Healesville Sanctuary

Healesville Sanctuary
Date opened 1934
Location Healesville, Victoria, Australia
Coordinates 37°40′56″S 145°31′54″E / 37.6822°S 145.5316°E / -37.6822; 145.5316Coordinates: 37°40′56″S 145°31′54″E / 37.6822°S 145.5316°E / -37.6822; 145.5316
Website www.zoo.org.au/HealesvilleSanctuary

Healesville Sanctuary, formally known as the Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary, is a zoo specialising in native Australian animals. It is located at Healesville in rural Victoria, Australia, and has a history of breeding native animals. It is one of only two places to have successfully bred a platypus, the other being Sydney's Taronga Zoo. It also assists with a breeding population of the endangered helmeted honeyeater.[1]

The zoo is set in a natural bushland environment where paths wind through different habitat areas showcasing wallabies, wombats, dingoes, kangaroos, and over 200 native bird varieties.

Guided tours, bird shows and information areas are available to visitors.

History

Dr Colin MacKenzie (knighted in 1929) set up the Institute of Anatomical Research in 1920 on 78 acres (32 ha) of land which had formerly been part of the Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve. The Reserve passed to the Healesville Council in 1927 and became the Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary in 1934.

The first platypus bred in captivity was born at the Sanctuary in 1943 when it was managed by David Fleay.

In 2009, the sanctuary was threatened by the Black Saturday bushfires, and the sanctuary evacuated their threatened species to Melbourne Zoo.[2]

Animals and exhibits

Tasmanian devil

References

  1. ↑ Menkhorst P, Smales I, Quin B (2003). "Helmeted Honeyeater Recovery Plan 1999-2003". Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Water Resources. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
  2. ↑ Kent, Melissa (2009-09-06). "Fire and flight no turn-off for horny devils". The Age. Melbourne.
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