The Ian Potter Foundation Awards Aussie Ark $1M

This is a major boost for threatened species’ conservation including genetic & adaptive management, long-term monitoring & habitat restoration

Conservation organisation Aussie Ark has secured one of the most significant philanthropic conservation investments in its history, with The Ian Potter Foundation committing $1million towards a large-scale, multi species rewilding initiative aimed at restoring threatened wildlife and rebuilding ecosystems across NSW.

The project represents a major step forward in moving beyond single-species’ protection towards ecosystem-scale recovery through conservation breeding, habitat restoration, scientific research and long-term monitoring.

The proposal builds on Aussie Ark’s past decade of nation-leading breeding and re-wilding of some of Australia’s most iconic species, and enables expansion of a number of mammal, reptile and amphibian programs. This includes the New Holland Mouse, Broad-toothed Rat, Broad-headed Snake, Littlejohn’s Tree Frog, Southern Stuttering Frog, Giant Barred Frog, and all three species of endangered freshwater turtles in Aussie Ark’s Conservation Ark facility in Somersby NSW.

The $1million funding – to be allocated over three years – will assist with expansion of conservation breeding facilities, species’ recovery operations including trapping and release programs, habitat restoration and site preparation, disease mitigation and genetic testing, health screening, and scientific monitoring including post-release tracking and surveys.

Delivered in partnership with research institutions, Indigenous ranger teams, government agencies and local councils, this initiative will rebuild ecological function and establish a national model for large-scale rewilding.

Liz Gabriel – Director and Co-CEO, Aussie Ark

"This investment by The Ian Potter Foundation is a transformational commitment to threatened species conservation in New South Wales. It will allow us to expand breeding programs, strengthen scientific monitoring and accelerate the return of endangered species to the wild."

"The grant recognises the power of collaboration. Together with AA, our partners in universities, the conservation sector and community, we can deliver conservation outcomes at a scale that simply would not be possible otherwise."

Hayley Shute – Director and Co-CEO, Aussie Ark

"This funding supports a future where endangered species are not simply protected from extinction, but actively restored to healthy, functioning ecosystems."

"Through this project we will continue to combine cutting-edge science with practical on-ground conservation to ensure these species have a future in the wild."

Sam Armstrong – Environment Program Manager, The Ian Potter Foundation

"The Ian Potter Foundation is proud to support Aussie Ark’s ambitious and science-led approach to threatened species recovery. This project reflects the kind of long-term, practical conservation work needed to restore ecosystems and give vulnerable native wildlife a stronger future."

"By investing in coordinated breeding, rewilding, monitoring and habitat restoration, this initiative has the potential to deliver meaningful conservation outcomes across multiple species and landscapes in New South Wales."

"We are pleased to contribute to a program that brings together strong partnerships, scientific expertise and on-ground action to address some of Australia’s most urgent biodiversity challenges."

Aussie Ark extends a huge thank you to The Ian Potter Foundation for this strong show of support, and looks forward to achieving bigger and better outcomes over the next three years thanks to this historic grant.