Monarto Safari Park Director receives UNESCO Achievement Award for role in conservation

Peter Clark, Director of Monarto Safari Park, has had his conservation career spanning nearly 50 years recognised with a UNESCO Achievement Award.

Zoos SA is celebrating this acknowledgement of Clark’s commitment to conservation with Zoos SA Chief Executive, Elaine Bensted noting “this award is extremely well-deserved. The entire Zoos SA family extends its congratulations and thanks to Peter for his enormous efforts over the years.”

Clark shared “It’s a great honour to receive this award and to be recognised for my conservation work. I have a lot of great memories of work both in Papua New Guinea and now at Monarto Safari Park and I am immensely proud to say that conservation has been at the heart of all of it. I would also like to say that all of it has come about with the help of others, both from family and from like-minded colleagues and partners. It’s fantastic to be recognised in this way.”

Chairperson of the UNESCO Clubs Adelaide Chapter, Helen Rice commended Peter Clark to His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AC Governor of South Australia and his wife, Mrs. Lan Le. The award was presented at a ceremony on 1st June 2021 held at Government House with Rice noting to His Excellency Clark’s work in both Papua New Guinea and South Australia with ‘some of the rarest animals in the world’.

Clark began working as an agricultural advisor for the Papua New Guinea and Australian Governments in 1973. Five years later, he was responsible for the establishment and management of the Insect Farming and Trading Agency for the Papua New Guinea Environment and Conservation Department.  This agency operated for 25 years, employing over 2,000 villagers and marketing insects including butterflies of the region.

Clark was also involved in the establishment of The Rainforest Habitat, then Papua New Guinea’s largest zoo. During his career in PNG, he was involved with many fauna and conservation projects involving Tree Kangaroos, Birds of Paradise and insects. He was also involved in the establishment of environmental education in the primary school system in the country.

His career at Zoos SA began in 2003 when he was Curator of what was formerly Monarto Zoo. Clark worked his way up to his 2018 appointment as Director of Monarto Safari Park, soon to be home to the largest safari experience outside of Africa.

Clark has been fundamental in plans to bring vulnerable Southern White Rhinos to South Australia. The Rhino Management and Quarantine Centre at Monarto Safari Park is nearly complete and is now awaiting the arrival of 30 rhinos to be transferred from South Africa via New Zealand before establishment at Monarto. This exciting project is in partnership with The Australian Rhino Project, Taronga Conservation Society and Orana Wildlife Trust.

Clark has personally identified the Southern White Rhinos that will move to South Australia, ensuring an Australasian insurance population of up to 120 animals, which should be sufficient to be genetically sustainable in Australasia for the next 70 years.

Clark’s UNESCO Achievement Award was one of five presented as part of the UNESCO Adelaide Awards 2021.

Clark’s previous awards include:

• PNG 2000 Silver Jubilee Medal for service to the environment, conservation and the community

• Paul Harris Fellowship (Rotary International)

• PNG 25 Years of Independence Tourism Award

• Elected a Wildlife Conservation Associate of the Wildlife Conservation Society of New York

Images: Peter Clark, Director of Monarto Safari Park (top), Peter Clark with Zoos SA Chief Executive, Elaine Bensted (middle) Monarto Safari Park (below, courtesy : monartosafari.com.au/update-plans-save-30-threatened-rhinos/)