Fed: $3.2m to help save orange-bellied parrot's habitat

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2006
Fed: $3.2m to help save orange-bellied parrot's habitat

The bird which stopped a 220 million dollar wind farm development is now about to come
into the money itself .. through a 3.2 million dollar federal government grant.

The orange-bellied parrot is barely hanging onto existence in its heartland .. on the
margins of Bass Strait in southern Australia.

Environment Minister IAN CAMPBELL says it's one of the world's rarest and most endangered
animals .. with only about 50 breeding pairs left.

The grant will help protect .. enhance and expand key habitat.





Senator CAMPBELL sparked a political controversy in May .. when he used his federal
powers to stop a wind farm development at Bald Hills .. in Victoria's Gippsland .. saying
the farm's rotors could kill one parrot a year.

AAP RTV dep/maur/jmt

KEYWORD: PARROT (CANBERRA)

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