Aussie Ark Kept Afloat

GLENCORE yesterday announced they will give the Aussie Ark in the Barrington Tops $450,000 over the next three years to support six threatened Australian species.

Liz Gabriel, director of Aussie Ark said they thought they were receiving a donation of $150,000 and were shocked to hear it would be a total of $450,000.

“Aussie Ark was so thankful for the generous sponsorship of $150,000 from Glencore but with the extra $300,000 we are just blown away.,” said Ms Gabriel.

“It is so important for private enterprises in Australia to support conservation. Glencore is also in close proximity to Aussie Ark, so we think it is just great for a corporation local to the Hunter region sees the value in what we are trying to achieve,” said Liz Gabriel.

Craig Strudwick, community relations manager for Glencore said they were passionate about supporting the local organisation.

“Aussie Ark is just up the road from us. It’s a local organisation and Glencore likes to invest in our local community,” said Mr Strudwick.

“There’s a great alignment between Glencore and Aussie Ark, we’re very particular with how we manage the environment with mine site rehabilitation and how we manage our lands and this is very much what Aussie Ark also does,” he said.

“Glencore is so excited to contribute to the amazing work that Aussie Ark does; the money will go towards a feral predator proof enclosure and it warms our hearts knowing that it is helping threatened species thrive,” Craig Strudwick said.

This year the Aussie Ark plans to build a new 400 hectare sanctuary and currently houses Tasmanian Devils, southern brown bandicoots, long-nosed potaroos, Parma wallabies, rufous bettongs and Eastern quolls in captive facilities and predator proof fencing on semi-wild parcels of land.

The Devil’s Ark is located within the Aussie Ark and is open for tours, to visit or stay at the Devil’s Retreat go to the Aussie Ark website.