In Focus - Cassowary

Status: Endangered

Geographic Region:  North-Eastern Australia, New Guinea and Aru Islands

Meaning of name: Papua New Guinea word kasu- meaning horned; and weri- meaning head

Habitat: Deep rainforest

Threats: Dogs, cars, habitat loss and wild pigs.

Left in Wild: 2500 to 3000

Cassowary at Australia Zoo

The Cassowary is the largest native land animal in Northern Australia, and the heaviest bird in Australia, weighing in at 85 kilograms- being generally 40 kilograms heavier than the Emu. There are three sub species of cassowary in the world, The Southern, Northern and Dwarf Cassowary. All three sub species are extremely shy and very hard to spot in the forest.

Cassowaries can live up to 40 years in the wild and have been known to live to over 60 years in captivity. The cassowary has many threats to its precarious existence with car accidents making up a large portion of their fatalities. Other threats include wild pigs eating their eggs, wild dogs hunting them for food and recent weather events that have devastated their habitats.

The most distinguishing feature of the cassowary is the bony looking horn upon its head. The horn or casque is actually quite porous, made of a spongy material covered with skin and will continue to grow for the cassowary's entire life. Not that you would want to get close enough to feel its horn as they are very dangerous and have been known to seriously injure, and in rare occasions even kill people with their very large claws.

Cassowary Feet - deadly weapons

Cassowaries are good swimmers and have been seen swimming in the ocean to escape dingos and wild dogs. They also swim across Northern Queensland's Daintree River to get from one side to the other. They do not have tongues and so drink by scooping up water with their bottom beak.  

Stu’s Zoo Pick for the Cassowary

Most Australian zoos and wild life sanctuaries have cassowaries and participate in breeding programs. Perth Zoo located in Western Australia has a great rainforest walk-through exhibit that showcases both the cassowary and its habitat. 

Australia Zoo

Other good opportunities to view cassowaries in natural-looking environs include the enclosures at Australia Zoo, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and  Dreamworld all located in South East Queensland in Australia. 

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

 © July 2013-Stuatthezoo.blogspot.com.au

In Focus – Koala

Status: Least Concern 

Geographic Region:  Eastern states of Australia

Meaning of Name:  Comes from the aboriginal name gula - meaning no drink.

Habitat:  Eucalyptus woodlands of Australia

Threats:  Land development and disease

Left in Wild:  60,000 to 80,000

Koala at Alma Park Zoo

There is a common misconception that the koala is a type of bear due to their bear-like appearance, however they are actually a herbivorous marsupial with the wombat being its   closest relative. Eucalyptus leaves are the koala's main diet but provide little energy intake, resulting in koalas sleeping for up to 20 hours a day. Koalas rarely drink water as they get most of the water intake from the eucalyptus leaves. They have however been known to search out water during prolonged hot periods, even venturing onto verandas and into back yards in search of a drink.The picture below shows a firefighter giving a Koala a drink after a devastating bushfire destroyed its habitat - follow this link to read more about this story. 

Koalas can live for up to 14 years in the wild however male Koalas will rarely live that long due to their more destructive nature. The longest living koala lived for 23 years at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Koalas are asocial animals preferring to be on their own than socialising in groups. Male Koalas are very territorial animals and have been known to be aggressive towards humans who venture into their space. Males are significantly larger than females and will have territorial battles with other males. Size however does not have any bearing on who a female mates with as they are more attracted to males that can make a more impressive grunting noise.The more impressive the grunt the more manly the koala, so to speak. Size and colour tone does vary between koalas dependent on geographical locations as well. A Koala in the state of Victoria in southern Australia will be significantly larger with darker fur than Koalas found in the northern state of Queensland.

Koala at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Land development has played a large part in the destruction of the koala’s habitat across Australia and disease such as Chlamydiaceae has ravaged some populations across the country. The Koala was hunted to near extinction in the late 1800s for its pelts, but populations have been slowly recovering in some states. Unfortunately a cull of over a million individuals in Queensland in the 1920s halted the recovery of that population and it has struggled to have any meaningful recovery since. This has made the Queensland  koala more susceptible to drought, disease and environment destruction. In 2012 the Australian Government declared the Koala populations in both Queensland and New South Wales vulnerable, which is probably a gross understatement of its true status. Today it is very rare to see a Koala in the wild in Queensland.

Donation box at Alma Park zoo

Stu’s Zoo Pick for the Koala

Many wildlife sanctuaries and zoos in Australia have great koala enclosures. Here is a list of zoos that I have reviewed where you can see and even hold a koala.They are: Perth Zoo, Taronga Zoo, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Alma Park Zoo, Cairns Wildlife Dome, Australia Zoo and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - the largest Koala sanctuary in the world.

 

Koala at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Daisy Hill Koala Centre, located south of Brisbane in the Daisy Hill Conservation Park, is also a great place to see and lean about the koala.You can view it's resident koalas as well as see interactive displays and information on the conservation efforts being employed to help save the Queensland koala.  The centre is run by the Queensland Government and is free of charge. The woodlands around the centre are a great place to have a picnic and observe  wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies and birds.

Ocean Park in Hong Kong will be receiving a number of koalas from the South Australian Government mid 2014. These koalas will be housed in a purpose-built $5 million themed enclosure with the park also growing a 13 hectare eucalyptus forest ensuring ample food for the new arrivals.
© May 2013-Stuatthezoo.blogspot.com.au

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary - Gold Coast

Location - 28 Tomewin St, Currumbin Queensland, 4223

Entry Price – Adults $49.00AUD Children (4-14) $33.00AUD Pensioner $40.00AUD

Opening Hours – 8.00am to 5.00pm every day except Christmas day and open from 1.30 pm to 5.00 pm ANZAC day (25^th April) 

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary web page  

 

Layout

Entry is directly off the street via a gift shop into the front plaza where you can feed lorikeets, have a coffee at the Sanctuary Cafe or purchase entry tickets into the park.  Enter the park via another gift shop where you will find Main Station, one of four train stations that are located around the park. This location is also where you will find the Australian Green Cauldron – home to fish and reptiles. Koala, Tasmanian Devil and Wallaby enclosures are also located in the immediate area.

A short stroll, or train trip through a tunnel, gets you to the main part of the park where you can catch different shows and explore Wild Island – a great interactive children’s play area. Nearby you can feed Emus and Kangaroos and see a large variety of Australian animals up close.

The park is well signed, has good rest room facilities throughout and is also serviced by a good range of cafes and drinking fountains.  There is also easy access by local public tansport.

  

Map of park

 

Extra Activities

The park is host to several different shows including bird shows, Crocodile presentations and Aboriginal dance demonstrations, all included in your entry fee. These shows are scheduled throughout the day so please check web page for details.

Other activities for an extra charge include Koala Photos, Segway Safaris and The Green Challenge Adventure Park.  There is also a unique opportunity to see animals being examined by the park’s vets at the hospital precinct.

Bird feeding in the front plaza takes place throughout the day for the price of the bird feed.

Entrance to Wild Island

Breeding Programs

The main breeding programs are Koalas and Tasmanian Devils, however the park also assists with local wildlife rescues. (Click the link to see the important work that Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is doing to save the Tasmanian Devil.

Stu’s Favourite Bit

I love Koalas and the Koala Enclosures at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary did not disappoint – The Koalas were very active, even during the middle of the day, giving tourists great photo opportunities. You can also get your photo holding a Koala. I also really love that you can get up close to most of the animals across the park.

  

Go HERE to see a very active Koala and other animals found at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary at Stu @ the zoo TV.

 

Stu’s review and tips  

What is the difference between a zoo and a wildlife sanctuary?  A zoo is where you will find a large range of animals from around the world – generally in artificial enclosures which mimic their natural habitats. A wildlife sanctuary generally focuses on indigenous animals allowing for more natural, larger enclosures. The term ‘sanctuary’, alludes to their work in local wildlife rescue work as well.  The work of both is equally important to animal conservation.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary has an impressive collection of Australian animals. The enclosures allow visitors to get up close to most of the animals, including the opportunity to mingle with and feed Emus and Kangaroos in their large free range enclosure – the ultimate petting zoo. Locals get as excited as international visitors when it comes to feeding the wildlife.

 

Stu with a close encounter with an emu

 

The staff and many volunteers, are extremely friendly and happy to part with valuable information about all the exhibits. Wild Island is a fantastic playground where children can learn about all sorts of animals while playing on the interactive equipment – you can also feed eels and pelicans.

The trains are fantastic and create a fun atmosphere throughout. They go past most attractions giving you an opportunity to see the park and jump off at your leisure.

 

One of the trains at the park

 

If you are looking for a manicured botanical garden style park to explore, this is not it. However there are some great displays of public art and the central lake is very pretty, having said that the place does look a little tired and in sections were in disrepair the day I reviewed.

I noticed that we walked a lot without seeing any animals – not because they were hiding, but simply because there just weren’t many enclosures. This made some parts of the park a little boring. At the time of reviewing this park there was a lot of small construction works being done all over the park.

The one real thing I like about this park is the ability to get up and close to the animals, and for this it is an ideal park for visitors looking for the quintessential interactive Australian animal experience. 

 

Must See Animals 

 

Koala 

Emu 

Kangaroo 

Cassowary 

Tree Kangaroo 

Crocodile

Snakes 

Birds 

 

 

 

© April 2013-Stuatthezoo.blogspot.com.au

In Focus - Tasmanian Devil

Status: Critically Endangered  

Geographic Region: Island of Tasmania, Australia

Meaning of Name: Named after their devil-like growls, screams and snarls

Habitat: Underbrush and Eucalyptus forests

Threats: Devil Facial Tumour Disease 

Left in Wild: Approximately 20,000 but dropping rapidly

The Tasmanian Devil is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world.  They are mainly scavengers preferring to feed on carcasses than hunt; however they have been known to take down small kangaroos.  They can be quite the glutton, scoffing down up to 15% of their total body weight.

The devil has a very muscular body and generally grows to the size of a small dog.  Being nocturnal they hunt / scavenge at night. Many a first time camper in the Tasmanian bush has been left scared stiff in their tents after hearing the devils unique but frightening growls and snarls.

Males will fight over a female for mating rights and the female will mate with the most dominant of those males.  In the wild the devil has a maximum life expectancy of five years but they can live up to four years longer in captivity.

Since 1996 a deadly cancer called Devil Facial Tumour Disease has wiped out over half the wild population with over 80% of the remaining devils thought to be affected.  The disease is a transmittable cancer (contagious and passed  from one animal to another)  Unfortunately one of the ways devils communicate with each other is by touching noses, helping the spread of this awful disease. 

Stu’s Zoo Pick for the Tasmanian Devil 

The Tasmania Devil is now at a tipping point for survival.  With no cure for Devil Facial Tumour Cancer, which is now ravaging most of its habitat, quarantine areas have been set up around healthy populations on Tasmania. Scientists have also been removing healthy devils from the wild and placing them in captive breeding programs at zoos and wild life sanctuaries across the main land as an insurance policy for their survival.

Donation box at Currumbin to help save the devil

Like so many other parks, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in South-East Queensland  have  successful breeding programs,  with the hope of one day releasing them into the wild. 

Although the Tasmanian Devil is not the most endearing of animals and with a bad reputation brought on by farmers protecting their lambs, and its destructive image on Looney Tunes cartoons, it still does have a special place in Australia and is just another example of a species reliant on zoos or wildlife parks for its very survival. We can only hope that the devil does not go down the same path as the Tasmanian Tiger  which became extinct in 1936.