Jim Thomas BSc(Hons) - Project Manager

Jim is a zoologist and a conservationist who is devoted to saving the Tree Kangaroos of the Torricelli Mountain Range. Jim worked with mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians for over 9 years at Zoos Victoria. He has worked with many endangered species within Australia such as the Helmeted Honeyeater, Orange-bellied Parrot, Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby, Leadbeater's Possum and Eastern Barred Bandicoot. Since January 2003 Jim Thomas has been the Project Manager for the Tenkile Conservation Alliance and is contracted to hold this position until 2009. He oversees TCA's work as well as applying for grants to fund its components.

Jim spends a lot of time talking to people and walking to villages. A lot of negotiating is required to facilitate programs in the Aitape/Lumi and Nuke Districts of Sandaun Province . Meetings have to be scheduled and attended both at Lumi and at the villages. Patrols to villages to discuss rabbit and chicken farming, water supplies, research work, training courses, puppet shows etc are required regularly. For more information see "Village Patrols".

Jim's research is presently Distance Sampling (or scat/dung counts). Distance Sampling is a research technique used to estimate the density and abundance of a biological species. TCA has established seven research sites within the range of Tenkile and working towards further research programs as funding becomes available. For more information, go to Research.

Maintaining and improving TCA's base in Lumi is also a large component of Jim's work. Since 2003 considerable time, effort and money has been put into "TCA haus-Lumi". TCA has established a rabbit farm, chicken farm, tree kangaroo enclosures, installed a septic toilet and many other infrastructural improvements have taken place. For more information go to "TCA Base-Lumi".

Jean Thomas - Capacity Building Officer

Jean began her career with animals by breeding laboratory mice for medical research and then moved into the zoo industry working with native fauna at both Healesville Sanctuary and Melbourne Zoo. She has a Bachelor of Science and a Diploma of Education and over the years has also worked with other endangered species such as the Eastern Barred Bandicoot and New Holland Mouse. Jean spent her honey moon with Jim banding Orange-bellied Parrots in the wilds of Tasmania and after a year of teaching in a high school, she now works with her husband in a remote part of Papua New Guinea (Lumi) to save the critically endangered Scott's Tree Kangaroo. Jean's role with TCA is to educate the people on conservation, in particular the conservation of the Scott's Tree kangaroo. Her education programs address not only ways to understand why it is important to protect Tenkile but also the other fauna and natural resources in the area. The education program focuses on sustainability for the animals and the people. Jean would like to train teachers and community leaders on these conservation principles in the future. In addition to conservation education, Jean conducts community education programs on nutrition and aims to commence other education programs such as family planning.

Patrick Ikon - Project Officer

Patrick is from the Tenkile village Wigote and has been actively involved with TCA for a number of years now.

Patrick took up his present position in early 2007 and is responsible for facilitating most of TCA’s programs.

 

Mathew Akon - Project Officer

Mathew is from the Tenkile village Maiwetem. Mathew has been involved with TCA since its inception in 1999, the signing of the first Tenkile moratorium and is an active participant with all of TCA’s work. Mathew became Project Officer in early 2007.

 

Clancy Sumei - Project Officer

Clancy is from the Tenkile village Miwaute and has been a leader with TCA’s research since 2003. Now Clancy is largely responsible for patrolling and giving awareness to the Weimang villages.

 

Francis Elpiti - Caretaker (Lumi)

Francis has been employed with TCA since 2002 and is responsible for maintaining the rabbit and chicken farms at TCA Base-Lumi. As of March 2008 Francis has been responsible for the breeding of 500 rabbits. Francis also looks after TCA’s tree kangaroos, wallabies, cuscus, sugar gliders, fruit bat and birds.

 

Hilary Oiye - Security (Lumi)

Hilary has been working for TCA since 2005 and is our longest serving security person. Hilary helps maintain the status quo at TCA Base-Lumi and has helped raise our security dogs “Cling and Clang”.

 

Thomas Tolei - Security (Lumi)

Thomas has been working with TCA since the end of 2006. Thomas is multi-skilled and has worked with the Weimang villages on patrol, assisted with ventures to Wewak in the TCA vehicle, helped hand-raise orphaned wildlife as well as being security at TCA Base-Lumi.

 

TCA also employs:
8 Health and Hygiene trainers/facilitators
2 Livestock trainers
2 HIV/AIDS awareness trainers
10 Research Officers
26 Distance Sampling Officers
And approximately 300 carriers on a casual basis.

Presently, most of the full time positions are being sponsored by Zoos Victoria-Australia. All of our casual staff are employed for specific programs. TCA applies to granting bodies and other organisations to fund these positions.