New Sanctuary for Critically Endangered Koalas at Symbio Wildlife Park

Located 45 minutes south of Sydney, Symbio Wildlife Park has opened its new Koala Sanctuary, getting top marks from the zoo’s koalas, which have recently taken up residence and are making the sanctuary their new home.

Part of a multi-million dollar development at Symbio Wildlife Park, the Koala Sanctuary has been completed on schedule and is ready to welcome visitors through the summer school holidays.

Symbio Wildlife Park is an active contributor to the population management program for our critically endangered Koala.

“With less than 80,000 koalas left in the wild it is critical that zoological institutions, like Symbio, participate in positive population management programs, which contribute to genetic sustainability,” said General Manager Matt Radnidge.

“The Koala Sanctuary will initially be home to five koalas (four female and one male), with the view to increase the population through successful breeding at Symbio.”

Symbio Wildlife Park’s tagline – We’ll get you closer – certainly rings true here with the Koala Sanctuary enabling visitors to get up close and personal with Symbio’s koala family. Exclusive VIP experiences will be a new initiative in 2014.

Hand-built by the team at Symbio, the open exhibit allows koalas to inhabit and enjoy a more naturalistic environment. The Sanctuary has a covered walk-through for the general public with up close viewing vantage points, and VIP viewing deck for groups, which will also allow for more engaging keeper talks.

The development of the Koala Sanctuary was made possible with the support of AusIndustry, NSW Trade and Investment and Bluescope Steel through the IRIIF grant program.

Symbio Wildlife Park has embarked on a development unlike anything the zoo has seen in its almost 40-year history. The Koala Sanctuary is the first stage of a six-stage development, which will see Symbio create, in the next six months:

• A state of the art Reptile House, (opening soon)
• A lion exhibit and a cheetah exhibit, adding to Symbio’s big cat collection
• A ringtail lemur island
• Covered eating areas
• Upgraded facilities and amenities around the park.

The new exhibits and upgrades will be rolled out in January/February 2014 with completion by the end of June 2014, making Symbio Wildlife Park one of the most comprehensive wildlife experiences in NSW.

For more information, please visit www.symbiozoo.com.au/