Conservation Dog Moose Gets a Boost Thanks to Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s Conservation Detection Dog Program has received a significant boost. A generous $5,000 donation from the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve will help grow and develop one of Queensland’s most unique wildlife conservation initiatives.

Meet Moose

At the heart of the program is Moose, a highly trained conservation detection dog working alongside handler Michael Vella to locate Koalas and Eastern Bristlebirds in the wild – two species that depend on consistent monitoring and targeted conservation action to survive.

Using his extraordinary sense of smell, Moose is able to detect wildlife across vast and dense terrain that would otherwise take significant time and resources to survey. It is painstaking, important work – and Moose does it better than almost anyone.

What the Donation Will Fund

The Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve’s contribution will directly support the growth of the program. Including the development of dedicated facilities for future conservation dogs. The goal is straightforward: more dogs, more coverage and a stronger, more reliable detection team – with Moose leading the way.

For species like the Koala and Eastern Bristlebird, that expanded capacity could make a meaningful difference to long-term survival outcomes.

A Natural Partnership

The connection between the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary runs deep. Both organisations are committed to protecting the natural environments that define the Gold Coast – from its coastline to its bush corridors and the wildlife that calls them home.

Partnerships like this one are central to how conservation gets done. They bring resources, visibility and community investment to programs that might otherwise struggle to scale.

Supporting Australia’s Wildlife

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s Conservation Detection Dog Program represents an innovative and increasingly vital approach to protecting Australia’s most vulnerable native species. With continued community and partner support, the program has the potential to expand significantly – safeguarding more species, covering more ground and building a model for detection dog conservation across the country.