#170 Wings of Defiance: How Craig Webb Built Tasmania's Raptor Refuge from the Ground Up

What does it take to rescue, rehabilitate, and release Tasmania's most powerful birds of prey for 27 years, with no government support?In this episode of the Citizen Science Show, host Dani Lloyd-Prichard sits down with Craig Webb, founder of Raptor Refuge in Kettering, Tasmania, and recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia. Craig shares the unlikely story of how a backpacking trip up the west coast of Australia, a joey named Nigel, and a fortuitous few years working with a remote outback vet set him on a path to building one of the world's most remarkable raptor conservation facilities.We hear about the four threatened raptor species Craig works with, the silent crisis of eagle electrocutions on power lines, and the global lessons he's brought back from South Africa's Endangered Wildlife Trust.Craig also tells the extraordinary story of Cupid, a Wedge-tailed eagle found with a crossbow arrow through its leg, whose five-week rescue and Valentine's Day release captured the hearts of hundreds of thousands of people around the world.And he shares a secret. The birds in the display area at Raptor Refuge who are too injured to ever be released. They don't know they are doing something remarkable. But Craig does.If you've ever looked up at a soaring eagle and felt something shift inside you, this episode is for you.🦅 To support Raptor Refuge: become a member, book a tour, or stay at Eagle Ridge Retreat.📞 Report a dead or injured raptor anywhere in Tasmania: 1800 RAPTOR📱 Follow Cupid's story and more on the Raptor Refuge Facebook and Instagram pages.More Informationhttps://raptorrefuge.com.au/https://www.facebook.com/raptorrefugehttps://www.youtube.com/c/RaptorRefugehttps://www.instagram.com/raptor_refuge/If you enjoy this podcast, please like and subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts.Leave us a review and share this show with your friends.It really helps us to reach more citizen scientists, like you.Contact the ShowWe are always looking for more guests to tell us about interesting citizen science projects, research and events.You can email us at: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.