Healesville Sanctuary is situated at Healesville on the outer side of
Melbourne, Victoria. It is a very famous zoo well known for the
indigenous Australian animals. The zoo has a good history of breeding
native animals and it has successfully bred a platypus that became the
front page news in London and New York.
The zoo was opened in the year 1934 and it displays a wide range of
Australian wildlife including some 200 species of mammals, native birds
as well as reptiles in amazing bushland environment.
There is a passageway that passes through the sanctuary and can take you
through a big wildlife habitat where you can see animals in their
natural environment. You may find yourself among kangaroos, colourful
birds and emus, hear dingoes howl in a distance and see the great
hunting and flight skills of birds of prey.
For the true Australian experience, Healesville Sanctuary is the perfect
place. The Sanctuary is known for its association with platypus. During
1930s, Healesville Sanctuary was perhaps the first organisation to
display the species of platypus. In the 1940s, the zoo had successfully
hatched the first platypus in captivity. Again after 55 years, it
repeated the success with the birth of twin platypus in the year 1999.
The zoo also offers "The Sidney Myer World of the Platypus", that was
opened in December 1994 and is the biggest platypus exhibit ever
constructed. If you are lucky enough, you may encounter platypus in
their nocturnal creek habitat. Besides, you will see mosses, ferns and
lichens growing above rapids and waterfalls along with twisted tree
roots housing little animals like local fish, eels and water-rats.
Features of the Sanctuary
The Sanctuary displays big walk-through habitats like that of flight
aviaries, BHP Biliton Platypusary and nocturnal exhibits. There is also
the Dingo Country and the Birds of Prey for you to explore.
Discover the secrets of Coranderrk on a tour in an electric Eco-train
led by an experienced Eco-ranger. Or explore the tallest and the oldest
Manna gum and see wildlife in their natural habitat. You can also join
the team and experts and share their journey of animal rescue and their
rehabilitation and release stories. Then, enjoy a morning tea at the
Bush Hut.
