This was published 8 years ago
Australia Zoo, Queensland: Wild animals up close
Ella gets up close with Singha at Australia Zoo.Credit: Sheriden Rhodes
Some children want to be firemen: others teachers, nurses or perhaps even rocket scientists. Our seven-year-old wants to be a zookeeper with a tribe of cheetahs and snow leopards as her charges. Long obsessed with animals, the only real career path she could foresee was as a vet. But a behind-the-scenes tour of Australia Zoo on Queensland's Sunshine Coast changed all that.
As she stood metres from the animal she revered most highly, a sleek and hungry-looking cheetah named Foxy, her excited brown eyes met the cat's inquisitive gaze. I was patting the cheetah at the time (it was purring) getting my photo taken as it licked a rather revolting fish ice block. While children under 15 are not allowed to participate in this experience (given the animal sees small children as prey), I knew Ella, standing at a safe distance, had found her vocation – despite the animal wanting to eat her.
Afterwards she pulled at my skirt. "What do those people do?" she said referring to the two khaki-clad zoo staff that led Foxy back to her enclosure on a lead.
A koala joey at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.
"They're zoo keepers or handlers," I replied, knowing full well where this was leading.
Jumping aboard the golf buggy that ferried us past the zoo's brand new Bindi's Island attraction, she said with conviction; "That's what I'm going to do."
Earlier she'd stood centimetres from Singha, a stunning Sumatran tiger as her handler gave her a carton of milk. Tigers, like all cats, love milk, despite being lactose intolerant. They can, however, receive small amounts as a treat and as Ella stood directly in front of the tiger through the expansive glass-viewing panel, Singha gulped hungrily, drops of milk clinging to her beautiful striped fur and whiskers.
I was patting the cheetah at the time (it was purring) getting my photo taken as it licked a rather revolting fish ice block.
We heard that Singha is one of 11 Sumatran tigers that are in the zoo's South-East Asia enclosure. Head tiger supervisor Giles Clark actually hand-raised two Sumatran tiger cubs at home with his own boisterous family to ensure their survival. I could practically see the wheels turning in Ella's head as she digested this nugget of information.
Perhaps one of the most educational experiences on offer for animal lovers is a behind-the-scenes tour of Australia Zoo's Wildlife Hospital. Inspired by the memory of Steve's mum Lyn Irwin, who was a pioneer in wildlife care and rehabilitation, the hospital opened in March 2004 and is dedicated to saving Australia's native species. More than 55,000 patients have been admitted to the hospital in the past decade – 70 per cent of which are victims of car accidents or domestic pet attacks. Koalas make up a large proportion of the patients, including, sadly, some hit by cars twice.
Excitedly we enter the hospital, which features an incredible glass-walled surgery and rehabilitation areas staffed by a group of wildlife veterinarians, a hospital manager, vet nurses and volunteers. At the time, senior vet Claude Lacasse was attending to an orphaned wallaby's injured tail and we got to watch as his dressing was changed. Ella spied a bag in the corner and asked the wallaby's volunteer carer what was inside. Pulling back a flannelette blanket, she exposed the heads of three other tiny orphan wallabies, one of which she placed in Ella's arms. A happier child you never did see.
Foxy enjoying her fish iceblock at Australia Zoo.Credit: Sheriden Rhodes
The writer travelled courtesy of Oaks Hotels and Resorts and Australia Zoo.
TRIP NOTES
MORE INFORMATION
wildlifewarriors.org.au/wildlife_hospital
VISITING THERE
Admission into Australia Zoo costs from $59 per adult, and $35 per child. Admission for a family of four is $172. A photo with a cheetah costs $60 for two. A 30-minute Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital Behind the Scenes Tour costs $20 per adult and $10 per child, while a Sneak Peak of the hospital is $2 per person.
STAYING THERE
Newly refurbished (unserviced) executive family rooms at nearby Oaks Oasis at Caloundra (which sponsors Australia Zoo koala joey Oasis) start from $189 per night, including entry to the on-site waterpark, free Wi-Fi, midday late checkout, bottle of sparkling wine, access to discounted Australia Zoo tickets and free Sneak Peek pass into the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. See oakshotelsresorts.com.
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