Call for papers: Wildlife Tourism Workshop 2012

Wildlife Hospital entry, Currumbin Wildlife Sactuary

Like to present a paper (either oral or poster) at Wildlife Tourism Australia’s 3rd national wildlife tourism workshop?

Venue: Currumbin WIldlife Sanctuary
Dates: Wed-Friday 16-18 May 2012

The call for papers is now open:click here for further details or to download an application form

Registration has not yet opened, and naturally there is no obligation at this stage to register when submitting your abstract

ODEX, Brisbane

Yesterday was the first day of ODEX

Wildlife Tourism Australia has a stall (164) promoting our ideals of ecologically sustainable wildlife tourism. Nearby is Ecotourism Australia (and I’m wearing one of their eco-accreditation badges, as our own Araucaria Ecotours has advanced accreditation for all tours), also Christmas Island, Sarah Shark and others within our line of vision.

Ronda (photo used for ODEX PR for today's talk)

I’ll be giving my talk today on sustainable marine wildlife tourism, followed by Kym Cheatham from Ecotouism Australia explaining what ecotourism really is (and isn’t) and Peter Wood speaking on marine tourism which involves research and conservation.

There are many other exciting talks coming up today and tomorrow – research on pigmy seahorses, manta rays and other marine creatures, diving in Lombok, Africa and other exotic places (as well as some closer to home) etc. Visit this link for the special interest talks

ODEX, Brisbane, October 2011

Remember Wildlife Tourism Australia will have a display (booth 164) and will be presenting a talk on sustainable marine wildlife tourism

Dive and Ecotourism Expo in Brisbane

Visiting Brisbane in October?  If you have any interest in marine wildlife, try to schedule a day or more at ODEX, the Oceania Dive & Ecotourism Expo from Friday October 7th – Sunday October 9th 2011 (open 10am Daily) at the RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane

Tail of humpback whale (photo by Ronda Green, Araucaria Ecotours, while on tour with Spirit of Gold Coast Whale Watching)

Experts from all around Australia, plus Fiji, New Guinea and elsewhere will be displaying and presenting on SCUBA diving, snorkelling, marine life, conservation issues, and more, and dive equipment, books, tours and other items will be on sale. You will hear about diving in Egypt, the Maldives and other exotic locations.

A special photography competition, open until 12 September, will aid marine conservation as well as offering great prizes: “100s of marine enthusiasts from across the world will descend beneath the surface of the waters of the whole of Australasia to help create an underwater snapshot of our amazing bioregion, and show the world what we have to lose.”

Ecotourism Australia will have a display, and a cluster of eco-accredited operations involving marine ecotourism.

Wildlife Tourism Australia will also have a display of members’ products and WTA’s aims and policies.

For more details, visit www.odex.com.au

Camp for Koalas at Mt Barney, southeast Queensland

Mum and Dads “little koalas” are invited to come camping under the gum trees and help save the native koalas.

September 7 is National Threatened Species Day, and the whole of September is the Australian Koala Foundations “save the koala” month.

Mt Barney Lodge is supporting the Australian Koala Foundations education and conservation actions by donating every child’s camping fee to the Australian Koala Foundation from the 1^st to 15^th September. Each child will receive a sticker and koala tattoo for their efforts!

For camping bookings:  5544 3233 or info@mtbarneylodge.com.au

(koala photo by Darren Green, Araucaria Ecotours)

Thanks for spending a couple of nights outdoors this spring to help our koalas.

Click here for pdf of media release: Camping for Koalas (482kb)

For media inquiries please contact:

Tracey Larkin, Manager

MT BARNEY LODGE COUNTRY RETREAT

1093 Upper Logan Rd, Mt Barney, Q, 4287

Ph: (07) 5544 3233  Fax: (07) 5544 3233

Email: info@mtbarneylodge.com.au

Website: www.mtbarneylodge.com.au

2011 Australasian Ornithological Conference: Cairns

Red-tailed tropicbird. Photo Gondwana Guides

The next Australasian Ornithological Conference will be held at the Cairns Campus of James Cook University from 28 September–1 October, with the opening reception and registration beginning on 28 September. The theme of the AOC will be ‘Ornithology in the Tropics’. For more information about the conference, including registration, head to the AOC website.