Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary New Exhibits Open

Cooberrie Park has two new attractions, which are opening to coincide with the 2013 September school holidays.

The first Exhibit is a brand new parrot facility that houses Major Mitchell Cockatoos and Eclectus parrots. The enclosures are very large and allow for increased flying space along with improved viewing for all visitors.

The other attraction that opens is the brand new Cassowary Exhibit, which joins on to the existing Cassowary facility at the park.

Cooberrie Park recently acquired a new male Cassowary from Innisfail to join the successful breeding program at the park.

Cooberrie Park has successfully raised six Cassowaries over the past five years which are now housed all across Australia, giving the local wildlife park a well renowned name for this breeding success.

The Yeppoon wildlife sanctuary currently has four cassowaries on display in custom-built enclosures with construction completed just last week.

The main Cassowary exhibit is spread over two acres of tropical rainforest.

Francis Carnahan, wildlife keeper at Cooberrie Park, said that the two Cassowaries that have moved into this new home were also raised at the park.

"To have such a successful breeding program for Cassowaries and then to be able to display them to the public is fantastic."

"The enclosures recreate the rainforest of Far North Queensland which makes them feel right at home, providing this relaxed environment assists with their breeding."

The cassowaries at Cooberrie Park each receive five kilos of fruit everyday, so Francis Carnahan keeps busy chopping a mountain of tropical fruit totalling more than 20 kilos each day.

"Cassowaries have really big appetites and swallow all of their fruit whole, as they are unable to chew their food, so I have to cut all their food up to manageable pieces," she said.

The new exhibits at Cooberrie Park are all part of the massive redevelopment at the park, which is well under way. More new enclosures are currently under construction with opening dates set for the Christmas holidays along with more attractions set to open for Easter 2014.

"Cooberrie Park is constantly changing in a very positive way with improved visitor access, viewing and accessibility being priorities, along with a focus to maintain the highest standards in animal husbandry," Francis said.

Cooberrie Park is open everyday of the year from 10am to 3pm. To keep cool on these hot spring days, there is a swimming pool, paddling pool and BBQ facilities, which are included in the admission.

For more information visit their website: Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary
 
wow 20kg of fruit is a lot!

Cooberrie Park is one of my want-to-visit zoos in Australia, whenever I get back to Queensland.
 
New Animals Just in Time for the April School Holidays. | Capricorn Enterprise
1 April 2014

Cooberrie Park has lots of new animals just in time for the April school holidays.

There are brand new baby Rufous Bettongs, rare baby White Peacocks, lots of Kangaroo Joeys and a very exciting announcement, a Koala Joey.

This new baby Koala was born on the 30th October 2013 and still lives inside its mother Capri’s pouch, but visitors during the school holidays may be lucky enough to see this new addition emerge for the first time.

“It is only a matter of time before our new Koala Joey sticks its head out and says g’day,” said Francis Carnahan Wildlife Ranger at Cooberrie Park.

“There has been heaps of movement inside Capri’s pouch and this Joey will not be able to fit in for much longer.”

Koalas are pregnant for just 35 days, the remainder of the Joeys development occurs inside the pouch.

“We are unsure of the sex of the Joey, but as soon as we find out we will be having a naming competition which everyone will be able to enter.”

There are new reptiles on display inside the reptile house including Centralian Carpet Pythons and Jungle Pythons.

Cooberrie Park offers lots of unique animal experiences.

“A lot of people don’t realise that we are the only facility in the region that allows visitors to hold Koala’s and are one of only two places in Queensland that allows visitor interactions with Monkeys,” said Francis Carnahan

After all the recent wet weather, the new Rainforest walk that opened during the Christmas holidays is looking better than ever. Waterfalls, streams and ponds are all flowing and all areas remain open.

Lots of large animal murals have been painted across the park and features local artists.

Kangaroo’s are able to be hand fed everyday and there is a daily interactive animal show at 1pm where visitors are able to hold snakes, lizards and birds free of charge.

Cooberrie Park is open everyday from 10am – 3pm. Swimming pool, paddling pool and BBQ Facilities are available for visitors to use.
 
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