Special Karak number plates push Games environment efforts

07 Sep 05 06:55

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A limited edition number plate has been released as part of a plan to save Karak, the endangered Red-tailed black cockatoo and mascot of the Games.

With only about one thousand of this species remaining, one thousand number plates featuring the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games mascot Karak has been unveiled to raise money for organisations such as the Australian Bush Heritage Fund for Nature and Birds Australia.

“We are delighted that the Karak number plate will help promote and commemorate the Games and help to save the endangered Red-tailed black cockatoo,” said Victoria's Minister for Environment, Mr John Thwaites.

Victorian State Manager of Planet Ark, Ms Tanya Ha, said the initiative would leave a wonderful environmental legacy from the Games.

“We need to reverse recent population declines of the Red-tailed black cockatoo and sales of the Karak number plates will help to achieve that goal,” she said.

Habitat protection is the main priority in saving the species.

“More than 20 environmental groups in Victoria are involved in protecting the Red-tailed black cockatoo, from planting trees and purchasing land with habitat, through to population monitoring and contributing to a National Recovery Plan,” said the Minister for the Commonwealth Games, Mr Justin Madden.

“The birds are dependent on mature trees for feeding and nesting, so protecting trees that birds already depend on is also crucial until newly planted trees are mature in about 50 years,” he said.

“In the last 15 months, more than 6,000 buloke trees have been planted and 50 hectares of remnant buloke have been protected thanks to conditions placed on clearing permits,” said Mr Thwaites.

“There are only about 1,000 of these beautiful birds left so we aim to sell 1,000 limited edition number plates at $285 each, or $95 per year for 3 years, to help save the species."

Planet Ark will assist in promoting the number plate fundraising effort and help conservation groups and businesses get behind sales efforts.

To place your order for the limited edition Commonwealth Games Karak number plates, go to www.dse.vic.gov.au or phone the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

For more information on Karak, the mascot of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, visit our Karak the Mascot section.

For more information on environmental programs for the Games, visit our Environment section.

This Website is closed and for reference purposes only. To guarantee the stability of Games data, all external links are being removed.

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