“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Mahatma Gandhi
A microscopic life form has changed the way we travel, view the world and interact with each other. Covid-19 has taught us that we must take care of the wildlife we share our world with.
Updated: 27th February, 2022 – Please Get Vaccinated!
“Research shows that flying foxes are not to blame – we are – and we need to rectify that” Roger Smith, Echidna Walkabout
Abuse of animals had direct links to the outbreak of Covid-19 (read this story from The Guardian). When we mistreat wildlife it can and will ‘bite’ back, sometimes in the most unpredictable ways. We suffer when we forget that we are animals and have more in common with wildlife than we imagine, including diseases. We MUST learn from the Covid breakdown. We MUST aspire to be better and to care more for our world. We MUST take less and give back more.
You can find out more about giving back here: “Conservation Travel is the future”
Australia’s borders have opened : your booking will be safe.
On 21st February our Federal Government opened our borders to international vistors.
So Australia is in a great position to take tour bookings.
Good news: Covid-19 booster vaccines are rolling out
Covid-19 Omicron variant case numbers are declining rapidly and most of our population is double-dose vaccinated with a rapid increase in 3rd round booster vaccinations. You can track progress on The Guardian’s website here.
When should you book your wildlife tour with Echidna Walkabout?
The short answer is NOW!
Make a booking now for 2022 and beyond! If you’d like to book a tour now please contact us and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have about booking with confidence.
If you follow this blog, we’ll keep you updated on how and when you can book with us. We update this blog regularly so please keep this link to go back to at any time: https://echidnawalkabout.com.au/does-covid-19-have-an-upside/ . If you are uncertain please contact us.
So please go ahead and make a booking with us.
We will:
- provide you with detailed information about your booking
- guarantee your booking
- refund any monies that you have paid us if you cannot travel as a direct result of restrictions related to Covid-19
Will you be safe on tour?
Your health and safety are paramount during our tours.
We will continue to require all participants on our tours to be at least double-dosed vaccinated against Covid-19 with a vaccine approved by Australian public health authorities. We have implemented this policy in the interests of your safety and to ensure that all our guests feel confident about travelling with people they may never have met before AND to ensure the health and safety of our staff and their families.
We urge you to read the full details in our Covid Safe Plan (including our Cancellation Policy)
What is the current position on border closures in Australia?
National Border: International arrivals into Australia are overseen by our Federal Government. As of 21st February our international borders are open. For full details please check this website for up-to-date information for inbound travellers.
State and Territory Borders: Australia has 6 States and 2 (main) Territories. Each State and Territory independently oversees its own borders. From the 3rd March (when Western Australia opens its borders) all States and Territories are open for travel. However, before travelling we recommend that you check each jurisdiction’s Covid regulations as they vary considerably.
Conservation Travel is the future.
Simple recovery is not enough, we should look towards total renewal. Travel will become green, clean and caring where the places we visit are not simple destinations, they are living breathing microcosms of an entire planetary ecosystem that we share not only with other humans but with all life.
We must accept that travel in itself is a drain on resources; the CO2 that traveling emits has direct impacts on climate change which is a far greater threat to humanity – and wildlife – than anything Covid-19 can throw at us. (read our Climate Change Position Statement)
Echidna Walkabout believes that by giving back travellers can justify travel knowing that their emissions will be – at the very least – offset and hopefully far exceeded by their actions at their destination. We call this Conservation Travel, a style of travel that always aims to nurture and give back to nature and to the wildlife that we love.
We have also set up a new website called Conservation Travel Australia. Check it out!
So yes – Covid-19 does have an upside!
Take care & stay safe!
