News and Events

2006 Media Releases

La Trobe University Staff Supply Love Nests for Bushfire Victims

La Trobe University is building nesting boxes for animals and birds whose natural nests were destroyed in recent Victorian bushfires.

Staff at the Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary on La Trobe’s Melbourne (Bundoora) campus, are donating their time to build the boxes for sugar gliders, parrots and other creatures in national parks at Kinglake and the Grampians.

Many native creatures—which nest in tree hollows— survived fires in these parks but have nowhere to breed because post-bushfire regeneration provides few suitable breeding hollows.

Wildlife Victoria, a network of volunteers whose members are caring for bushfire-affected creatures in regional Victoria, approached the Wildlife Sanctuary Nursery Coordinator, Mr Michael Cincotta, seeking nesting boxes.

The Head Ranger of La Trobe’s Wildlife Sanctuary, Mr George Paras, said the dispossessed creatures required immediate “substitute habitat” in the form of special nesting boxes – products which have been researched and produced by the La Trobe University Wildlife Sanctuary for some years.

‘We have the expertise to quickly manufacture these boxes and have already produced 20 for immediate distribution via Wildlife Victoria,’ Mr Paras said.

‘We are grateful for a generous donation of plywood by the company Gunnersen Timbermark which was arranged by La Trobe Chancellor, Professor Nancy Millis, through the company‘s proprietor, Mr Thorry Gunnersen.

‘Several University Wildlife Sanctuary staff have already donated time and personal materials to produce the 20 nesting boxes to date. They will be dispatched this week.

‘We are also looking for additional funds and partnerships to expand this work. If this assistance becomes available, our staff members are willing to give their spare time to manufacture and distribute many more nesting boxes,’ Mr Paras added.

Any person or organisation willing to assist with donations of material or money should call: (03) 9479 2071 or Email: wildlife@latrobe.edu.au

For further information:

Mr Andrew Stocker Tel: (03) 9479 1206 or La Trobe University Media and Communications Office Tel: (03) 9479 2316.