The Intrepid Foundation Saves Koalas, Elephants and Galapagos Wildlife

    /24-7PressRelease/ - BOULDER, CO, September 04, 2008 - The Intrepid Foundation has raised over AU$272,000 in the last 12 months - much of it raised by travellers keen to help out some of the amazing wildlife around the world.

One project, Care for Dancing Bears, aims to stop the cruel traditions of 'teaching' bears to dance in India. At fairs, carnivals and markets across India, crowds of tourists gather to see dancing bears. But sadly there's a horrific side of this 'tradition' that the crowds don't see. Each year in India as many as 100 bear cubs are taken from their mothers. The grieving cubs are then transported long distances in cramped cages to be trained as dancing bears. Many of the cubs die from dehydration and psychological distress before they get that far. For those who survive, the horror is just beginning. Their real training begins when a crude hole is drilled through the cubs' nose and the soft palate of the mouth. A thick rope will then be forced through and is used by the trainers. One sharp tug sends excruciating pain shooting through the bear's head and face, forcing the bear to stand on their hind legs and 'dance' and perform tricks. The good news for the bears is that you can help prevent this tragedy. The Intrepid Foundation is supporting WSPA - the World Society for Protection of Animals and their steps toward stopping this cruel tradition once and for all. WSPA are taking a multi-pronged approach, working with local authorities and animal welfare organisations. In the past year The Intrepid Foundation has disbursed AU$3,110 to Care for the Dancing Bears.

In Australia The Intrepid Foundation supports Friends of the Koala (FOK) an organisation helping to conserve koala populations and their habitat in New South Wales. The AU$4,000 received by FOK from The Intrepid Foundation will help refurbish and maintain the enclosures of the organisation's Koala Care facility, where injured or sick animals are taken care of.

On the other side of the world, funds donated by The Intrepid Foundation are supporting the eradication of the fire ant in the Galapagos Islands. Fire ants have been introduced by humans to Champion Island and their presence is having terrible consequences on the Floreana mockingbird population. This is one of the rarest birds in the world and it is now extinct on its home island because of the fire ants eating the eggs. The AU$1,310 disbursed will help fund a team of local 'ant busters'.

The Intrepid Foundation is also helping to fund wildlife protection projects in Egypt, Vietnam and Thailand.

The Intrepid Foundation was created by small group adventure travel company Intrepid Travel in 2002 as a way for travellers to give something back to the communities they visit. In the financial year July 2007 - June 2008 The Intrepid Foundation disbursed AU$272,000 to 40 community projects around the world.

For more information on The Intrepid Foundation and the community projects it supports please visit www.theintrepidfoundation.org

About Intrepid Travel

With over 19 years of experience, Intrepid Travel is one of the world's leading small group adventure tour operators. Intrepid offers over 450 itineraries in more than 90 destinations worldwide. Intrepid trips are designed to go off the beaten track, meet the locals and travel in an unconventional way, joining locals on their transport, in their markets and even in their homes.

For USA Media inquiries, please contact Ashley Montblanc at LDPR Communications, 212-696-0660. For media inquiries outside of the USA, please contact Eliza Anderson, Global PR Manager, [email protected]

# # #