Australia Zoo, Oz
Located an hour north of Brisbane on the Bruce Highway and in the midst of the Glasshouse Mountains lies a zoo – Australia Zoo. Aptly named, it exhibits some of the most dangerous and some of the most adorable animals in Australia (not in the same enclosure I might add). A great tourist spot and a must for anyone doing a tour of the state of Queensland.
I did all the fun stuff at first and realised I needed more than a day to do everything – see all the shows and go on all the guided tours. Unfortunately I felt I did so little and yet was exhausted when I left in the evening. However my day was great – I fed kangaroos in the kangaroo enclosure. They are left to roam in a large park with seats so people can wonder through and feed and pet the roos. I fed an elephant! Granted not an Australian native but still very cool and also slightly wet! The main event was an hour long show which was thoroughly entertaining!
Started by Steve Irwin and continued by his wife, Terri Irwin, this zoo and the conservation efforts it maintains are second to none. Something I found quite surprising! Not because it caters and plays on tourists but because conservation was literally at the heart of every exhibition, tour and show. It was impossible to avoid the issue and the trouble and strife these animals have when it comes to human invasion. The key was also how they stressed this to the children as well as the adults and the dangers that animals can hold for humans when they are threatened. I have not witnessed an effort like this in any other zoo and doubt I will since. It seems that Australia Zoo is the one that has got it’s ideas firmly in the right place for animal welfare.
The conservation efforts of the zoo are well known and they are currently building what will be the largest animal hospital in the southern hemisphere!! Something for veterinarians and Australians to shout about! They have done a great deal of work raising awareness to animal welfare in Australia and long may they continue. A great place and well worth a visit – I can’t wait to go back!
