Published Wednesday, 11 June, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
State Government celebrates an exciting milestone in Bilby Conservation
The State Government is one step closer to ensuring the survival of the bilby, one of Australia’s most endangered animals, in Queensland.
At the launch of Dreamworld’s Bilby Education Program on the Gold Coast today, Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, announced that the State Government hoped to release more than 15 bilbies back into their natural environment by the end of July.
“The EPA has successfully bred 26 bilbies, coupled with Dreamworld’s captive breeding program, 36 bilbies have now been bred in captivity in Queensland in the past year.
“Some of these bilby’s will be released into a 29 square kilometre predator-proof bilby enclosure at Currawinya National Park in South-west Queensland," he said.
“Their outback home is a world away from the Gold Coast, but this little marsupial has found a big friend in Dreamworld.
“Dreamworld is the only Queensland non-government institution with approval to breed bilbies for release back into their natural environment,” Mr McNamara said.
“Their programs complement the Environmental Protection Agency’s work towards building a sustainable bilby population in Queensland,” he said.
Mr McNamara congratulated Dreamworld and the “Save the Bilby Fund” on their bilby conservation efforts.
“Dreamworld have done a fantastic job and teamed up with the Save the Bilby Fund and Bilby Brothers, Frank Manthy and Peter McRae, to create a “hands-on” bilby education program.
“The education program is a one hour on-site program designed to raise awareness about the bilby, one of Australia’s most endangered animals.”
Mr McNamara was present today as students from St Francis Xavier Primary School became the first group of students to participate in the Bilby Education Program.
“By focussing on our younger generation, we hope to inspire them to appreciate the importance of protecting our environment and in particular Queensland’s biodiversity.
“This is a case of conservation, education and tourism coming together to put the bilby at the forefront of young minds,” he said.
‘I congratulate St Francis Xavier Primary School for being the first school to take their students through this program.”
Media contact: Emma Parnell 3336 8002
At the launch of Dreamworld’s Bilby Education Program on the Gold Coast today, Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, announced that the State Government hoped to release more than 15 bilbies back into their natural environment by the end of July.
“The EPA has successfully bred 26 bilbies, coupled with Dreamworld’s captive breeding program, 36 bilbies have now been bred in captivity in Queensland in the past year.
“Some of these bilby’s will be released into a 29 square kilometre predator-proof bilby enclosure at Currawinya National Park in South-west Queensland," he said.
“Their outback home is a world away from the Gold Coast, but this little marsupial has found a big friend in Dreamworld.
“Dreamworld is the only Queensland non-government institution with approval to breed bilbies for release back into their natural environment,” Mr McNamara said.
“Their programs complement the Environmental Protection Agency’s work towards building a sustainable bilby population in Queensland,” he said.
Mr McNamara congratulated Dreamworld and the “Save the Bilby Fund” on their bilby conservation efforts.
“Dreamworld have done a fantastic job and teamed up with the Save the Bilby Fund and Bilby Brothers, Frank Manthy and Peter McRae, to create a “hands-on” bilby education program.
“The education program is a one hour on-site program designed to raise awareness about the bilby, one of Australia’s most endangered animals.”
Mr McNamara was present today as students from St Francis Xavier Primary School became the first group of students to participate in the Bilby Education Program.
“By focussing on our younger generation, we hope to inspire them to appreciate the importance of protecting our environment and in particular Queensland’s biodiversity.
“This is a case of conservation, education and tourism coming together to put the bilby at the forefront of young minds,” he said.
‘I congratulate St Francis Xavier Primary School for being the first school to take their students through this program.”
Media contact: Emma Parnell 3336 8002