From the time he was old enough to focus on an object, Tim Faulkner has had his eyes glued on things that slither, climb, claw, wrap, shake, hop and burrow.
And now the co-owner of The Australian Reptile Park at Somersby has translated that passion onto the written page with the publication of his first book – Tim Faulkner’s Aussie Ark.
Officially launched at the Park on October 5, with a heartfelt introduction by Australian Geographic Society’s Crissie Goldrick said “it’s a well known fact that Australia has the highest mammal extinction rate in the world.
Tim’s book highlights that exclosures or enclosures that exclude feral species are proven to work.
The fully illustrated biography as an endearing foreword by Dr Chris Brown, who worked with Tim on the popular series Bondi Vet, features stories and lessons from a remarkable life lived on the frontline of animal conservation.
“The book is largely about my life and I’ve had an extraordinary life,” Faulker said.
“I had a great family base to latch onto, good mentors and great colleagues but my life’s passion is for Australia and her wildlife.
“I’ve been very fortunate to not just make TV shows and work at the Reptile Park, but to write a book which is a walk through memory lane and a platform to share my passion with the world.
“The reality in Australia is that we are losing our wildlife at an incredible rate.
“Wildlife don’t have a voice but we are a really developed country and we have the worst mammal extinction rate on earth.
“We are an old country- separated from the world and unique because of that – our wildlife can’t handle change.”
Faulkner said feral pests are silent assassins who are threatening our wildlife.
He said the Reptile Park had ramped up its conservation activities by establishing Aussie Ark a decade ago.
“Threatened species conservation is very difficult,” he said.
“We started with Tasmanian devils and the model that worked with them is now working for other species – mammals and reptiles.
“Our threatened species need far more attention than they get.
“My dream would be that every Australian reads this book but more than that that parents read it with their kids.”
tim faulkner
“It’s an adult book but the messaging in there for kids is not all doom and gloom – it’s fun and learning about our wildlife is a good thing.
“If a kid reads this book with a parent and then knows what a bandicoot is that’s my job done because someone in the next generation is going to care about bandicoots.”
Over the past 20 years, Faulkner has relocated a male crocodile in an effort to increase his chances of getting lucky; extracted venom from some of the world’s most deadly snakes and spiders, filmed TV shows broadcast in over 170 territories worldwide and rescued rare turtles and other wildlife after the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, as well as working with the Australian Reptile Park and Aussie Ark.
With help from supporters including Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, Zac Efron, Chris Hemsworth, Shania Twain, Adrian Grenier, and Gretel and Roslyn Packer, he is on a mission to save Australia’s threatened wildlife and restore its unique biodiversity – and he wants all his fellow Aussies to join him in the fight.
Tim Faulkner’s Aussie Ark is available from all major booksellers, instore and online and through the online giftshop for both the Reptile Park and Aussie Ark.
Terry Collins