SSAA NSW

6 Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. SSAA NSW's Contribution to Conservation Recognised You wouldn't know it but earlier this year, almost 50 new species of fl ora and fauna were quietly added without any fanfare to the Federal Government's list of threatened species. As a result, no new funding was put towards the existing threatened species strategy in this year's budget either, meaning programs such as those bringing animals back from the brink of extinction are unable to be delivered if it weren't for corporate support and public donations. One such organisation that depends on the valuable support of committed individuals and organisations is Devil Ark. As members will be aware, SSAA NSW launched a three-year project partnership with Devil Ark to support conservation efforts that create a healthy and sustainable population to help revive this iconic species that's unique to Australia. These primitive nocturnal creatures are threatened by a disease known as Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). As it develops, the devils fi nd it increasingly diffi cult to feed and they die within three to fi ve months. The cancer spreads from devil to devil by virtue of their feeding habits. They're among the most aggressive feeders of the animal kingdom, with the cancer passed from one animal to the next directly by implantation of the cell line during fi ghting and biting. The loss of the devil would have serious implications for Australia's biodiversity. Responsible wildlife management is all about protecting our environment and that includes the conservation of endangered wildlife, ecosystems, and biodiversity which SSAA NSW is committed to. That commitment to conservation was further highlighted by Australian Reptile Park General Manager Tim Falkner at a recent gala dinner celebrating Devil Ark's fi fth anniversary in which the important role of hunting was recognised. "For many wildlife species, hunting helps to maintain feral animal control at levels compatible with human activity, land use and available habitat and it's with thanks to friends like SSAA NSW that we're able to effectively manage our captive breeding program to ensure our devils have the best environment they require to thrive," said Faulkner. Thanks to SSAA NSW's project partnership, it's inspired renewed interest in conservation amongst shooters and the important role recreational hunting plays as part of the conservation toolkit. To cap it off, the gala dinner also saw Sporty, named in honour of sporting shooters and one of the offi cial ambassador devils of Devil Ark, attend his fi rst offi cial engagement and on-hand for many meet and greets.

• Cover