Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

The Australian Reptile Park relocates animals following severe flooding

The Australian Reptile Park relocates animals following severe flooding
January 17, 2020

Torrential rainfall this morning (17th January) has seen staff at the Australian Reptile Park work quickly to protect animals and buildings after a major flash-flood hit their wildlife park.  

Australian Reptile Park Director, Tim Faulkner noted, “This is incredible! Just last week, we were having daily meetings to discuss the imminent threat of bushfires, just 8km away from the Park here in Somersby.”

Despite the flooding, the sudden downpour has been welcomed after months of hot, dry weather and bushfires in the area.

Staff sprang into action; relocating animals, sandbagging doorways and sweeping to remove water from entry ways. The decision was also made to close for the day due to visitor safety, which is the first time the Central Coast wildlife sanctuary has closed its doors since the massive floods during June 2007 when the Pasha Bulker ran ashore at Nobby’s Beach, Newcastle.

Faulkner was there to lead his team, after returning from drought-affected waterways in the Barrington Tops area to rescue endangered Manning River turtles and platypuses that have been devastated by the dried-up creeks in the area.

Faulkner added “today, we’ve had the whole team out there, drenched, acting fast to secure the safety of our animals and defend the Park from the onslaught of water.

“We haven’t seen flooding like this at the Park for over 15 years! We’ve even had keepers stationed at our Alligator Lagoon to monitor the water levels, which were rising beyond the fence line.

“The contrast between the current bushfire crisis and this sudden flooding is striking. But we are well-aware that a huge part of Australia is still burning, and millions of animals are still under threat. The rain doesn’t replace the millions of hectares of habitat that has been lost over the last few months.

“The team at the Australian Reptile Park has also been hard at work out in the field helping our animal conservation charity, Aussie Ark, to protect what’s left after the fires. Going from drought and fire relief to flooding is all in a day’s work for our staff – no two days are the same.

“Our quick action with the flooding this morning has allowed us to get the situation under control and we are confident that we will be business as usual tomorrow. We’ll be open and ready to welcome visitors for the rest of the summer school holidays!”

Faulkner concluded, "And we could do with the with the help and continued support of our amazing community!"

More information at www.reptilepark.com.au  

Image courtesy of The Australian Reptile Park

Related Articles

21st December 2019 - Australian Reptile Park opens new exhibit

4th December 2019 - Jurassic Zoo returns for summer at Australian Reptile Park

4th October 2019 - Australian Reptile Park celebrates International Zookeeper Day

25th September 2019 - The Australian Reptile Park introduces eight Tasmanian Devil Joeys

6th August 2019 - Australian Reptile Park secures NSW Major Tourist Attraction award

14th July 2019 - Buyer of land including site of Old Sydney Town reveals plans for tourism and entertainment destination

17th April 2019 - Spider venom record broken at the Australian Reptile Park

9th April 2019 - Australian Reptile Park saves more than 20,000 lives with antivenom program

28th January 2019 - Australian Reptile Park becomes first NSW zoo to receive an endangered numbat

29th December 2018 - Animals kept cool at The Australian Reptile Park

4th December 2018 - New attractions and entertainment planned for The Australian Reptile Park during Summer Holidays

29th November 2018 - Australian Reptile Park Wins 2018 NSW Business Of The Year

7th July 2018 - Australian Reptile Park welcomes record koala breeding season

19th June 2018 - Australian Reptile Park to celebrate 60th birthday during winter school holidays


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

SportEng

ABOUT SPORTENG specialises in the Planning, Design and Construction inspection of Fields of Play for all sports. Blending engineering with the specialist knowledge gained from working closely with…

read more

Consultants / Recreation / Sport / Surfaces / Venues

 
 

Yellowbox Lockers

Yellowbox is an Australian technology company that has developed smart locker technology operated through an app with a focus on experience for users and facility managers. Found at Beaches, Aquatic…

read more

Aquatics / Attractions / Entertainment / Retail / Security

 
 

State Wide Pool Services

Known as Hydrilla since September 2020 - see www.ausleisure.com.au/suppliers/hydrilla-pty-ltd

read more

Aquatics

 
 

AUSTRALIAN WATERSLIDES AND LEISURE

A leading designer and manufacturer of innovative waterslides and attractions, Australian Waterslides and Leisure (AWL) is also able to advise clients in the areas of concept and design, feasibility…

read more

Aquatics / Attractions / Play / Waterparks

 
 

Abel Sports

INTRODUCTION Abel Sports is Australia’s leading manufacturer and suppliers of Goal Posts, sports ground safety netting systems and coaches boxes for Stadiums ,Sports Clubs, Councils and…

read more

Recreation / Sport / Venues

 
 

Technogym Australia

Technogym is the leading company in the Wellness and Fitness field all over the world. With 2,200 employees, 14 branches in Europe, U.S., South America, Asia  and Australia, Technogym exports its…

read more

Fitness / Technology / Wellness

 
 

HRMWEB

At easyemployer we've come up with a software solution that manages one of your most important, and often most costly, business resources - your staff. We are helping 100s of clients to…

read more

Finance / Fitness / Technology

 
 

The Pool Enclosure Company

Now TPEC Pool Enclosures - see www.ausleisure.com.au/suppliers/tpec-pool-enclosures

read more

Aquatics / Design / Recreation / Venues

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business