RAPTOR REFUGE - Key Persons
In 1997, Craig returned to his birthplace of Tasmania after many years in the Kimberly working as a veterinary nurse and registered as a licensed wildlife carer. Craig was initially involved with all facets of wildlife care but increasingly he was sought out by members of the public to look after injured raptors. At the time, there was no facility dedicated to the rehabilitation of Tasmanian raptors. This led to Craig having the idea of creating a working refuge that would care for and rehabilitate injured raptors, so that they can be released back into the wild.
Craig bought the 20 acres of land where the Raptor Refuge is currently situated and has worked tirelessly to build what is now the only dedicated facility in Tasmania for the rehabilitation of raptors. His single-minded determination and commitment to Tasmania's birds of prey has seen him construct the largest flight aviaries in Australia. These aviaries where the result of many sleepless nights trying to solve the complex engineering challenges of putting heavy, commercial fishing nets (almost two tonnes each), securely fastened with a series of ropes on pulleys, above and around the power poles that support them.
Originally from New Zealand, Ingrid is a passionate environmental educator and has worked with a range of organisations as a wildlife biologist, teacher, marine specialist and interpretation and education officer and is an Alumnae of Homeward Bound Projects. Her priorities are to focus on programs that create a difference, whether that is the Tasmanian Climate Change Stories website, running whale rescue programs, breeding devils as part of an insurance population or inspiring people to care about the environment. She is passionate about wildlife especially birds of prey and other top order predators. The Raptor Refuge is a program that clearly is all about making a difference.
In 2020 she was jointly awarded Australian Environmental Educator of the Year and believes individually we may be a drop of water but together we are the ocean.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- President of the Volunteer Group Seabird Island Restoration Group
Peter has dedicated his working life to the conservation, management and presentation of Tasmania's globally renowned National Parks and World Heritage Areas.
Starting as a Trainee Ranger and progressing to being the General Manager of the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service for 12 years until mid-2016. Peter has led several large successful feral pest eradication programs, notable the removal of rabbits, rats and mice from the sub Antarctic Island, Macquarie Island and the removal of rats from Big Green Island.
Peter is President of the volunteer group Seabird Island Restoration Group, which concentrates on the removal of feral pests from Tasmania's offshore islands. He is a Director on the Board of the Pennicott Foundation Pty Ltd and is an inaugural Board member of Reef Life Survey Inc. Board.
Peter was awarded the "Tourism Champion for 2016" by the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania for his dedication to conservation and tourism management in Tasmania. In his spare time Peter provides nature guiding services to several eco-tourism experiences in the Port Davey region in Southwest Tasmania.