Construction of a new captive breeding facility at Five Mile Beach for the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot is progressing with the first new breeding aviary expected to be completed in the next few weeks.
This will be just in time for the breeding season which commences later this month.
The new facility follows a $2.5 million funding commitment from the Hodgman Liberal Government to protect the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot.
Featuring improved biosecurity measures, the new facility will reduce disease risk for the Orange-bellied Parrot and allow for a significant increase in breeding capacity.
The construction project is estimated to have created the direct employment of up to 55 people and the engagement of 17 local businesses, once fully complete in April 2019.
The Hodgman Liberal Government is serious about protecting Threatened Species in Tasmania as demonstrated by the significant conservation programs in place across the State, including additional funding for the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program in the last budget.
Additionally, the Government recently amended the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 to increase the financial penalty for deliberately killing threated species to up to $102,527 and/or up to 12 months imprisonment.
