by Bindi from Christmas Island asks Santa about a real, rare animal on her island, learns more about Christmas Island National Park, and hears about ongoing conservation efforts there
Dear Santa, my name is Bindi and I am nine years old. I live on Christmas Island, where my dad says almost half of our whole island is protected as a national park, more than most places I have ever heard of.
Dear Bindi, your dad is entirely right, and I have always admired how carefully your island protects its own wild spaces.
Santa, I have three questions.
My first question is, what is a Christmas Island shrew? My science teacher mentioned it and said it is extremely rare, but I have never actually seen one myself.
Good question, Bindi. The Christmas Island shrew is a small, rare native mammal, historically found only on your island, though sightings have become extremely uncommon in recent decades, and conservationists work hard to understand and protect it. It is one of many unique species that call your island home and nowhere else on Earth.
My second question is about our national park. My teacher says a large part of Christmas Island is set aside specifically to protect wildlife like that. Is that true?
It is true, Bindi. Christmas Island National Park protects a significant portion of the island, including rainforest and coastline, safeguarding many species found nowhere else in the world, in addition to the famous red crabs. Flying over that protected green landscape each December fills me with real hope for its future.
My third question is, why is it important that scientists keep studying and protecting rare animals, even ones that are very hard to find, like the shrew?
Because every species, even a small, rarely seen one, plays its own important part in a healthy, balanced ecosystem, and once something disappears entirely, it can never truly be brought back. I think that careful, patient work of protecting even the smallest, quietest creatures says something wonderful about the kind of care your island practices, Bindi.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Bindi Ashworth
Christmas Island, Australia
P.S. Have you ever actually seen a Christmas Island shrew?
Not yet, Bindi. I remain hopeful every single year.
