Seabird hero honoured with international award

“IFAW is delighted to present Marny Bonner with an Action Award for her tremendous work in rescuing and rehabilitating hundreds of seabirds and marine wildlife. Alongside the late Lance Ferris, Marny Bonner has achieved great success saving the lives of animals that would have surely died, had they not been rescued,” Ms Martin said.

ASR was established at Ballina, NSW in 1992, following the rescue of a pelican hooked in fishing tackle. Since then, ASR volunteers have been involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of seabirds and shorebirds, marine turtles, and to date, have rescued over 1,500 Australian Pelicans. Through their care and dedication ASR have achieved an incredible 92.7 per cent rehabilitation success rate with Pelicans.

“I am honoured to receive the recognition and acknowledgement by not only those who nominated us, but also from an organisation for which I have the highest regard”, Marny Bonner said. “If I can inspire others to not just see what I gave seen, but also act as I have acted, then I can create an army of wildlife ambassadors. That is my mission.” Ms Bonner said.

ASR also leads the way in educating wildlife carers in the rescue and rehabilitation of marine wildlife. The two day workshops they run include the theory of rescue and rehabilitation and a practical 'hands-on' day of rescues and estuary reconnaissance. Since 1992, ASR team members have conducted training workshops with several wildlife groups along the east coast of Australia and also visit local schools and run clean-up days.

Marny Bonner is one of six animal heroes across Australia to receive an IFAW accolade this year.  The other winners will be announced over the next two weeks.

The winners have been chosen after IFAW called for Australia–wide nominations from friends, family and work colleagues of people who do exceptional work with wild or domestic animals.

“We hope that by highlighting some of these exceptional people more Australians will acknowledge and respect the important part that animals play in our global world,” Ms Martin said.

IFAW’s Animal Action Week is in its sixteenth year and takes place in 16 countries around the world.  More than 1000 schools in Australia will be taking part this year, using specially designed IFAW education materials focusing on protecting marine wildlife. Visit www.animalactionweek.com.au for further information.

For media-related inquiries, contact:
Kerry Glenn, IFAW Asia Pacific Communications Officer
Tel: +61 9288 4993
Mobile: 0437 414 329
Email: kglenn@ifaw.org