Healesville Sanctuary

By Ashlee, Alex and Rebecca.

Healesville Sanctuary opened on the 30 of May 1934. It is a one hour drive east of Melbourne in the outskirts of the Yarra Ranges at a place called Healesville. It is a zoo where they care for Australian Wildlife.

People come from all over the world to look at Australian animals in a natural setting at Healesville Sanctuary. They particularly like the koalas and kangaroos. The koala is a marsupial which carries its young in a pouch. It lives almost exclusively on the young leaves of eucalypt trees. The kangaroo also is a marsupial that carries its young in a pouch.

Healesville Sanctuary is committed to the care of Australian wildlife. Caring for the sanctuary animals is a hugely expensive task. Specialist veterinary services, top class facilities, the need for intensive breeding programs and research activities all add up to a lot of money. The picture opposite shows Australian dingoes in their enclosure.

Healesville Sanctuary is like a man-made jungle for animals because they don`t have to get their own food and there are vets in case they`re sick or if they are hurt. Healesville Sanctuary is a fantastic and wonderful place. It has hundreds of animals.