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Network of Australian property owners committing their land to habitat preservation reaches 1,000 members

Humane World for Animals Australia

SYDNEY (July 16, 2026)— Humane World for Animals Australia’s Wildlife Land Trust program has welcomed its 1000^th member property—this major milestone brings the total area protected to 96,500 hectares.

The Wildlife Land Trust (WLT) program, a network of Australian property owners committing their land to habitat preservation, began in 2007 and has since expanded to a national movement comprised of farmers, eco-tourism business owners, conservationists and other landowners who want to support native Australian species by conserving, restoring and enhancing their land.

Humane World for Animals Australia’s Wildlife Land Trust Specialist, Louisa Bartels said the milestone is emblematic of a growing community of Australians acting for wildlife in this way.

“Australia is home to some of the world’s richest areas of biodiversity and unique flora and fauna that has become increasingly at risk from habitat fragmentation and climate change as well as pressures from rapid urban development and authorised wildlife destruction,” said Miss Bartels. “Our Wildlife Land Trust brings together Australians with a shared concern for nature, uniting a patchwork of properties that provide and connect critical habitat for wildlife.”

The Wildlife Land Trust includes members from every state around Australia, conserving Australian wildlife and habitat that spans the country’s diverse ecosystems from coastal forests to deserts and tropical rainforests.

Wildlife Land Trust member Tonia Cochran, owner of ‘Inala’ and ‘Orana’ in Tasmania said: "We at Inala Nature are proud to be part of this remarkable national milestone. Our 1,500-acre Inala Conservation Reserve on Bruny Island has been part of the WLT family since 2014, and our newly acquired 165-acre Orana Conservation Reserve in the hills above Hobart joined the program last year. Being part of the WLT gives us a genuine sense of belonging to a national community of landowners who have made a voluntary commitment to the protection and conservation of the habitats and species on their properties, including the many rare and endangered species we are proud to caretake at both Inala and Orana like swift parrots, wedge-tailed eagles, grey goshawks, Tasmanian masked owls, eastern quolls and one of the largest known colonies of the endemic Endangered forty-spotted pardalote.”

Steve Haslam, owner of ‘Quoll Headquarters’ in New South Wales said: “We have been members of the Wildlife Land Trust for many years now and over that time the WLT team have been there supporting us through both big projects and small. Quoll Headquarters would not be where it is today without their generous and unwavering support. The Wildlife Land Trust was the first conservation organisation to recognise Quoll Headquarters as a wildlife sanctuary. Many years later, many other organisations have followed.”

Scott and Susan Reilly, owners of ‘Babbler Cottage’ and ‘Lomandra’ in Queensland said: “Wildlife Land Trust signage provides the public with a clear understanding as to why Lomandra and Babbler Cottage look different from other properties in this small rural town of Yarraman, Queensland as they visually represent the original regional ecosystems of riparian dry rainforest and Box Ironbark grassy woodland. Wildlife Land Trust magazines are an excellent resource linking us to other WLT sanctuaries owners and learning from their rich experience. It is empowering to know that 1000 other sanctuaries in Australia are ensuring a humane refuge for our wildlife. This fills us with joy and hope for Australia’s future.”

Lori-Ann Shibish and Colin Ingram, owners of ‘Esperance Wildlife Sanctuary’ in Western Australia said: “We gain immense pleasure, pride and satisfaction from being part of a bigger network of similar minded people and organisations that do amazing things to improve the life and welfare of native wildlife on small pieces of land across the country. It’s the collective power of one that is so powerful, and without the leadership and direction of the Wildlife Land Trust it would not have the same impact. The success of WLT and its partner properties is a powerful demonstration that wildlife and their habitats are intrinsically important and of immense social, cultural and environmental value to all Australians.”

The Wildlife Land Trust program is free to join and open to anyone wanting to conserve their property for native habitat and manage their land to benefit wildlife—from acreage blocks to large rural properties. Learn more at: https://hsi.org.au/australian-wildlife-and-habitats/wildlife-land-trust

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Download photos of each of the properties above: HERE

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About Humane World for Animals

Together, we tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering to create permanent change. With millions of supporters and work happening in over 50 countries, Humane World for Animals—formerly called Humane Society International—addresses the most deeply entrenched forms of animal cruelty and suffering. As the leading voice in the animal protection space, we work to end the cruelest practices, care for animals in crisis and build a stronger animal protection movement. Driving toward the greatest global impact, we aim to achieve the vision behind our name: a more humane world.
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