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Press Release
Wildlife Warriors Join Fight to Save Tassie Devil
25 January 2008
Wildlife Warriors Worldwide (WWW) has officially joined a campaign to help save Tasmanian devils from a hideous cancer threatening the species.
WWW announced at its Benefit Dinner in New York City that the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease would now be an official cause for the organisation.
A portion of funds raised by WWW will now go to assist in increasing awareness and research to find a cure to save the Tasmanian wildlife icon.
A delegation from Tasmania, in America to promote the state at G’Day USA, attended the sold-out event, which honoured the original Wildlife Warrior Steve Irwin.
Proceeds from the dinner, which attracted more than 300 New York City philanthropists, socialites and celebrities, will go towards the organisation’s global programs as a part of the Australia Week New York activities.
The Tasmanian delegation, led by Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Doug Parkinson, hosted key influential guests at the dinner to promote the state’s own efforts to save the Tasmanian devil, including US wildlife television personality Jack Hanna.
As a direct outcome of this event, Mr Hanna agreed to visit Tasmania to shoot episodes of his television series, with the assistance of Tourism Tasmania.
Other guests were Tasmanian actress Rachael Taylor, Tasmanian Devil Researcher Dr Elizabeth Murchison, writer Heather Millar, who recently published a feature on the Tasmania devil cause in American Way, the American Airlines inflight magazine reaching more than 350,000 readers and Alison Welner, contributor to The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
Department of Tourism, Arts and the Environment Secretary, Scott Gadd, also phoned into E – The Environmental Magazine Editor Jim Motavalli’s weekly radio program to discuss Tasmania’s progress in finding a cure for the DFTD and the island’s leading sustainable environmental practices.
Terri and Bindi Irwin attended the event on behalf of WWW, along with Khaliah Ali – celebrated author, fashion designer, talk show host, and daughter of the legendary Muhammad Ali, who is the US Ambassador for the organisation.
Guests dined on Australian-style cuisine prepared by renowned Australian chef Shannon Bennett, using fresh Australian produce, including ocean trout from Tasmania.
“The evening provided an important opportunity to further promote awareness of the disease facing the Tasmanian devil to a targeted audience that can help make a difference,” Mr Parkinson said.