With my friend Les Moran, we discovered the conservation work being carried out at Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park in 2017.

Founded in 1998 by Michael Johnson, this site is home to many endemic Australian species.

Over several days, we followed the work of its manager, Lisa Tuthill, and the keepers. I was impressed by their dedication and patience, no matter the species they interacted with: dingo, koala, quoll, wallaby, and a multitude of birds, not to mention the snakes 😊. From the most to the “least charming” species, all were cherished and, most importantly, valued. One of the key objectives here is to improve the image of locally unloved species, such as the eastern quoll.

Visitors can learn about these endemic species through presentations where the keepers explain their lifestyles, ecological importance, and the threats they face.

The sanctuary also participates successfully in captive breeding programs to preserve the genetic diversity of more threatened species, such as the Orange-bellied Parrots and Swift Parrots, which are listed as *critically endangered* on the IUCN Red List.

Their work has been rewarded with numerous awards.