Environmental protectors
When Cairns Aquarium owners Daniel Leipnik and Andrew Preston had a “light-bulb moment” to build the facility while they were enjoying a day on the Reef in 2011 and noticing a significant number of people didn’t actually venture far into the water, they probably didn’t visualise then the various marine and rainforest wildlife they were going to end up saving, protecting and breeding. g
The Cairns Aquarium’s research arm, which was an important component of the facility since its inception, has been conducting vital research and development in various species’ preservation and repopulation and aquaculture reproductive biotechnology.
It has become a highly successful breeding ground for many Reef and rainforest inhabitants such as the emerald tree monitor, a small to medium-size lizard, which was included in the aquarium’s rare reptile breeding program when it first opened.
“We’re the only facility in Australia that is breeding the emerald tree monitor, which is extinct in the wild in Australia,” Daniel said. “It is reported that there are only 20 of these in the whole country, and we now have a successful display group and breeding colony.” The aquarium has also had fantastic breeding success with sea horses, starting off with three and now home to 40. “What it means is that when we breed these and have success in raising them, it reduces the need to take additional specimens from their natural environment,” Daniel said.
“As we develop larger scale breeding programs, we will provide them to other facilities for educational and conservation programs too”.
A coral propagation system is also in place at the world-class facility, which is also home to two protected Queensland groupers, the largest bony fish on the Great Barrier Reef, among other rare or protected species people can see within the 7500sq m facility.
“The research and development side of the aquarium will grow over time and continue to be a significant part of our facility as we move forward,” Daniel said.
We’re the only facility in Australia that is breeding the emerald tree monitor, which is extinct in the wild in Australia