Small conservation initiatives in the South Pacific are being invited to apply for small grants for 2017 from the Auckland Zoo's conservation fund.
Conservation officers hold the hawksbill turtle while Conservancy scientists attach a satellite tag. Photo: Supplied/Tim Calver
Grants of up to $US3,500 will be given to support wildlife conservation in Polynesia and Melanesia for ongoing or pilot programmes worth up to, but not more than, $US13,800.
Auckland Zoo's Peter Fraser said previously the fund has been open to the entire world but the Zoo wants to help more South Pacific initiatives.
"New Zealand is part of the South Pacific, the South Pacific islands are our neighbours and we feel like we have a responsibility to the region and we also have the skills. Because all those islands have very similar problems to New Zealand which we have developed some really good skills to deal with. They have a similar sort of range of species, birds and reptiles not a lot of mammals and a big issue with invasive species," said Peter Fraser.
Interested parties can apply online via the Auckland Zoo website.
The application deadline is 19 February 2017.