Compared to 2021, the campaign achieved a 69% increase in participation and funds generated to defend the world’s most threatened wildlife species and their natural habitats.
The innovative manufacturer/retailer partnership contributed to this and provided millions of more Aussies with the opportunity to engage in and contribute to this mission.
Reputedly the world’s biggest camping campaign, the Backyard Campout is designed to encourage people around the world to raise funds for, and awareness of, conservation by being sponsored to camp. Participants were eligible to win a range of prizes from Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors and the Oztent Group.
Building upon this successful approach, in Australia, several innovative activities were developed to enhance the campaign, increase awareness, and raise further funds.
They included: personalised information sessions at major store events by Wildlife Warriors and Oztent representatives; customised Oztent point-of-sale displayed in every Anaconda to promote sign-up; and retailer support initiatives to drive awareness.
All three organisations bolstered the campaign, via social, digital, catalogues and direct communication channels.
Oztent and Anaconda also made it possible for customers to further support Wildlife Warriors, by ensuring that a portion of funds from every Oztent product sold by Anaconda during the campaign went directly to the Wildlife Warrior Foundation. Over $57,000 in funds were raised by this element alone.
The funds raised from the Backyard Campout campaign will be directed towards the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. 
From September to February each year, the Wildlife Hospital is in Trauma Season when temperatures rise and wildlife is increasingly on the move, looking for water, a mate, or with young wildlife beginning to explore. This often leaves wildlife vulnerable in our man-made world, leading to sick, injured and orphaned animals coming through the doors of the Wildlife Hospital every day. The highly experienced veterinary team works tirelessly to provide every patient with the lifesaving treatment and care required for a second chance in the wild. From birds to snakes, to the recently-classed endangered koalas, and green sea turtles suffering from a mystery soft-shell syndrome along with many more, these funds will play a pivotal role in wildlife conservation and preservation.
Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin said, “We are absolutely humbled by the support received for our annual Backyard Campout campaign. Thanks to Oztent and Anaconda, we are able to further support the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital at a time when patient admissions triple in light of Trauma Season.”
“The Wildlife Hospital is one of many conservation projects that our internally recognised charity Wildlife Warriors supports. By carrying forward Dad’s mission of saving wildlife and wild places, we hope to create a better and more sustainable world for our fauna, as we strive to save one, save the species.”
At the recent cheque presentation ceremony at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, the architect of this partnership and CEO of the Oztent Group, Luke Eather, thanked retail customers, explaining:
“This has been a truly satisfying and heartening retail initiative.”
“While it’s fun selling great products, using our channels and mechanisms to engage people around a big important idea that means so much for every camper now, and well into the future, has excited the whole team.”
“The support the Backyard Campout received from our customers has been inspiring; and on behalf of Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors, Anaconda and ourselves, thank you, you are awesome.”
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