Serendip stand to retain wildlife exhibits

CAMPAIGNERS for Lara’s Serendip Sanctuary are ramping up calls for captive breeding campaigns to remain at the reservation as the state government plans implementation of a new masterplan.

But the pleas are yet to sway the region’s local MP, who says the sanctuary’s ongoing conservation practices will not include captive programs.

The state government’s You Yangs Precinct Masterplan includes management strategies for Serendip, which includes ending the captive breeding programs that have been part of the sanctuary in 1960 and opened to the public in 1991.

Lara MP Ella George announced $11 million to implement the You Yangs masterplan ahead of her election to the seat last year, with that money provided in this year’s state budget.

Community campaigners Lara Care Group (LCG) have welcomed the investment but raised issue with the decision to remove native wildlife exhibits.

“That’s the central attraction to Serendip, and has been the reason why we’ve had hundreds of thousands of people over 25 years visit,” LCG chairman Barry White said.

“Nobody likes having animals in cages, but a lot of these are critically at-risk birds and animals.

“Serendip has provided for a lot of these, and of course at the same time has been able to provide the basis for education, tourism, and family visits.”

In recent weeks LCG has ramped up its advocacy about Serendip, including by erecting signs in Lara and setting up information stalls at local supermarkets to raise awareness.

“We’ve had a very strong reaction from the community about the fact that they want the wildlife returned,” Mr White said.

“They do want to see the continuation of the threatened species breeding program which has always been a central part of what Serendip’s got to offer.”

LCG has urged residents to take their concerns to Ms George in a bid to reach a resolution.

The group first raised alarm about the breeding programs in mid-last year when Parks Victoria quietly started removing native exhibits from the reserve. Parks Victoria indicated these animals have been rehomed at other zoos and sanctuaries across Victoria.

That action, the community concern and Serendip’s overall “decline and deterioration” in recent years prompted the City of Greater Geelong to write to then-Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio in October seeking “urgent intervention”.

The government has stood by its decision to end captive breeding, indicating holding animals at Serendip was an exceptional circumstance for Parks Victoria.

Ms George said the $11 million investment would bring “significant improvements” to visitor experiences.

“Wildlife viewing is a long-standing feature of the visitor experience at Serendip – and visitors will continue to see wildlife at Serendip in an enhanced open park environment.

“Upgrades to Serendip Sanctuary will include enhanced wildlife viewing areas.

“For many years, Serendip Sanctuary has been home to successful threatened and endangered species breeding program. I look forward to these programs continuing, in partnership with conservation specialists such as Zoos Victoria.”

Parks has established a stakeholder reference group, which includes LCG and several other representative groups, to inform implementation of the masterplan.