Billabong Sanctuary news

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Jabiru96

Well-Known Member
A 4.7 metre crocodile, caught in Townsville (where the sanctuary is located), will be moved to Billabong Sanctuary:

Category: | Townsville Bulletin
THE 4.7m one-eyed crocodile caught at The Strand last month will be moved to a new home on Thursday.

Billabong Sanctuary will welcome the croc – named Popeye by Bulletin readers – and hope it will become the new star attraction.

The sanctuary signed an agreement with the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection last week, setting out how it would use the reptile to promote crocodile conservation, the importance of crocodiles to traditional owners, and public safety.

“We’re really pleased by the decision and are happy he will get to stay in Townsville because of his story,” sanctuary owner Bob Flemming said.

Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said the reptile’s “very large” size made it an “icon crocodile” under conservation laws, which brought into play special requirements about placing the animal.

“Once caught, an icon crocodile must only be sent to a registered crocodile farm or zoo which agrees to house it for the rest of its days and to use it for educational purposes,” he said.

“I am pleased that Billabong Sanctuary has agreed to meet all of the requirements for housing and presenting this icon crocodile.”

The 50-year-old animal is expected to receive a new name from the Bindal and Wulgurukaba people. The sanctuary’s most notorious reptile resident, Bully, had to be moved in anticipation of the new arrival.

The 4.5m and 700kg crocodile was moved back to an enclosure last Thursday, which he had previously destroyed by swirling around so much water that he eroded the bank.

Croc girlfriend Dame Edna was also shifted to keep the soon-to-be reptile parents together, after more than 40 eggs were laid last year.

Curator Brad Cooper said a lot of work had gone into the refurbished enclosure to make sure it was “Bully proof”.

“We reinforced two of the major banks with concrete and reinforced some of the minor banks with large boulders,” he said.

“We also dropped water levels by 30cm but dug out deeper sections.”

Crocodile sightings can be reported to EHP on 1300 130 372.

The department investigates all crocodile reports it received.
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A pair of common wombat have arrived from Wild Life Hamilton Island:

Category: | Townsville Bulletin

IT’S not just the tail-end of the wet season that is making things hot and steamy.

Down at Billabong Sanctuary the wombats are definitely feeling the humidity.

So much so, Billabong proprietors Bob and Del Flemming may have to erect an “Adults Only X-rated” sign outside the wombat enclosure.

Hairy-nosed wombats Reuben (Reub the Dude) and the love of his life, Wanda, are the talk of the billabong. Rascally Reub is raising eyebrows with his no-holds-barred, pedal-to-the-metal love quest with ice queen Wanda. Even the crocs are blushing at the audacity of Reuben’s overtures. There’s talk around the billabong Reuben is making a fool of himself.

But, the hormones have gone volcanic and Reub is off on another planet. As if he cares what the rest of them think. He’s on a mission.

For Reub the Dude it might be a case of love unrequited, but he’s patient, persistent and passionate. He sees a future together for himself and Wanda in a straw-lined burrow with m a nice white picket fence.

Unfortunately for him, independent Wanda isn’t tuned into the same channel. She’s “doing her own thing”.

Mr Flemming said Reuben and Wanda were hand-raised together after their respective parents were run over by cars, probably in New South Wales.

The two lovebirds have arrived at Billabong for the Easter school holidays after spending the formative period of their life at Wild Life Hamilton Island. They have been out of the pouch for just over a year. Before Reuben’s hormones kicked in and he tried to ratchet the friendship up a few more levels, the pair had been “inseparable”.

Now Wanda spends most of her time trying to hide from her old childhood buddy.

Mr Flemming said they were still too young to breed.

“This hasn’t stopped him from courting Wanda, but she isn’t ready ... We have high hopes, though, that the pair will produce offspring in the future,” Mr Flemming said.

Wombats can reach full size and be ready to breed in a little over two years in captivity.

“In the wild it usually takes them three years.”

Wombats are not prolific breeders in captivity. There has been one successful mating at Billabong in 30 years. Billabong swapped a koala named Jarrah for the wombats from Wild Life Hamilton Island.

“This is aimed at maintaining healthy, genetic diversity in our respective breeding populations,” Mr Flemming said.

It’s likely Reub couldn’t give a plugged gumleaf for “genetic diversity” but he’s got the gist of what it means and is thinking “bring it on”.

Now, if he only can get Wanda to think more about “genetic diversity” and perpetuating the species than living the single life in her own burrow. Reub won’t be the first bloke to swallow the bitter pill of rejection and he won’t be the last.
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Tonka - great name for a wombat!

:p

Hix
 
A few updates from their social media page for 2024 thus far:
  • Nagini, a female Burmese Python arrived from Australia Zoo a few months ago. She moved into a new outdoor enclosure along the exotic animals boardwalk opposite the alligators.
  • a Southern Pilbara Rock Monitor has moved on-show opposite the bilbies. It’s a new species for the collection. Two bell-phase Lace Monitors have also moved on-display.
  • a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet and Rainbow Lorikeet (blue-fronted mutation) have been mixed with the Eclectus Parrots. They were living behind the scenes.
  • three Dingos have arrived from the Sydney Dingo and Fox Rescue. One dingo returned back to Sydney due to pack dynamics.
  • they have introduced their pair of Southern Cassowaries for breeding.
  • their ZAA accreditation was renewed in May.
 
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