marie claire’s March issue, on sale January 30, will donate $1 per issue sold to Australian wildlife charities coping with the aftermath of the bushfire crisis.
Proceeds will be divided between Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Hospital in QLD, WIRES (Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service) in NSW, Wildlife Victoria and Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park Fund in SA to assist in the ongoing efforts to help animals affected by the crisis and assist with the rebuilding of animal populations.
To support the initiative, Australian model and wildlife advocate Elyse Knowles features on the cover alongside koala joey, Tink, who is being cared for by the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast. The Sanctuary runs a koala breeding program to ensure the future of the species.
Knowles is a lifelong animal lover, who like many Australians, was so moved by the devastating impact of the bushfires that she has decided to `step up’ and make a bigger contribution as an ongoing advocate for animals.
She said: “Initially, when I started helping out at Currumbin Wildlife, I just really wanted to spread awareness about the amazing work they were doing. But stepping up means being involved for the long run: this is not over yet.’’
In addition to the cover, the reportage in the issue shines a spotlight on the everyday people impacted by the fires and how they have embraced hope: the heroes on the frontlines, the survivors finding joy, the activists taking a stand and the devoted wildlife warriors.
marie claire deputy editor Melissa Gaudron said: “The bushfires of 2020 shocked the whole of Australia into realising we all have a role to play in protecting what we love. When we saw the adorable face of Tink the koala joey – our favourite new cover girl – we knew we needed to do something to shore up her future. The latest figures estimate that more than half a billion animals have died or been displaced by the fires. This initiative is not just for the short term, but to fund ongoing conservation and wildlife protection initiatives.”
