In the wake of Cyclone Alfred, large volumes of marine debris washed up along K’gari’s eastern beach, posing a serious threat to the island’s fragile ecosystem.

In addition to rubbish, leatherjacket fish also washed up, a phenomenon reported on many beaches along the east coast of Queensland and New South Wales. These environmental changes highlight the urgency for this type of conservation work on K’gari.

Despite K’gari Adventures’ best efforts, we were unable to secure emergency clean-up funding from government or private sector sources. Thankfully, the Fraser Island Association has generously donated once again to support clean-up efforts. Their contribution enabled Team Drop Bear to recruit six volunteers to spend a week on the island dedicating five hours a day to targeted clean-up operations between Dilli Village and Poyungan Rocks.

As a limited company, K’gari Adventures’ eligibility for grants is quite restricted, but we have applied for all programs available to them and launched a MyCause fundraising page to continue raising support for the Keep K’gari Pristine Project. We welcome any opportunity to “talk rubbish” and establish partnerships with conservation groups or community associations who are willing to partner with us on the Keep K’gari Pristine Project.

Team Drop Bear has of course stepped up as part of our deep commitment to the Butchulla people’s first lore – what is good for the land must come first. So far, we have removed 527kg of rubbish, thanks to the incredible efforts of our team and community. Our passionate crew, including Mumma Bear, contributed over 30 hours, and all our tour guests also rolled up their sleeves to help keep K’gari clean.

Team Drop Bear remains dedicated to the cause and continues to provide both in-kind support and $10 from every direct ticket sold to help fund this incredibly important mission. We are committed to protecting this precious island and will continue to do all we can – together. Monetary donations are appreciated, as are volunteer hours. To find out more and contribute, please click on this link.

Article contributed by Hana Robinson, K’gari Adventures and Keep K’gari Pristine Project