In collaboration with Special Group NZ, Optus has launched an incredibly sweet new campaign just in time for the holiday season.
The film follows an Australian glider, risking life and tail, for an ambitious surprise for its partner for Christmas. The little fella sneaks into the home of the people whose property he lives on to watch a youtube video and collect all he needs to make a gift for his true love. It all ends with a flashback of the glider pair sharing a moment and deciding for a child.
With populations of Sugar Gliders, Krefft’s Glider and Savanna Glider declining, Optus is using the festive season to raise much-needed funds for their cause. Threatened by bushfires, and with limited public awareness of their plight, Optus is working with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy to raise in excess of $50,000.
The contribution will help the AWC deliver fire management across 100,000 hectares of natural habitat; remove feral herbivores to help create safe refuges for the gliders; and support the AWC’s scientific monitoring program to ensure key threats to their survival are controlled.
“Optus wants to play a part in affecting real change for the future of Australia, as we continue our journey to becoming Australia’s most loved everyday brand with lasting customer relationships. We’ve been part of Australia’s social fabric for 30 years, so it was important that a native species was front and centre of our campaign,” said Mel Hopkins, Optus’ VP of Marketing.
“We are encouraging Australians to fall in love with these wonderful creatures and join us in saving them in the most generous time of year – now that’s optimism in action.”
The Optus Christmas campaign launched on November 14th with television spots, social content, and out-of-home connecting everyday Australians to the plight of this unique – and adorable – animal.
“Most Aussies know about wombats, koalas and quokkas – but there is little knowledge of this flying marsupial. The discovery that the Sugar Glider is not one, but three species, raises the alarm that there may be far fewer than previously thought and that the population may have declined by as much as 35% over the last 30 years,” added Australian Wildlife Conservancy CEO, Tim Allard.
“AWC is taking practical and effective action like fire management and feral animal control to address the key threats to the glider’s survival and restore their populations. This partnership with Optus will help teach Australians about the incredible diversity our country holds; and the funds will help us protect these threatened animals now and into the future.”
Members of the public can also support native gliders this Christmas by donating.
