The Andrews Labor Government is taking urgent action to protect and save some of Victoria’s most vulnerable and threatened species.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio today launched Zoos Victoria’s five-year Wildlife Conservation Master Plan and announced $3 million in funding towards this important initiative.

Zoos Victoria has added six local native species to its Fighting Extinction priority list, bringing to 27 the number of species that without urgent intervention could be extinct over the next 20 years.

These include the Swift Parrot, the Mallee Emu Wren, the Giant Burrowing Frog, the Large Brown Tree Frog, the Golden-rayed Blue Butterfly and the Key’s Matchstick Grasshopper.

The funding boost will support initiatives designed to help put threatened species on the path to recovery by eradicating predators, improving breeding opportunities, and restoring and protecting habitats.

It will also help to deliver on the targets in the Government’s Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037 plan, which is designed to stop the decline of native plants and animals and improve our natural environment.

The Labor Government is currently delivering better protections for biodiversity across the state through the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Amendment Bill 2018, Biodiversity 2037 and a review of the native vegetation clearing regulations.

Over the past four years, the Government has provided more than $149 million to protect Victoria’s biodiversity.

The previous Wildlife Conservation Master Plan was successful in the first ever zoo birth of a Guthega Skink at Healesville Sanctuary, and was instrumental in increasing the genetic diversity of the critically endangered Baw Baw Frog.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

“We’re working hard to protect Victoria’s most vulnerable creatures and ensure they have a bright future in our changing climate.”

“We’re investing more than ever before to support Zoos Victoria’s tireless work to protect our native wildlife and plants for generations to come.”

Quotes attributable to Zoos Victoria Chief Executive Officer Dr Jenny Gray

“Now more than ever, the world needs good Zoos fighting hard to stop wildlife extinction and the next five years are critical.”

“This plan is Zoos Victoria’s line in the sand; no local threatened native species will become extinct on our watch.”