundraising dinner parties; around the world, zoos mobilised with offers of assistance; and corporate organisations both here and abroad gave generous financial assistance. A Thai pop singer who grew up in Australia, Palitchoke Ayanaputra, even lobbied his fan base to raise funds, which were sent to several Australian
Right The community response to the bushfires was truly heart-warming, including large gifts, raffles, trivia nights and bake stalls.
BUSHFIRE EMERGENCY WILDLIFE FUND DONATIONS
(at 30 June, 2020)
New Supporters $4,009,194.50
International zoos $1,192,816.50
Current Supporters $1,079,958
ZVMAG 20
Victorian State Government $732,094
Corporate Supporters $693,966
