The bushfire in Bunyip State Park over the weekend has not threatened the Helmeted Honeyeater colony released there only one week earlier. Critically endangered, the Helmeted Honeyeater survives in just two small wild populations east of Melbourne.

The fire, nine kilometres southeast of Gembrook, and about 80 kilometres from Melbourne, broke out last Friday and destroyed 800 hectares of the Bunyip State Park.

The fire burnt to within two kilometres of the Helmeted Honeyeater release site. The predicted forecast, which would have taken it much closer, fortunately did not eventuate; the change brought a gentler westerly wind and 16 millimetres of rain.

The small numbers of Helmeted Honeyeaters and limited distribution make it vulnerable to a catastrophic event. Wildfire and dieback of eucalypts remain the most potentially destructive threat and could wipe out the entire wild population.

Healesville Sanctuary Director, John Gibbons said staff members were closely monitoring the survival of the colony of Helmeted Honeyeaters which were bred at Healesville Sanctuary and re-released into the wild only one week before the bushfire. 

Zoos Victoria has been involved in the captive breeding of Helmeted Honeyeaters since the Recovery Program almost 20 years ago, and is continuing this commitment. In addition, Zoos Victoria staff members are involved in the translocation and reintroduction of captive-bred birds to the wild and monitoring their survival after release.

“Healesville Sanctuary is committed to helping visitors discover and appreciate the incredible beauty and fragility of our natural world but also understand the challenges for future generations,” Mr Gibbons said.