The Port Moresby Nature Park has been visited by Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop who wanted to see progress of the partnership between the park and its stakeholders.
Bishop was particularly interested in the Nature Park’s ties with Australian-based partners, including the University of Canberra with the Piku Pig-nosed Turtle ‘Head start’ program and sister-zoo program with Zoos Victoria.
She was given the opportunity to hold one of the baby pig-nosed turtles which will eventually be tagged and re-released into the Kikori River once fully grown.
The park’s partnership with the Australian Volunteers for International Development program was also highlighted in Bishop’s discussions with the Nature Park staff.
Nature Park’s general manager Michelle McGeorge said it was a great opportunity to share with Bishop how staff members had been able to benefit from various partnership programs and to be able to share and recognise international partners.
“Julie Bishop took great interest in Papua New Guinea’s native wildlife, specifically asking to see a bird of paradise for her very first time and noting how impressive the male’s spectacular feathers were,” said McGeorge.