It is a long time since I visited Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, even though it is just down the road. But this week the family, 5 grandchildren aged 5 to 16, Mum and Dad, came from Brisbane to have a day exploring the Sanctuary and interacting with the unique animals that call Australia home.
So we went with them.
How it has changed. The car park was almost full and now costs $10, it used to be free, but the money goes toward the maintenance of the animal hospital so that eases the pain of payment!
Our granddaughter, Jade, is doing a one day a week management traineeship here, so she has free entry for the family and child’s price for us. (the son pays our entry fee). Rounding the family up we go in. It is crowded, partly because it is school holidays and partly because it is something different from the theme parks.
These people are queuing to have their photo taken cuddling a koala and in an enclosure next to the action the koalas wait to be chosen for the next cuddle session.Many of the koalas in this sanctuary have been brought here for treatment because they have been savaged by dogs or knocked over by a car or orphaned. Urban expansion is diminishing the koalas habitat. Here is an interesting fact about the koala’s diet.
Each animal eats a tremendous amount for its size—about one kilogram of leaves a day. Koalas even store snacks of leaves in pouches in their cheeks. To digest these leaves, the koala has a special digestive system—a long gut— which measures a colossal two metres and is packed with super micro-organisms that detoxify the vegetation.
Out of over a hundred species of eucalyptus trees that grow in Australia, the koala feeds only on twelve, and will only eat leaves at a particular stage of growth. Koalas can easily exhaust its’ own supply. Conservationists have to move groups of koalas to areas where food is plentiful.
So moving right on we follow the family into this kid friendly area. A large strangler fig tree dominates, but it is all sculptured from concrete. The steps wind in and through, slides tumble-down and swaying bridges challenge. Kids run and yell and have fun. Can you see the 2 people walking up the tree? You may have to enlarge the photo to see them. Meanwhile Jack and I explore the reptile house. Heated glass cases hold some of Australia’s most deadly creatures.
The nocturnal house is next and I grope my way into the darkened building. Gradually my eyes adjust to the gloom and I peer into the glass fronted, simulated forest enclosures. Many Australian animals are nocturnal and in this artificially created night-time they scuttle and scurry around. The Bilby twitches his long ears and in the next enclosure I struggle to see small, mouse like creatures as they run up the tree trunks then launch across open space to the next branch, the sign says “Sugar glider”. In many of the areas I am unable to see anything. Is it my bad night time vision or are the creatures hiding. After peering into more I cautiously feel my way out and take a deep breath as I get back into the fresh air, it was quite a musty, bush like aroma in the nocturnal house.
Wandering along bush lined tracks, over the narrow railway line that has a train to carry tourists round to the different areas, through double entry gates to prevent animals escaping. Into a large dusty paddock.Kangaroos are lolling around. totally ignoring the activity around them. A single emu wanders by.Information posts are dotted around with interesting facts and this is a lazy bloggers way to pass them on…
This big Boomer is away from the main mob.They feel soft and almost cuddlesome to the touch of a little girl.But a volunteer was standing next to this one to make sure no one touched the Joey. Can you see the Joey peering out? The mother can get dangerously protective if anyone touched her baby. It is quite amazing that size baby can fit into her pouch. It must be very uncomfortable.A number of show and tell performances are scheduled during the day and when we arrived at the crocodile pool to see the feeding the crowd was 6 deep and no way to see or take a photo. We heard the commentary about “Big Boss” the 5 metre croc and his girl friend and heard the gasps from the crowd as the handler fed them, but could only imagine the action. But here is a short YouTube video I found.
So having missed that we went and sat on the grass outside the “free flight bird show” 30 minutes before it started and had a picnic. The children rushed off to see the shearing demonstration while we secured seats as soon as they dropped the chain.
Having seen this show before I didn’t want to miss. But very difficult to capture the birds as they swooped and glided over head catching bits of meat in mid-air. Our beautiful parrots show off their vibrant colours. Actually this is a Macaw, not a native, I don’t know how he got past the casting couch
This Barking Owl gave his best dog barking imitation. Then enter the Black Buzzard, an intelligent bird that can use tools to crack this tough shelled emu egg.
I did manage to get a short video of the action
Then the finale was the magnificent and endangered Wedge Tailed Eagle. With a wing span of 6 to 8 feet. Sadly, this magnificent raptor is still subject to persecution, both legal and illegal. It is the only eagle in the world which can still be shot under a damages licensing system which is still operating in Australia as an unfortunate legacy of less enlightened times.
A new area recently opened is “The lost valley” I am keen to walk round having seen it advertised. I admired this artificial sculptured rock wall.
Then immersed myself in an environment that existed millions of years ago. Featuring 5 acres of stunning rainforest, Lost Valley takes you on a journey through the ancient supercontinent Gondwana.
In here are the wilder Australian animals, Dingoes, Tasmanian Devils, Wombats. But also some outsiders are here.
The scenery is created from artificial rocks and gives an ancient, primeval atmosphere. Over the top of the whole enclosure and about 15 to 20 metres high a net stretched so birds could free fly in the area. It is starting to cool down, a slight mist is being generated from vents under rocks to give an eerie other world aura.
Leaving the family to watch the Aborigine show it is time for us to go home before all the crowds descend on the car park.
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Jo is back from wandering overseas in the Algarve, but still walking. Here’s one to join in this week Jo. Pop over to “RestlessJo” to see where the world-wide walkers are going this week.
Thank you very much for bringing me pleasure this morning!!!!!!
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You are welcome, pleased you enjoyed your visit
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I thought it was a while since you’d published a post. No wonder- this one is so detailed and must have taken you ages! 🙂 🙂 Australian creatures are quite extraordinary, aren’t they? Imagine having to be moved because you’d eaten yourself out of house and home! And carrying baby joey. 🙂 Your photos are so endearing. Many thanks to you, Pauline.
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It is also amazing the amount of the special eucalyptus leaves the park staff have to gather every day to keep their 50 koalas fed. We do have unique animals over here
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Currumbin has come a long way since I first went there- I still have a photo of myself in 1968 holding a koala! It was lovely to revisit. Thanks for the tour, Pauline.
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Even just about 5 years since we were there it has changed, far more commercial now
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Amazing creatures!
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Certainly are Anabel
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Such wildlife centres do wonderful work, don’t they, though it’s a shame habitat encroachment is making their existence ever more necessary. Those laid-out kangaroos are quite something, and as for the Joey, it’s amazing how it can get so much of itself into such small space.
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You are able to walk past the hospital area and when we went by they were busy with a bird under an anaesthetic being worked on. Just to think there may have been another 1 or 2 babies in the pouch too
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Goodness. I never imagined there was room for more than one!
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The others would only be embryo size and attached to a teat. Quite an amazing life cycle
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I was expecting to see a photos that you were cuddling a koala 🙂 . They are so adorable. Thank you very much for the post.
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I did do the cuddle a koala thing when we first came to Australia, but I have no idea where the photo is now
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A walk I would have liked to do had I ever got to visit Australia. Just wonderful nature and animals you have over there. How sad the eagles are not protected though. Very interesting facts – about the kangaroos and their offspring as well.
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We do have very strange creatures over here
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Loved this one Pauline. Tons of fun facts and terrific photos. I loved seeing koalas and kangaroos in the wild when we visited as they are so iconic to your beautiful country. I thought koalas were a bit mean but am amazed they let you cuddle them. And the multiple joey fact is quite something. Who knew?!😊. Great post
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Koalas are mean in the wild and have vicious claws. I think the koalas they have for cuddle sessions are ones that have been raised at the sanctuary. A kangaroo in the wild in full flight is an amazing spectacle
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We are so lucky to have such unique animals exclusive to Australia. Thanks for sharing this informative post Pauline. 🙂
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I agree and there are lots of unique and interesting animals here
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Currumbin has changed a lot since my visit in 1998! Then it was quite small and simple. I loved seeing the kangaroos up close. That last bird – is it a cockatoo? I don’t think I have ever seen a pink one. So pretty!
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1998 was the year we arrived here and possibly went to Currumbin that year. We may even have walked past each other!!! It has changed, more commercial now and very crowded. That is a Major Mitchell’s cockatoo. They are quite stunning. He was showing off to a girl friend
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Oh how you have me reminiscing again. We used to visit there sometimes when we travelled as a family from north QLD. Love this post PP. makes me happy 😊
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It has changed quite a lot, more commercial now
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Wonderful tour! I loved the arm-chair version. The Hawk using the rock to crack the Emu egg is amazing, and that croc is terrifying! WOW he has big teeth and jaws!
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I think birds are far more intelligent than we think
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Australia has some fascinating wildlife. I loved seen so many of these animals in the wild and on visits to Zoo’s and Sanctuaries. A Koala cuddle was high on my wish list…It was one of the highlights of my 3 weeks trip. Thank you for this lovely post, it has brought so many great memories 🙂
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There was a long queue for the koala cuddle it is very popular
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What an amazing tour of animals that are so unique to Australia – great photos!
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This sanctuary is very well run and the work they do with injured and orphaned animals is superb
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OH MY!
Those kangaroos do not look so scary there. They just lay around like they are no trouble at all! The mean or dangerous ones must not be allowed in. That is probably why there are no wombats there.
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Oh yes wombats are here but they were all hiding!
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I haven’t been for over 20 years. Thanks for this tour. We have a unique set of wildlife here. Many look cute but foreigners don’t realise how dangerous some of them are.
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I think you would see a big change after 20 years LD and yes I think all our animals can be very dangerous. I saw a tourist on Magnetic Island after he had tried to cuddle a wild koala, not a pretty sight.
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Running that place must be a massive undertaking, Do koalas like being cuddled? They look like they would.
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They seem ok with it. And yes they have a large number of volunteers as well as regular staff working there
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[…] Australia’s iconic creatures […]
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Sad to hear that natural habitats for many of your Australian wildlife is diminishing.
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Thank goodness for the National parks, at least they are helping to keep the natural habitats available
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This post was such a joy to view from the comfort of home, though it takes a while to get back and leave a comment when online!!! Wow – so many great creatures, and a good way for people to connect with nature if they don’t have easy access to the natural world.
thank you for showing us so many great glimpses of your own world, one that is enriched with ‘all things good.’
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They do keep the animals in a natural environment and yes a good way for overseas visitors to see our amazing creatures
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I love seeing the Aussie wildlife. Thanks for sharing your trip to this sanctuary. Your photo of the golden coloured snake is wonderful 🙂
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Thanks Ruth it is a good place for overs seas visitors to see our creatures up close and personal
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Well, Currumbin has certainly changed since I went there several decades ago as a child. All I can remember is holding trays of birdseed and being totally swamped by rainbow lorikeets. I’m sure the other animals weren’t there. It was just a bird place then.
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The lorikeets are still there and yes it was just a bird place to start with
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