Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Koala Joey climbing a gum tree
Date opened 1927
Location Fig Tree Pocket, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates 27°31′58.56″S 152°58′9.47″E / 27.5329333°S 152.9692972°E / -27.5329333; 152.9692972 (Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary)Coordinates: 27°31′58.56″S 152°58′9.47″E / 27.5329333°S 152.9692972°E / -27.5329333; 152.9692972 (Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary)
Land area 18 ha (44 acres)
Website koala.net

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is an 18-hectare (44-acre) Koala Sanctuary in the Brisbane suburb of Fig Tree Pocket in Queensland, Australia.

Founded in 1927, it is the world's oldest and largest koala sanctuary.

History

The name originates from a lone hoop pine that was planted by the Clarkson family, the first owners of the 4.6-hectare (11-acre) site.[1]

The sanctuary began with two koalas called Jack and Jill.[1] Lone Pine became known internationally during World War II when Americans, including Douglas MacArthur's wife, visited the park to view the native Australian animals.[1]

Wildlife

Wildlife in the sanctuary includes: koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, wombats, echidnas, and various species of reptiles, as well as a platypus that arrived at the sanctuary during 2010 from Healesville Sanctuary (near Melbourne).

Visitors are allowed to hold koalas for a fee.[2] Strict regulations ensure that each koala is not held for more than thirty minutes every day. Fees paid for souvenir photos help fund new enclosures, research projects and eucalyptus plantations.

Visitors can feed and pet the free-roaming kangaroos in the 5-acre (2.0 ha) kangaroo reserve, where more than 130 of the animals freely reside.

There are also many colourful Australian parrots and cockatoos, as well as other Australian birds such as kookaburras, emus, and cassowaries. Rainbow lorikeets fly to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary for the specially prepared nectar meals at the sanctuary. Visitors can feed the lorikeets directly twice a day. Once a day there is a bird of prey show with several kinds of raptors showing off their speed agility and keen eyesight.

The Tasmanian Devils are fed in the afternoon. 'Koala Forest' is a large koala enclosure with over 30 koalas surrounding the customers. Koalas there are fed mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

As well as being a wildlife sanctuary, there is a small 'farm', with "Sheep Dog Shows".

Transport

There is an entrance to the sanctuary from a car park, and also an entrance to the sanctuary from the Brisbane River. One can arrive by private car or taxi, a journey of approximately 20 minutes from the city. One can also catch a Brisbane Transport bus, or arrive by ferry from the Queensland Cultural Centre pontoon, a journey of approximately 1½ hours.

Photos

Awards

In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as a "location".[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hogan, Janet (1982). Living History of Brisbane. Spring Hill, Queensland: Boolarang Publications. p. 110. ISBN 0-908175-41-8.
  2. ↑ "Koala Holding Terms & Conditions". Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  3. ↑ Bligh, Anna (10 June 2009). "PREMIER UNVEILS QUEENSLAND'S 150 ICONS". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
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