Simple things that you can do for wildlife

Save and Create Animal Habitats                                                                                    

• Choose sustainable timber for your building and furniture needs. To find out more go to Greenpeace's Good Wood Guide
• Minimise paper use. Look for products that are made from sustainable sources.
• Plant local native plants. Create a wildlife refuge in your backyard, balcony and courtyard. Add a frog pond, bird bath, possum box or a lizard lounge to your backyard. Visit Backyard Buddies. 
• Join a conservation group. For example Landcare or Coastcare. Help them save and create animal habitats.

Be a Responsible Pet Owner                                                                                                                              

• Your pet can harm wildlife - keep it inside at night and on a leash where there is wildlife
• "Do the right thing" with dog poo. Scoop it up, and bin it or compost it.
• If you can't care for your pet, find it a new home so it won't stray and kill wildlife 
• Sick or injured native animals. Contact a wildlife rescue organisation or Taronga Wildlife Hospital.

“Do the right thing" with waste                                                                               

• Rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle. Visit www.recyclingnearyou.com.au
• Rethink - ask yourself “Do I really need this?”, “Is this product well-made?”, “Will it become landfill soon?”
• Reduce - avoid products with too much packaging. 
• Reuse - buy reusable instead of disposable 
• Recycle - keep up to date about what you can recycle through your local council and other recyclers.
• Buy a worm farm or compost your food scraps and organic waste. 
• Put your rubbish & cigarette butts in the bin. 
• Say 'no' to plastic bags, visit www.noplasticbags.org.au

Think, then ask before you buy                                                                                              

Will what I'm buying affect wildlife?

• Choose your seafood wisely. Find out how you can make a real difference by choosing sustainable seafood 
• Is this product made from animals or their habitat? 
• Look for and purchase products that are friendly to the environment. Use sustainable energy and energy efficient appliances - good for the earth and good for animal habitat. 
• Buy Australian and locally made products. These reduce greenhouse pollution caused by transporting goods.

Reduce your Carbon Footprint (by 25-40% by 2020)                                                             

• Switch to green power.
• Use low impact transport like a bicycle or public transport.
• Switch off lights when they are not needed and turn off appliances at the wall.
• Reduce your use of an air-conditioner or heater; insulate your house and wear clothing appropriate for the weather.
• Install energy efficient light bulbs and water efficient shower heads.
• Take shorter showers and wash your clothes in cold water.
• When you make tea or coffee only boil as much water as you need.
• Switch off your second fridge except when it is really needed.
• Make a phone or conference call instead of flying. 
• Offset your carbon emissions by planting trees or joining a carbon offsetting scheme. 
• Use a carbon counter such as to calculate how much greenhouse gas you create and commit to reducing it.

Speak Out, Get Involved and Take Action for Wildlife                                                          

• Speak out - tell local, state and federal ministers that you care, want support and action taken to help protect animals and their habitats.
• Speak out - inspire your friends and family to get involved in protecting our wildlife too. 
• Donate time or money to conservation organisations such as the Taronga Foundation or Australasian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquaria Wildlife Conservation Fund. 
• Join wildlife and conservation groups such as Australian Conservation Foundation, Greenpeace or WWF.
• Contact local conservation groups to find out what they are doing and get involved. For example join Taronga's bush care group.