Healesville Sanctuary facts for kids
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| Date opened | 1934 |
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| Location | Healesville, Victoria, Australia |
| Land area | 28 acres (11 ha) |
| Coordinates | 37°40′56″S 145°31′54″E / 37.6822°S 145.5316°E |
| No. of species | 140+ |
Healesville Sanctuary is a special zoo in Victoria, Australia. It focuses on native Australian animals. The sanctuary is located in Healesville, a rural area. It is famous for helping to breed rare Australian wildlife.
Healesville Sanctuary is one of only two places to have successfully bred a platypus. The other place is Sydney's Taronga Zoo. The sanctuary also helps protect the endangered helmeted honeyeater. They have a special breeding program for these birds.
The zoo is set in a natural bushland environment. Paths wind through different areas. Here you can see wallabies, wombats, dingoes, and kangaroos. There are also over 200 types of native birds. Visitors can enjoy guided tours, exciting bird shows, and information areas.
Contents
History of the Sanctuary
How it Started
The sanctuary began with Dr. Colin MacKenzie. He was knighted in 1929. In 1920, Dr. MacKenzie set up a research institute. It was on land that used to be part of an Aboriginal reserve called Coranderrk. In 1934, this land became the Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary. This is the original name of Healesville Sanctuary.
Platypus Breeding Success
A very important event happened in 1943. The first platypus ever bred in captivity was born here. This amazing achievement happened when David Fleay was managing the sanctuary. It showed how dedicated the sanctuary was to Australian wildlife.
Changes and Challenges
In 1978, the park's management changed. It was placed under the Victorian Zoological Parks and Gardens Board. This helped the sanctuary continue its important work.
In 2009, the sanctuary faced a big challenge. The terrible Black Saturday bushfires threatened the area. To keep them safe, many endangered animals were moved to Melbourne Zoo. This quick action saved many precious lives.
Animals and Exhibits
Healesville Sanctuary is home to many amazing Australian animals. You can explore different areas, each designed to show animals in their natural habitats.
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Tasmanian devil
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Lace monitor
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Helmeted honeyeater (captive bred)
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Red tailed black cockatoo
Meet the Mammals
You can find many fascinating mammals at the sanctuary.
- Koalas: See these sleepy marsupials in their special area. You might also spot Parma wallabies, echidnas, and Tasmanian pademelons nearby.
- Kangaroos: The kangaroo area features large red kangaroos and western grey kangaroos.
- Wombats: Get a close-up view of the common wombat. You might also see more echidnas and the tall brolga bird here.
- Dingoes: Learn about Australia's native dog, the dingo.
- Nocturnal Animals: The "Animals of the Night" exhibit shows creatures that are active after dark. This includes the tiny agile antechinus, bilbies, and various possums like the mountain pygmy-possum and sugar glider. You can also see different geckos and frogs.
Amazing Birds
The sanctuary is a bird lover's paradise.
- Bush Birds: Discover birds like the eastern whipbird, emu, and the famous laughing kookaburra.
- Aviaries: Walk through large aviaries where birds fly freely.
- Gang-gang Aviary: Home to the unique gang-gang cockatoo and the bush stone-curlew.
- Woodland Aviary: See colourful birds such as musk lorikeets, satin bowerbirds, and peaceful doves.
- Arid Birds: This area features birds from dry regions. Look for bright budgerigars, Gouldian finches, and princess parrots.
- Wetlands Aviary: Spot water birds like the cattle egret and glossy ibis.
- Land of Parrots Aviary: A vibrant exhibit with many parrot species. These include the eclectus parrot, Major Mitchell's cockatoo, and red-tailed black cockatoo.
- Lyrebird Forest: Listen for the incredible mimicry of the superb lyrebird. Other birds here include Australian king parrots and topknot pigeons.
- Larger Wetlands Aviary: A big area for water birds like black swans, magpie geese, and various ducks.
Reptile World
The "Reptile Encounter" lets you see many Australian reptiles.
- You can observe different types of snakes, including the coastal taipan and red-bellied black snake.
- Look for various lizards like the eastern bearded dragon and frill-necked lizard.
- There are also freshwater crocodiles and different kinds of turtles.
Unique Australian Animals
- World of the Platypus: This special exhibit is dedicated to the amazing platypus. You can also see other aquatic animals like Macquarie perch and Murray crayfish.
- Tasmanian Devil: The sanctuary is home to the Tasmanian devil, an iconic Australian marsupial.
See also
