Red tailed black cockatoo Karak Junior is in safe hands at Healesville Sanctuary but the future for his species is By Kath Gannaway
THE plight of Commonwealth Games mascot, the endangered red tailed black cockatoo, has been taken up by The Judith Eardley Save Wildlife Association (JESWA) in Healesville.
“After promoting the Commonwealth Games and raising funds for humans, Karak will be consigned to history and forgotten along with other Games mascots,” JESWA director Peter Hannaford said.
“The question is, will the red tailed black cockatoo also be consigned to history?” he asks!
JESWA has undertaken to match dollar for dollar up to $50,000 raised through a Torch of Concern Relay it is organising.
The relay will travel from the Yarra Valley to the Trust for Nature offices in Melbourne and then on to Casterton where there are plans to purchase three reserves for the bird.
“Caring is not enough,” Mr Hannaford told the Mail last week.
“This project, The Linking of Many Hands can, however, easily save the bird and its habitat.”
JESWA aims to raise sufficient money to purchase one of the reserves and is looking for 18 Yarra Valley hosts for the torch relay.
“We hope schools, clubs, businesses, churches and other organisations and individuals will link hands and, where necessary, we can provide help and walkers or runners for the relay,” Mr Hannaford said.
A Help Save the Red Tailed Black Cockatoo account, number (06) 368910171293 has been set up by JESWA with the Commonwealth Bank and if a tax deductible receipt is required cheques must be made payable to Trust for Nature.
Mr Hannaford said all monies will go towards the purchase of the reserves.
JESWA would like to hear from individuals and groups who are willing to get involved in The Linking of Many Hands project to save the red tailed black cockatoo with the bonus that host groups will be entered in a raffle for the honour of naming the acquired reserve.
Mr Hannaford can be contacted at The Judith Eardley Save Wildlife Association in Healesville on 5962 1474.
