Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Encyclopedia
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary at Currumbin
on the Gold Coast
, Queensland
in Australia
, is world renowned for its feeding of huge flocks of free-flying wild Rainbow Lorikeet
s, which come to the Sanctuary to feast off the special mixture which the Lorikeets eat.
The multitude of events, shows and attractions include dingo encounters, free flight bird shows and even crocodile feeding of the park's massive saltwater crocodile. The park also contains a serious aspect of its work and exhibits, and behind the scenes includes a state-of-the-art veterinary and rehabilitation hospital where thousands of sick and injured animals are brought every day. As for May 2011, the hospital has appealed for donations and government support as it faces a funding shortage that may force it to turn away injured wildlife.
in 1947 as a scheme to stop the local lorikeet population destroying his flower plantations. The lorikeets still flock to the sanctuary twice daily to be fed by visitors. The sanctuary now houses one of the largest collections of Australian native species in the world. Exhibits include Tasmanian Devil
s, a reptile house and the largest walk-through aviary
in the southern hemisphere
. The sanctuary also has a miniature railway that has been operating since 1964.
Currumbin, Queensland
Currumbin is a suburb in the Gold Coast region of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 Census, Currumbin had a population of 2,647.-History:Many of the houses at Currumbin date from the period of its earliest subdivision and the area contains a substantial grouping of fibro beach houses...
on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, is world renowned for its feeding of huge flocks of free-flying wild Rainbow Lorikeet
Rainbow Lorikeet
The Rainbow Lorikeet, is a species of Australasian parrot found in Australia, eastern Indonesia , Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. In Australia, it is common along the eastern seaboard, from Queensland to South Australia and northwest Tasmania...
s, which come to the Sanctuary to feast off the special mixture which the Lorikeets eat.
The multitude of events, shows and attractions include dingo encounters, free flight bird shows and even crocodile feeding of the park's massive saltwater crocodile. The park also contains a serious aspect of its work and exhibits, and behind the scenes includes a state-of-the-art veterinary and rehabilitation hospital where thousands of sick and injured animals are brought every day. As for May 2011, the hospital has appealed for donations and government support as it faces a funding shortage that may force it to turn away injured wildlife.
History
The sanctuary was opened as the Currumbin Bird Sanctuary by Alex GriffithsAlex Griffiths
Dr Alexander Morris Griffiths was an Australian beekeeper, floriculturist and conservationist.-Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary:...
in 1947 as a scheme to stop the local lorikeet population destroying his flower plantations. The lorikeets still flock to the sanctuary twice daily to be fed by visitors. The sanctuary now houses one of the largest collections of Australian native species in the world. Exhibits include Tasmanian Devil
Tasmanian Devil
The Tasmanian devil is a carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae, now found in the wild only on the Australian island state of Tasmania. The size of a small dog, it became the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world following the extinction of the thylacine in 1936...
s, a reptile house and the largest walk-through aviary
Aviary
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...
in the southern hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
. The sanctuary also has a miniature railway that has been operating since 1964.