starting march 2024
HELP fundraise for
Tasmania's wildlife
Welcome to Wild Ride!
Wild Ride is Bonorong’s new fundraising campaign where we encourage supporters to do a ‘Wild Ride’ to raise money for wildlife in our care. The funds raised will help run Bonorong’s rescue, critical care hospital, and rehabilitation animal care services.
Ride a bicycle, a scooter, a skateboard, or roller skate, hop on a pogo stick, even wear a costume while you’re doing your Wild Ride! You create your very own Wild Ride with a team or as an individual, with your work mates, friends, or family. Anyone can take part – groups, businesses, and organisations.
How Can I Get Involved?
Want to become a Wild Rider? You can register as an individual, a team, a business or as an organisation. Simply register using the button below, then start planning for your Wild Ride and raising money. You can provide updates and share your progress with your followers as you go!
And if you can’t do your own Wild Ride, there are plenty of other ways to help support animals – you can sponsor a Wild Rider, donate directly or become a Corporate Partner.
Wild Rider Spotlight
Name: David Bartlett
Occupation: Former Premier of Tasmania, Company Director
Why is Tasmanian wildlife important to you? I often say I have four great loves in my life. My children, Hudson and Cody, my wife Larissa and Tasmania… her people, communities, nature, land, mountains, waterways… and her wildlife.
Tell us about your own Wild Ride? I am thinking of doing three Wild Rides on my bike over three weekends in March, from the top to the bottom of King Island, Flinders Island and Bruny Island.
If friends were to describe you as a Tasmania wild animal, which one would it be and why? I polled my family and work colleagues on this question, and my favourite answer was Wedge-tailed Eagle.
Wild Rider Spotlight
Name: Louise Houbaer
Occupation: Weekend News Presenter – 7 Tasmania News
Why is Tasmanian wildlife important to you? Animals are fascinating, and are so important to help protect. We are seeing more and more tragedy with roads, developments, and habitat removal, that there’s never been a more important time to help protect them, and their environments. A place such as Bonorong helps to bridge the gap of understanding, and helps all of us engage with, and feel connected to, creatures big and small.
Tell us about your own Wild Ride? I plan on going wild with my little joey in their pouch, and bigger joey in her pram – which will have some Tassie wildlife toys catching a ride. We’ll chirp off about what we’re doing, and why. We will aim to do a street ride, park ride, or stroll every day in March.
If friends were to describe you as a Tasmania wild animal, which one would it be and why? Apparently a butterfly? If that’s possible? Otherwise probably a dolphin – enjoying life as much as possible, keeping close connections with family and friends, with a dash of intelligence. Wishful thinking maybe…
Wild Rider Spotlight
Name: David Bartlett
Occupation: Former Premier of Tasmania, Company Director
Why is Tasmanian wildlife important to you? I often say I have four great loves in my life. My children, Hudson and Cody, my wife Larissa and Tasmania… her people, communities, nature, land, mountains, waterways… and her wildlife.
Tell us about your own Wild Ride? I am thinking of doing three Wild Rides on my bike over three weekends in March, from the top to the bottom of King Island, Flinders Island and Bruny Island.
If friends were to describe you as a Tasmania wild animal, which one would it be and why? I polled my family and work colleagues on this question, and my favourite answer was Wedge-tailed Eagle.
Updates from Bonorong...
Meet this very lucky platypus - Ruby! ❤️
The Bonorong 24/7 Wildlife Rescue Service recently received a call from a concerned member of public who had spotted a Platypus swimming beneath a bridge with a piece of litter stuck around it’s neck. 🚯
Our team coordinated a couple of fantastic volunteer wildlife rescuers to head out and try to safely contain the platypus. Their first attempt was unsuccessful - she was just too quick in the water. The same rescuers returned the following day with a plan to try again.🤞
On the second day the rescuers were successful! Ruby had been contained and was safely on her way to Bonorong for assistance. 😃
The team who assessed Ruby on arrival discovered some sort of elastic band had become stuck around her neck. Looped litter can often become stuck around the neck of platypus as they forage for food in polluted waterways. Thankfully, in this case, the elastic was old and stretched out, so it was not applying any pressure to Ruby’s neck or body! 💚
A thorough examination revealed that Ruby had not been injured by the entanglement - an extremely lucky escape! Entanglement injuries of this nature can often result in very deep lacerations that cause serious and permanent damage. Now a healthy and litter-free platypus, it was determined that Ruby was ready to head straight back out to the river! 💧
She was collected for release that same evening and our rescuers captured the moment she returned to the river. Goodbye and good luck to this lucky little platypus! 👋
Jul 11
Well that`s a wrap on Bonorong`s first Wild Night Out Fundraiser!! 🔥🥳
On Saturday our team welcomed 200 guests to the Sanctuary for a sold-out event to watch as our nocturnal animals spring into action after dark. Guests wandered the illuminated Sanctuary to meet our critters with the help of our guides who provided insight into the lives and stories of our special sanctuary residents. Lots of delicious woodfired pizzas were consumed as well as hot and cold beverages and by all accounts it was a fantastic evening! 🍕🐾🍷
In conjunction with the event we`ve hosted our first online raffle which was a huge success - we owe a MASSIVE thank you to the wonderful Tasmanian businesses who donated prizes to support our fundraiser: @macq01, Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, @pennicottjourneys, @paraviontas , @cradlecanyons and @derwentdistillery. Please support those who support us!! Winners of the raffle prizes have been contacted directly 💚
All up, our Wild Night Out Fundraiser has been a success and we are proud to have smashed our fundraising goal!! Thanks to everyone who bought a raffle ticket or attended the event. Funds raised by the evening and the associated raffle will directly support Tasmanian wildlife in need by providing much-needed funds to continue the operation of Bonorong`s Wildlife Hospital and Rescue Service, which provide assistance to thousands of animals every year. 🩺🦘
Thank you also to @wilderness.bling for their donation, @mamagoatandthepigs for providing delicious food, and Coates Hire for helping us illuminate the Sanctuary. Lastly, thank you to our fantastic team of volunteers comprised of current and past Bonorong staff and their partners who donated their time to ensure the smooth running of the event and provide a wonderful experience for our guests! 🥰
Jul 10
Want to help us save Tasmanian wildlife in need like this little guy? 😍
Our Wild Night Out Fundraiser Raffle closes TOMORROW!! 🤩
There`s still time to jump online and grab yourself some tickets to go in the draw to win one of seven awesome Tasmanian prizes!! 💚
All proceeds from this raffle will go directly to providing treatment and care for sick and injured wildlife admitted to the Bonorong Wildlife Hospital. The hospital sees thousands of animals every year and it is our state’s first and largest wildlife-only hospital. Please help us to assist wildlife in need. 🐾
Grab your tickets through the link in bio! 😜
Jul 9
With our first Wild Night Out fundraiser event now done and dusted, we`ve got a LOT of people to thank for the wonderful success of the evening! 🥰
Firstly we would like to do a huge thanks to the fantastic @mamagoatandthepigs Woodfired Pizza for providing food for the event! Monica and Yves donated their time and resources to keep our hungry guests well fed for the night and everyone was delighted with their absolutely delicious vegan pizzas. 🍕
From us, and from our guests who devoured your wonderful pizza - thank you so much for your support!! 💚
Jul 8
