The Allan Labor Government is celebrating the incredible work Victoria’s students have done to help the state’s wildlife.

Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos congratulated more than 400 students taking part in the largest Fighting Extinction Showcase at Melbourne Zoo to promote their work in species conservation.

More than 35 schools attended the event – showcasing the work they have done to engage local communities in protecting the animals we all love.

Some of the project’s students participated in included promoting the use of recycled phones to support the conservation of gorillas, designing games to educate other students about threatened specie and cleaning up marine waste on Victorian beaches.

During the past five years, 45% of schools across Victoria have taken action as one of Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Ex-tinction Schools.

To learn more about joining the Fighting Extinction Schools Program, resources are available at www.zoo.org.au/education.

Since 2014, the Allan Labor Government has invested more than $582 million into protecting biodiversity – more than any other in Victorian Government in history – and is halting the decline of Victoria’s plants and animals through its landmark plan Biodiversity 2037.

Zoos Victoria is committed to fighting the extinction of 27 local threatened species and a further eight watch list species, including the Broad-toothed Rat. Financial support for this conservation work includes donations to Zoos Victoria’s Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund and generous philanthropic contributions.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos

“We are proud to support students taking their learning beyond school walls and into their local communities to help with wildlife conservation.”

“Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction Schools program is a wonderful initiative to encourage students to connect with our natural world and be inspired to protect it.”

Quotes attributable to Zoos Victoria CEO Dr Jenny Gray

“Empowering young people to connect with nature and fight extinction is something we’re incredibly passionate about at Zoos Victoria.”

“Zoos Victoria is committed to ensuring we have a future rich in wildlife and investing in our youngest conservationists is an important part of that mission.”