A Message from Our Staff
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Consultant, Dr. Allan McKinnon BVSc, MSc
Manager, Moggill Koala Hospital, and Team Leader,
Wildlife Management,
Department of the Environment and Resource Management
Queensland Government.
Sometimes we think we are separate from nature - but this is not so. Sometimes
we think that people in other countries are very different from us - we
have a lot in common. Conservation of wildlife is in everyonefs interest.
Given the human impact on the natural environment (the home of most wildlife),
it is time to restore the balance. Even in cities, wildlife and humans
can live alongside one another - this is very apparent in Australia. Australian
wildlife is unique and subject to a number of threats. It is rewarding
to be able to assist them. |
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Director, Tak Adachi LLB, MBA
Commissioner-Japan, Queensland
Government
Located in the northeast of Australia,
many Japanese are very familiar with the state of
Queensland through visits, exchanges or business trips,
etc., and are well aware that it is home to many wild
animals, such as the koala. I was, however, shocked to
learn that some of those lovely animals are actually
endangered due to the activities of people.
Environmental protection somehow tends to be viewed as
something that we can leave up to the experts and
academics. With the establishment of the AJWCEF,
however, I am delighted that there is now the
opportunity for people from Japan also to contribute at
the grass roots level in a more direct manner. It would
indeed be wonderful for Japan, particularly its youth,
to contribute to friendly exchanges between Japan and
Queensland through the important human theme of
conservation. |
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Director@Dr.
Hajime Amasaki@DVM. PhD
Professor of Veterinary Anatomy
Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University
The
university at which I teach offers courses in veterinary
science, veterinary technology, animal science and food
technology. As of around 5 years ago we have conducted a
study tour to learn about Australian wildlife as part of
an international exchange programme with the University
of Queensland. Feedback from the vast majority of
students says that they thought it was truly wonderful
to be able to visit Australia , see koalas and
other wildlife for themselves and get a feel for their
situation. Having the opportunity to see the world
outside Japan, they were also surprised by the differing
attitudes towards wildlife. Rather than having the usual
tourist experience, being able to see actual
environmental and wildlife protection in Australia
provides a wonderful chance to not only learn about
wildlife protection activities and gain an international
perspective, but also to be reminded of the importance
of wildlife protection in Japan and around the world as
well. It is also a great opportunity to gain in-depth
specialist knowledge about wildlife conservation. So, I
thoroughly recommend that you experience this for
yourself. |
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Executive
Director Julia Mizuno BA (Hons), MAJIT
NAATI Accredited Interpreter and Translator
Casual Lecturer, University of Queensland
In the rush of our busy daily lives it is all too easy to lose sight of
the fact that we share this planet not only with our fellow human beings
but also with a myriad of fascinating creatures - creatures without which
the environment on which we rely would not function properly. Due to a
variety of factors, including the loss of habitat and the emergence of
new diseases, some stress-induced, there are some species of animals that
are in danger of becoming extinct and need our help to ensure their survival.
AJWCEFfs aim is to support a variety of wildlife conservation activities
and research while, hopefully, the human species of animal finds ways in
which to live that do not threaten the other animals that co-habit the
earth. With the close ties that exist between our countries at a number
of levels, we hope that our friends in Japan will lend us their support
in attempting to restore and maintain healthy populations of Australiafs
unique, but endangered, animals. Ultimately, however, it is my hope that
one day in the future we will achieve a state of comfortable co-existence
between humans and other animals and that organizations such as the AJWCEF
become completely unnecessary. |
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