Gondwana Rainforest Sanctuary facts for kids
The Gondwana Rainforest Sanctuary was a special place in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was created as an Australian wildlife sanctuary and a fun place for tourists to visit. It opened in June 1992, after a big event called World Expo 88. The sanctuary was located in the South Bank Parklands, a popular area in Brisbane. When it first opened, it was home to about 500 amazing animals!
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A Home for Australian Animals
The Gondwana Rainforest Sanctuary was designed to feel like a real rainforest. It had a huge bird aviary, which is like a giant cage where birds can fly freely. There were also cool displays that looked like natural habitats. The walls were made to look like real rocks, making visitors feel like they were deep in a forest.
Birds of the Rainforest
Many different kinds of Australian birds lived at the sanctuary. You could see tiny fairy wrens, colourful figbirds, and clever bowerbirds. There were also bright kingfishers, long-legged curlews, and noisy lorikeets. Other birds included parrots, finches, pigeons, doves, geese, teals, and even big cockatoos. Plus, there were many different kinds of waterfowl (birds that live near water).
Mammals and Reptiles
The sanctuary was also home to many interesting Australian mammals. You could spot fruit bats flying around. There were also many marsupials, which are animals that carry their babies in a pouch. These included cute koalas, bouncy wallabies, and shy pademelons. Different types of gliders, like squirrel gliders, sugar gliders, and greater gliders, could also be seen. Other unique mammals included eastern quolls, bandicoots, possums, and even Tasmanian devils. The sanctuary also had echidnas, which are very special egg-laying mammals called monotremes.
For reptile fans, there were Australian lizards and snakes. You could also see freshwater crocodiles, turtles, and large goannas. And it wasn't just birds and mammals; the sanctuary also had frogs and different kinds of fish, including the amazing lungfish.
Learning About the Past
The Gondwana Rainforest Sanctuary wasn't just about seeing animals; it was also a place to learn! There were special displays that taught visitors about how Australia was formed a very long time ago, when it was part of a supercontinent called Gondwana. These displays also showed how Australian animals have changed and developed over millions of years. To make learning even more exciting, there were large animated dinosaurs that made you feel like you had stepped back in time!
The Butterfly House
At the same time as the main wildlife sanctuary, there was also a special Butterfly House. This was a place where you could walk among beautiful butterflies. Later, it was renamed the Butterfly and Insect House to include other fascinating insects. The South Bank Parklands also had canals, bridges, and small boats that visitors could ride on.
Changes Over Time
Sadly, the Gondwana Rainforest Sanctuary faced some challenges. It had financial difficulties in 1993, partly because of heavy rain during its construction, which made building more expensive.
In January 1998, the Gondwana Rainforest Sanctuary had to close down, and all the animals were moved to new homes. Today, only a rainforest walk and green spaces remain where the sanctuary once stood. However, the Butterfly and Insect House stayed open and was renamed the South Bank Wildlife Sanctuary in April 1998, bringing in other types of wildlife.
Later, in 2005, the South Bank Wildlife Sanctuary also closed down and was taken apart. Now, an office building and shops are located where it used to be. The canals, bridges, and boats that were once part of the South Bank Parklands are also gone.
