Kaurilands' student plants the seeds

By Rani Timoti

Eight-year-old Jack Ellis is using his entrepreneurial skills to help save tigers in the wild.

The Kaurilands School student donated $85 to the Auckland Zoo's Tiger Time campaign supporting efforts to save big cats threatened by growing human populations and poaching.

The keen gardener raised the money selling plant and vegetable seeds to his schoolmates and at a market.

He set up his own little business, Jack and the Beanstalks, and is donating a portion of proceeds to the fund.

Jack presented his earnings to his favourite zoo keeper and Titirangi resident Trent Barclay in front of the male Sumatran tiger Oz.

"One of Oz's cousins may get to live a long life because of this," Mr Barclay says.

Now Jack's schoolmates are getting in on the act and thinking of ways they can contribute to the fund.

"They think it's really cool and it's a good idea," Jack says.