Camilo Budet Trescott wanted just one thing for his eighth birthday - to help save a Tasmanian Devil.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The little wildlife enthusiast from Maitland asked for no presents for his birthday on September 16 - instead he wanted people to donate to a fundraiser for Aussie Ark, the Barrington Tops wildlife sanctuary.
The budding scientist is a passionate environment activist.
Born in Puerto Rico, like his father, he has also lived in New York before his family settled in Maitland, where his mother grew up, just prior to the start of last year's COVID pandemic.
In New York he was involved with the climate marches and volunteering for Sea Shepherd cleaning up beaches.
"He became obsessed with Tasmanian Devils when we were in New York after watching a documentary, and ever since then he's had this thing abut them," said Camilo's mother Shonah Trescott.
The love of the iconic Tasmanian Devil was only deepened after the family visited the Australian Reptile Park when they moved to Australia.
"He said he didn't want anything for his birthday, that he had too much stuff and wanted to do a fundraiser," said Ms Trescott.
"I assumed he would go to school with a drawing of a Tasmanian Devil and a glass jar collecting donations."
Camilo had other ideas. He wanted to do a video and raise $2000.
The family wrote to Aussie Ark who were keen on the idea and gave them a tour before the COVID lockdown which Camilo's father, filmmaker Osvaldo Budet captured on video.
"It was amazing," said Ms Trescott of the tour Aussie Ark's Kelly Davis gave them.
Camilo even sourced permission from Don Spencer to use his music "Feathers, Furs or Fins" on the film.
A student at Linuwel Steiner School at East Maitland, the social Camilo has missed his friends during lockdown and the birthday fundraiser has been a great distraction.
Camilo said he learnt a lot from the visit.
"I love Tassie Devils, they are so great and I don't want them to go extinct," he said.
"I really want to reach my goal because $2,000 will be enough money for one Tassie Devil for its whole happy life at the sanctuary to help the healthy Devil population."
At press time Camilo was close to achieving two out of three of his goals, with $1730 raised. Camilo had also requested his mother "tell the newspapers and David Attenborough" about his fundraiser.
You can find Camilo's fundraiser online at https://www.mycause.com.au/p/264005/camilos-8th-birthday-fundraiser.