This year the Daintree will be hosting World Cassowary Day which will be held on Saturday September 24 at James Cook University’s Daintree Rainforest Observatory in Cape Tribulation.

In anticipation of the event, the organisers, Daintree Marketing Cooperative, will be launching an art competition. This will be open to all local kids to design their own artwork, with a conservation message about the amazing wildlife in the Wet Tropics.

Entrants will be encouraged to use their imagination to artistically promote the importance of conservation to secure the future of the endangered Southern Cassowary and World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.

World Cassowary Day was first held in Kuranda in 2014 and Mission Beach in 2015 and Project Leader Josh Harris, is excited to bring the event to the Daintree in 2016.

“I’m thrilled we have the opportunity to host World Cassowary Day in Cape Tribulation and we really want to everyone to be involved in raising awareness for this unique and special bird,” he said.

Daintree Marketing Cooperative Chair, Gaye Scott, says the project team led by Harris has been working on the project since April.

“They have put together a program of impressive speakers, a children’s program of activities and have plans for 30 stalls.

“There’s more to do, but we have many hands and we anticipate it will be a big day which will attract national and international attention,” she said.

With support from Douglas Shire Council, Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, James Cook University and many local businesses, World Cassowary Day 2016 will be a community fun day with market stalls, speakers and activities for all the family.

The art competition is open to young people up to 18 years of age. All entries must be clearly marked with the entrant’s full name, date of birth and postal address, plus a parent or guardian’s email address and telephone number.

Entries marked World Cassowary Day Art Competition may be dropped off to Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas, Jungle Adventure Centre Cape Tribulation, or Daintree Village Hotel or sent by post to Daintree Marketing Cooperative, CMA4 Cape Tribulation QLD 4873.

The deadline is Monday August 1 2016 (includes entries postmarked on that date).

Prizes will be awarded in different age groups to the top entries which best tell the conservation story.

Daintree Marketing Cooperative, a regional tourist association with 70 members operating 82 businesses located between Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation, will be using the artwork to produce a series of postcards aimed at raising awareness of conservation issues.