As we travel, many of us are aware of how lucky we are to visit and experience this 'wide brown land' of Australia. But how often do we, as travellers, have the opportunity to experience something vastly more tangible from our environmentally-conscious efforts?
With a commitment to responsible tourism, Anne and Geoff McGeary established the APT Charitable and Conservation Foundation in 2003.
| APT Charitable and Conservation Foundation Beneficiaries | |
 | Tasmanian Devil - see how we're helping these wonderful creatures. |
 | Western Australia's famous Kimberley - find out how we're trying to protect this fragile region. |
 | Queensland's Brooklyn Sanctuary - learn more about these wetland habitats. |
 | ShelterBox Australia - find out how APT assisted with the Burma relief effort. |
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Mornington Peninsula Sanctuary, the Kimberley
APT is proud to announce its support for the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of Australia's wildlife. With a commitment to responsible tourism, Anne and Geoff McGeary established the APT Charitable and Conservation Foundation in 2003.
The foundation is supporting the protection of endangered native species throughout the Kimberley region of Western Australia, the Clean Up Australia designed to reduce the impact of human waste on the wilderness regions of the Kimberley, and the ‘Toad Busters’ program designed to prevent the spread of cane toads into the Kimberley.
A percentage of APT's profits is donated to this foundation which is supporting the Mornington Wilderness Sanctuary located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Australia's mammals are facing an extinction crisis. In the past 200 years over one third of the mammals that have become extinct in the world have been Australian - with a further 50 currently threatened. Australia is one of twelve mega-diverse regions on earth with 84% of its mammals found nowhere else.
The dedication of 3000 square kilometres of untouched Kimberley paradise by the Mornington Wildlife Conservancy to form the Mornington Wilderness Sanctuary has helped ensure the survival of many of our threatened species. Your visit to Mornington helps this effort, both through contributions made by APT's Conservation and Charitable Foundation and proceeds from the Mornington Wilderness Camp.
Mornington Wilderness Sanctuary is a haven for the Short-eared Rock Wallaby and amazing birdlife, including the endangered, vibrantly coloured and elusive Gouldian Finch. Discover Sir John Gorge as it cuts its way through the majestic King Leopold Ranges, a landscape formed before life appeared on earth.
Mornington Wilderness Sanctuary, incorporating the Mornington Wilderness Camp, offers an unrivalled Kimberley experience that highlights the ever-increasing importance of the conservation of the natural environment. Now you can visit this beautiful region with APT on our 'Kimberley Classic Sights' tour.
In addition to supporting efforts to save indigenous wildlife, APT maintains an ongoing commitment for projects carried out in conjunction with the Purnululu Park Council and Karakamia Sanctuary.
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Tasmanian Devil Sponsorship Program
In 2007, we have expanded the Conservation Foundation by adding the Tasmanian Devil Sponsorship Program to the list, to support the protection of endangered species around Australia.
With the devastating facial tumour disease sweeping through the Tasmanian Devil population, and as an Australian company, we believed it is essential to assist in preserving Tasmanian Wildlife for future generations.
Why sponsor a Tasmanian Devil?
As at December 2006, the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease had spread to 57 separate sites covering 56% of the State. This horrible epidemic is sweeping the east coast of the state in particular, and is a major concern for the future.
What is the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease?
This fatal condition in Tasmanian devils is characterised by the appearance of obvious facial cancers. The tumours or cancers are first noticed in and around the mouth as small lesions or lumps. These develop into large tumours around the face and neck and sometimes even in other parts of the body.
Adults appear to be most affected by the disease - males the first affected, then females. As the cancers develop in affected devils, they may become gaunt, particularly if the tumours interfere with teeth and feeding. Many females lose their young. Affected animals appear to die within six months of the lesions first appearing.
Source: http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au
What are we doing about it?
A percentage of our profits have been donated to East Coast Natureworld, in Bicheno Tasmania. Over the past five years we have built a strong relationship with Natureworld, and we continue to visit this wonderful animal park on the Royal Tasman touring program.
We believe it is essential to preserve endangered Tasmanian Wildlife for future generations to encourage the survival of this rare species. Moreover it is vital that our company continues to assist in maintaining responsible tourism practises to destinations visited by our loyal customers and employees.
In 2007, we are supporting Delilah the Devil's feeding, keeping, health and breeding program to ensure the growth of the Tasmanian Devil population in a protected environment. You can visit our very own Delilah on tour and have the opportunity to find out how her survival plays an integral part of the captive devil program at East Coast Natureworld.
Together with East Coast Natureworld, Australian Pacific Touring are proud sponsors of this ecotourism initiative.
Read about the launch of the program at East Coast Natureworld in Tasmania.
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Brooklyn Sanctuary, North Queensland
A percentage of APT's profits is donated to this fund, which is supporting the protection of endangered native species throughout the Wet Tropics and Einasleigh Uplands regions of Queensland in the Brooklyn Sanctuary.
The Brooklyn Sanctuary, near Cairns, has almost 500 native animals, a greater diversity of wildlife than even Kakadu National Park. It's home to 40% of all Australian bird species and 30% of all Australian mammals. Brooklyn has 45 fauna species that are listed as threatened with extinction including the Southern cassowary, the Striped possum, the Green Tree frog and the Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo. The AWC has been carrying out prescribed burns, erecting fencing, culling wild horses and controlling weeds, in order to protect the wildlife at Brooklyn.
* ShelterBox Australia
In 2003 the owners of APT, Anne and Geoff McGeary, established the APT Charitable and Conservation Foundation, with the vision of making a tangible contribution to a global responsible tourism plan. While the Foundation was initially set up to help protect wildlife under threat, the recent tragedy in Burma extended the Foundation's goals to include humanitarian programs.
To date, APT has donated $20,400 for ShelterBoxes to be sent to the Burma relief effort to replenish much needed stock, plus to other areas in need - via the neighbourhood Brighton Rotary Club. Donations are allocated to specific boxes that are tracked by the ShelterBox organisation. APT believes its boxes were among the first to get through to victims.
In addition our fantastic staff raised A$3,300, and APT matched that to total A$6,600 as well.
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