Sign the Save Serendip Sanctuary petition now

Captive bred Tawny Frogmouth raised at Serendip Sanctuary. It helped thousands of people appreciate wildlife. Now it's been removed and 19,000 people want it back

"I love Serendip Sanctuary and have fond memories of taking my children there when they were young. I would hate this special place to be downgraded. Once lost, you never get it back again"

Comment from Save Serendip Sanctuary petition, 2020

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A petition that went ballistic

In the Spring of 2020 concerned Lara resident, Julia Ferguson, started a Change.org petition. A few months later the Save Serendip Sanctuary petition had been signed by over 18,000 very concerned people.

Anyone watching this happen could have no doubt about the massive opposition to the removal of captive wildlife, AND the captive breeding program, from Serendip SANCTUARY. (never forget that Serendip is a Sanctuary!)

The petition is still live. If it reaches 25,000 it will be one of Change.org’s top ranked petitions.

Today we’re asking you to take Julia’s petition through the 25,000 mark.

SIGN THE SAVE SERENDIP SANCTUARY PETITION NOW 

Then share it with your friends, family, Facebook, Twitter.....and the world!  

Overwhelming support for Serendip

Incredibly Julia's petition was treated by Parks Victoria (PV) as a minor blip on the radar. 

PV was wrong - the Save Serendip Sanctuary petition was an overwhelming display of how strongly the community felt about losing what Serendip had become to them.

“It’s sanctuaries like Serendip that help repopulate species and are able to help the general public connect with these animals and make changes for the better”. Comment from the petition

Although Parks Victoria was fully aware of the huge number of people who signed the petition they chose to ignore its significance. Instead they used the petition's feedback to create “themes in the [You Yangs Precinct Master Plan] report.”  We could only find one.....

Key theme never translated into reality

The top rated “key theme” in PV’s Consultation Report was Captive Breeding. This is from page 11 of that report:

“Captive breeding. Almost all written submitters (90%) ......wanted the captive breeding program to be retained….”

PV even included this quote from one respondent: 

“Removing the breeding programs and opportunities to see wildlife up close will have a negative impact on Serendip Sanctuary. It is a hidden gem. There are very few places to go that is accessible for people who have disabilities and see nature as well as an opportunity to see Australian wildlife. Serendip has a magical feel.”

So what happened to Serendip's "magical feel"?

Engage Victoria, the Government department that oversees community feedback, promised it would listen to the community but its "interpretation" of the "magical feel" of Serendip backfired disastrously on the Lara community.

19,000 people* said they wanted Serendip Sanctuary to remain a place where captive wildlife was displayed and bred yet PV went ahead and has now almost totally removed the single "key" reason people visit Serendip: its captive wildlife and breeding programs!

PV did this knowing it had no mandate to do it, not in community feedback nor in accordance with Section 8 of its own Master Plan which states that no changes were to happen until the community was consulted (read more here)

* includes people who responded to PV’s call for submissions and surveys

Now is not the time to press the destroy button

Serendip Sanctuary has played a nationally significant role not only in the conservation and protection of threatened species but also as major public education and ecotourism facility.  In a time where biodiversity is in freefall right across the planet - especially in Australia - Serendip's functions are needed more than ever. 

Serendip has also provided significant economic benefits to the Lara community especially through ecotourism but also through educational inputs. 

Now is not the time to press the destroy button. Serendip needs to be re-established so its vital role can be continued into the future.

Once lost, you will never get it back again

A vast majority of signatories to Julie Ferguson's original petition were adamant in their belief that Serendip should not be turned into yet another open parkland. In the comments there was a depth of feeling, appreciation and knowledge about the Sanctuary that Parks Victoria, unbelievably, preferred to walk past. 

As recently as this week new signatories began appearing on the petition:

“Serendip sanctuary is Lara. Enhance it Parks Vic, don’t destroy it. It’s a SANCTUARY And has a proud history of endangered species successful breeding.” Comment from the petition

WE MUST STOP PARKS VICTORIA 

YOU CAN STOP THIS

SIGN THE SAVE SERENDIP SANCTUARY PETITION NOW 

IMPORTANT: When you sign the petition you will be prompted to make a donation. This is NOT obligatory. However if you donate that funding will go into helping promote the petition to a wider audience.

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Join Lara Care Group

Please click here: Join the Lara Care Group

Visit Lara Care Group's Facebook page

Visit Save Serendip Sanctuary Facebook page 

Help continue to put pressure on the State Government to stop wrecking Serendip.

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NOTES on this Newsletter

• This is an ongoing series of updates about Serendip direct from the Lara Care Group. 
• We will publish these stories regularly and post them on social media. 
• To follow this blog go to: saveserendip.blogspot.com
• Your comments are welcome (be nice 😊please)