By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Zoos Victoria speakers took the air out of wildlife unfriendly balloon celebrations in a talk with Berwick Chase Primary School students on 30 March.
According to the zoo’s campaign, released or escaped balloons in oceans and waterways can become a hazard for birds such as the migratory flesh-footed shearwater.
The parents have been found to feed the rubbish to their chicks, leading to sometimes-fatal starvation.
Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley attended the meeting where Zoos Victoria speakers suggested alternatives such as blowing bubbles, paper balloons, bunting, kits, candles, planting a tree and floating flowers.
Or alternatively, balloons could be contained indoors and disposed in the bin.
Details: zoo.org.au/balloons
