On 27 September, Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast in Australia is to host a wild animal conservation day for guests.
As well as face painting, a treasure trail and a Sumatran tiger presentation, the programme of events for the day includes a panel discussion with conservationists including Frank Manthey, 'The Bilby Man'; Dawn Fraser and Patrick Martin-Vegue from Dreamworld's Tiger Island and Deborah Tabart of the Australian Koala Foundation.
Al Mucci, general manager of the four-hectare, 800-animal Australian Wildlife Experience at Dreamworld, said that through promotions such as photographs with tigers and adopting Dreamworld animals, as well as guest and staff donations, the park has raised more then AUD$2m (£1m, US$1.7m, €1.2m) over the past decade for animal conservation.
"Like many zoos, we sometimes get flack for having animals in captivity and we have to respect those opinions," he said. "But the fact of the matter is, the visibility of these creatures is helping us save their cousins in the wild.
"This year we are committing more than AUD$25,000 (£12,700, US$21,000, €14,600) to a wildlife protection unit that helps save the Sumatran tiger in the wild. Specifically, that funds the salaries of six staff as well as the cost of a vehicle to tackle important activities like village education, animal relocation, and anti-poaching patrols.
"In Russia, we also underwrite an anti-poaching unit of nine people. Between 2000 and 2007, that resulted in at least 725 violations handed out, the confiscation of 105 guns and 39 criminal prosecutions."
