Billabong Sanctuary news

Jabiru96 · 2 Mar 2016

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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Jabiru96 · 7 Mar 2016

A keeper has been bitten by a 2.5 metre saltwater crocodile: Crocodile attacks handler in Billabong Sanctuary near Townsville - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

FriendOfTheZoo · 8 Mar 2016

Video on this page: Croc attack: Video shows moment handler attacked at Townsville wildlife sanctuary - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Jabiru96 · 28 Mar 2016

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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Jabiru96 · 30 Jun 2016

Popular common wombat Tonka has been euthanised due to kidney failure: Beloved Queensland wombat Tonka dies in sanctuary, hundreds pay tribute on social media - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Hix · 30 Jun 2016

Tonka - great name for a wombat!

Hix

WhistlingKite24 · 28 Jul 2022

A 31-year-old male Southern Cassowary has arrived from Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary for breeding purposes. He had lived at Currumbin since 1993 and will be introduced to female Hope who was hatched at Perth Zoo: Troppo meets Hope: Birdkeeper hopes the southern cassowary is a perfect match

WhistlingKite24 · 28 Dec 2022

Billabong Sanctuary's first tree-kangaroo has arrived. A male Lumholtz's Tree-Kangaroo is now at the park: 登录 Facebook | Facebook

WhistlingKite24 · 19 Jan 2023

Incredible news! Billabong Sanctuary have received a New Guinea Crocodile from Marineland Melanesia, Green Island. They now have four species of crocodilians and this represents the first of several new additions that will be arriving over the coming months: Queensland wildlife park welcomes its fourth species of crocodile

WhistlingKite24 · 8 Oct 2023

Four Meerkats have arrived from Altina - the park’s first exotic mammals: Log into Facebook | Facebook

WhistlingKite24 · 13 Jan 2024

From their 2023 summary on their social media - Billabong Sanctuary received both Mangrove and Spiny-tailed Monitors recently.

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