Conservation through Exciting Education (Australia Zoo)

Member Name: CokaCola

Product:	Australia Zoo
Date:	22/03/09 (68 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Large Impressive Grounds, Loads of Species, Conservation Work Paramount

Disadvantages: None!

Australia Zoo started when the Irwin family moved to Queensland from Victoria in 1970, and Bob Irwin set up the "Beerwah Reptile and Fauna Park" - which is now Australia Zoo. Today, Australia Zoo is one of the foremost zoological facilities in the world, with impeccable facilities, loads of space and a plethora of happy, healthy animal species. What is especially good about this Zoo is it's emphisis on conservation. A lot of Zoos seem to be more tourist attractions these days than actually fulfilling a purpose. Australia Zoo really does contribute a lot to conservation, through breeding programmes, buying land and educating it's visitors. Indeed the Zoo's moto is "Conservation through Exciting Education".

The Zoo is also ever expanding. I visited in 2004 just after the Animal Planet Crocoseum had been built, which an absoloutely amazing amphitheatre where the Zoo's daily bird, croc and snake shows are performed daily. Now they have many international species, from elephants, to rhino, to tigers, as well as all of the extremely unique and loveable Australian fauna species.

The Zoo is of course most famous for it's large crocodile collection, it is afterall the home of the Crocodile Hunter. The Zoo has both Saltwater and Freshwater Crocs, all of them have names, and many of the larger saltwater crocodiles have great stories to tell, about their previous life and how they were successfully captured by Steve Irwin to avoid certain death. A couple of the crocodiles are fairly ancient, and thought to be well over 100 years of age.

Some highlights include Australias most dealy snakes, as well as some of the Australian Python species, and even a collection of exotic snakes from abroad. There are also many lizard species, from Rhino Iguanas to Kommodo Dragons.

I remember walking through the kangaroo enclosure, and buying able to touch the Kangaroos, which are all considerably tame!

The Zoo's prices are as follows:

1 x Adult = $54
1 x Child = $32
1 x Family of 5 = $177
1 x Family of 4 = $161
1 x Student = $43.

All prices are in AUD (Australian).

Whilst the shop may be a little bit expensive, all the money raised by Australia zoo goes straight back into conservation. It's an amazing place, and everyone, however small their interest is in the natural world has to visit this place at least once in their lifetime.

Summary: Go there - you will not be disapointed.