Scott Creek Conservation Park Bushfire Recovery

Save Our Wildlife Foundation (SOWFI) are coordinating this fundraiser to support the Friends of Scott Creek Conservation Park restore and care for this precious habitat for wildlife.

SOWFI are an Adelaide wildlife rehabilitation & conservation organisation. 

2700 hectares of bio-diverse lush native forests were lost in January 2021 to horrific fires that wiped out
80% of the marsupials, reptile and native trees of the Scott Creek Conservation Area. The restoration of the area is a painstaking, time consuming practice of planting and weed control and land analysis. This fundraiser will provide funds to assist that effort. By supporting this cause, you are joining a momentous event whereby 20+ conservation organisations are for the first time banding together due to the dire situation as covered by the Newscorp's Adelaide Advertiser on 22nd Feb 2021 . The recovery campaign is spearheaded by  Save Our Wildlife Foundation  with evidence based consultation from the University of Adelaide Environment Institute.

The bushfire primarily ravaged across the Mt. Bold Reservoir Reserve and Scott Creek Conservation Park – a biodiversity hotspot that is home to many native wildlife. As Dr Jasmin Packer, University of Adelaide Wildlife Ecologist, explains, “the core remaining habitat for nationally endangered Chestnut-rumped Heathwren and Southern Brown Bandicoots, and our tiny Brown Thornbills, is right here in the heart of the Mt. Lofty Ranges”.

Friends of Scott Creek President, Jim Spiker, “We have been shocked by the continuing reports of hundreds of native animals that have been casualties of this fire. The terrain is unrecognizable with lush undergrowth reduced to powdery ash. We cannot estimate the number of birds that have perished. Our long-term bird-banding program processed 379 birds in 2019 with over 20% being recaptures. Many of these were more than 4 years old but included a White-browed Scrubwren of 17+ years. All of these recaptures were processed within 200 metres of their first capture. The habitat for these birds no longer exist.”

The best way we can offer support is to raise awareness of the importance of this place and raise money to help bring it back quickly and carefully.

100% of funds raised here will go to the Friends of Scott Creek Conservation Park who will work with a number of other organisations in a 3-5 year program to:

(1) increase best-practice bushcare for wildlife-friendly weed control
(2) sustaining grazing control
(3) monitoring wildlife numbers to ensure our actions are helping their recovery

Your donation will really help!

Other things you can do:
1.    In your backyard – protect all bushland habitat on your property, provide habitat for wildlife survivors by laying large hollow logs, and share wildlife sightings on iNaturalist so we have a better picture of who’s survived and where.

2.    In your local bushland – volunteer to help Friends of Scott Creek Conservation Park with bushcare and surveys to protect habitat in the unburnt area – and burnt area when it’s safe

3.    Contact your local member of parliament to help Mount Bold Reserve and Scott Creek Conservation Park get the 3–5 years of support needed – for wildlife, and for everyone who wants to them to stay wild!

4.  Share this campaign with other like-minded nature lovers.

Thanks for caring for our wildlife and their habitat.