The Healesville Animal Sanctuary is located 65 km North of Melbourne in the state of Victoria, Australia.
Zoos Victoria makes a Sanctuary Map available, and their website includes other items of interests for visitors: opening times, admission rates, top attractions, and how to get there.
Healesville Sanctuary provides a natural haven for many free-ranging animals. Available are food tables, special plantings, hollow logs and safety from predators, all encouraging these animals to make their home at the animal park. Visitors can look about this bushland setting, not forgetting the treetops and the sky to view the rich animal and bird life.
By night these animals include Sugar Gliders, Yellow Bellied Gliders, Ring-tailed Possums, Powerful Owls, Southern Brown Bandicoots and Platypus.
History of the Animal Sanctuary
In 1921 Dr. Colin MacKenzie was granted 70 acres of land lease to study native fauna for the purpose of medical research. His institute of anatomical research and his work drew many scientists from all over the world.
The Sanctuary grew from a picnic reserve with a few animals to a place renown for its fauna. Thousands came to see the big attraction: "Splash", the Platypus - the first of its kind to be successfully kept in captivity.
The Sanctuary was officially opened in 1934 and since 1978, it has been managed by the Zoological Board of Victoria.
Monotremes - The Platypus and Echidna
The platypus is one of two remarkable Australian monotremes, the other being the Echidna. The platypus is a typical mammal in being furred and feeding its young on milk, but resembles reptiles in that it lays eggs. Its leathery bill has an electromagnetic sensory system, which is used to locate prey such as yabbies, worms and insects.
Although the platypus is a species of immense scientific significance, relatively little is known of its behavior in the wild. Research programs undertaken will shed light on the habits of these mammals and lead to better understanding of its long-term habitat requirements.
The echidna can live almost anywhere in Australia where there is plentiful food supply of ants and termites. It also reproduces by laying an egg. The young echidna remains in the mother's pouch for eight weeks after birth suckling milk secreted from special pores. To avoid heat, the animal spends a lot of time in hollow logs, under thick bushes or buried under piles of debris.
Animals at the Sanctuary
Healesville Sanctuary's bushland provides a distinctly Australian setting where visitors can experience close-up encounters with some of Australia's most unique and captivating wildlife, including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, emus, dingoes, and birds of prey.
Caring for the Sanctuary's animals is a hugely expensive task. Specialist veterinary services, quality food, top-class facilities, the need for intensive breeding programs and research activities - all add up to a massive commitment.
References:
- "Healesville Sanctuary". Produced by Steve Parish Publishing. National Library of Australia Cataloguing, Healesville Sanctuary, 1990.
Harry P. Schlanger - Hello, I started out as a physicist working for research organisations. Mostly in the area of heat transfer in solids and porous media. ...
