It’s not every day you get this close to a critically endangered local species… But the young extinction fighters from Christmas Hills Primary School had some very special up close encounters at Healesville Sanctuary recently (as did I as I was attempting to film the experience)!
Me with a curious feathered friend :)
Keepers Jason and Norm have been trianing a couple of our young Helmeted Honeyeaters to fly to coloured targets and wanted to try it with a larger audience. As you can see the young birds, who are naturally very curious anyway, had a great time exploring the room and the people there. Needless to say this was a very special experience for the kids and adults alike!
During an action packed day the kids also got to meet a baby tassie devil, a hibernating Mountain Pygmy-possum, make animal enrichment treats, and see our new Go Wild show.
Meeting a Mountain Pygmy possum in torpor
Their teacher Becky successfully applied for a NAB seed funding award to work with Healesville Sanctuary to promote our Love your locals campaign in their school community. The kids have been creating nestboxes, planting native gardens, and actively getting households and businesses in their community and beyond to make the switch to recycled toilet paper and ‘Wipe for Wildlife’. After their magical day meeting some of these awesome local threatened species they are now more motivated than ever to do everything they can do to save them from extinction.
