Zoos and wildlife parks celebrate the first annual World Tree Kangaroo Day
May 21st marked the first annual World Tree Kangaroo Day and was
celebrated by many ZAA-accredited Zoos and Wildlife parks both on-site and
online. There are several different species of Tree Kangaroo, found in Papua
New Guinea, Indonesia, and Australia, 50% of which are now considered
endangered or critically endangered. The adorable marsupials not only deserve
their own special day but need it, as their numbers in the wild continue to
decline due to loss of habitat and hunting. There are so few left of the
Wondiwoi Tree Kangaroo that the species was thought to be extinct until recent
years.
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The team at Port Moresby Nature Park celebrated World Tree
Kangaroo Day both onsite and online. Port Moresby Nature Park is PNG’s only
welfare accredited zoo and provides the only Tree Kangaroo rescue service for
poached animals in the country. The Park led a month-long social media campaign
to educate the community about the various species of Tree Kangaroos. The
weekly posts featured short facts about Tree Kangaroos and engaged followers in
the lead up to the onsite activities. In the final week leading up to World
Tree Kangaroo Day, the park hosted various activities including a live-streamed
interview on PNG’s radio station, FM 100, a coupon activity for kids (3-12
years old), tree kangaroo quizzes after animal keeper talks and art & craft
activities with their animal keepers.
Kids participating in the World Tree Tree Kangaroo Day craft activities at the Tree Kangaroo Trail at Port Moresby Nature Park.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary also celebrated World Tree Kangaroo Day by hosting a special keeper talk for all their visitors at the Tree Kangaroo enclosures and by sharing conservation messaging online. Currumbin is currently home to two Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroos and one Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo. The sanctuary team are committed to improving Tree Kangaroo conservation, focusing their efforts on raising public awareness and taking part in an international breeding management program. Thanks to the program they have seen 9 joeys born at the site, which will help to ensure the survival of the species for generations to come.
Zoos South Australia celebrated the day through their social media channels, sharing a keeper talk with Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo, ‘Buna’ and keeper Amelia. The talk discussed fascinating facts about Tree Kangaroos, and what threats they face in the wild. Unfortunately, their resident Tree Kangaroo, ‘Buna’ has some reproductive health issues so she is unable to contribute to any breeding program, however, she is still a great ambassador for her species.
The team at Dreamworld celebrated World Tree Kangaroo Day by hosting activities at the park, with a percentage of the proceeds being donated to the Tree Roo Rescue and Conservation Centre (TRRACC) through DWF. Activities included kids Colouring In activities (Free with donation to DWF), meet a tree roo education talks, Tree roo cookie decorating, and the option to adopt a Tree Kangaroo through the ‘Adopt an Animal program’.
Taronga Zoo also joined in raising awareness for this important species and the threats facing them in the
wild with a short but adorable video shared across its social channels
highlighting their Tree Kangaroo breeding pair.
Thank you to everyone that participated in celebrating the first ever World Tree Kangaroo day and for continuing to support the conservation of this incredible species!
1. The winner of the Port Moresby Wildlife Park World Tree Kangaroo Day Coupon Competition, Ms Ka’lulan Imar with her prize, a Tree Kangaroo Plush Toy!
2. Port Moresby Nature Park’s Communications Coordinator, Karen-Marie Lillie (with cap) and Education Manager, Shirley Mogi, speaking to FM 100’s Talkback host ‘Ivan’ about World Tree Kangaroo Day.
3. Mupee the Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo inspecting some decorated cookies at Dreamworld