Commencing yesterday and running through to Saturday, April 30, Port Moresby’s Nature Park is hosting the International Tree Kangaroo Summit 2016 in the nation’s capital.
The summit brings together PNG-based conservation organisations working with local communities to protect local areas and conserve tree kangaroos, along with representatives from the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority and international zoos from USA, Europe and Australia who are committed to supporting tree kangaroo conservation efforts in PNG.
Other countries including USA and Australia have previously hosted this bi-annual event, and for the first time, PNG, through its Port Moresby Nature Park, will play host to the 2016 summit.
On the event, Port Moresby Nature Park’s General Manager, Michelle McGeorge, said “This is really the first of its kind opportunity for the Nature Park to bring together people from all over the world who are passionate about PNG, tree kangaroos and community conservation.”
“The event will focus on the amazing work performed by some of our local PNG conservation organisations including the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program and Tenkile Conservation Alliance who do amazing work with communities to save wildlife, save rainforests but also in the process improve the livelihoods of communities.”
She also stated that this event firmly established Port Moresby Nature Park within the international zoological community (nine of which are in attendance from USA, Australia and Germany) as a facility committed to promoting and supporting conservation within PNG and that it was also important to see the summit held in the country where majority of Tree Kangaroos are found.
POM Nature Park is endorsed as upholding international guidelines on animal welfare management; they have demonstrated their commitment and participation in conservation, research and education programs. That being said, POM Nature Park is PNG’s only member of the Zoos and Aquarium Association of Australasia and project partner in the World Association of Zoos and Aquarium.
The summit is sponsored by NCDC, Tropicair, Australian Aid, PNG Tourism Promotion Authority and IHG and supported by CPL and Loloata Resort.
