Belgian Gardens State School students make it their mission to save endangered species

Doing their bit to save endangered species has seen a Townsville primary school recognised for its conservation efforts

Belgian Gardens State School students Raehael Eusebe 9 and Neradah Duncan 9, in their community wildlife conservation award-winning aviary.

Doing their bit to save endangered species has seen a Townsville primary school recognised for its conservation efforts.

Belgian Gardens State School won the Community Wildlife Conservation Award after being secretly nominated by Professor Julie Old at the Sydney University.

For the past 15 years the school has incorporated a captivity breeding program into its school curriculum.

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Year 4, 5 and 6 students can volunteer to look after 10 black-throated finches, 20 gouldian finches, 15 golden-shoulder parrots and 50 clownfish. The idea for the project stemmed from Belgian Gardens State School STEM teacher Brett Murphy.

He said the students were “excited” to win the award with the $2500 prizemoney going towards the clownfish breeding system.

“It is going to be a long-term project because we know it is a valuable tool in learning and instead of showing the students pictures, we can show them the real thing,” he said.

Grade 4 student Neridah Duncan said she loved the challenge of breeding wildlife.

“I really enjoy caring for the birds. It is good to see how they move,” she said.

Originally published as Belgian Gardens State School students make it their mission to save endangered species