HANDS-ON WITH PRICKLY SURPRISE
ROVING Rangers will be taking animals, including a new prickly surprise, to the visitors at Billabong
Sanctuary during the school holidays.
Visitors will also have the chance to name the new
3.8m crocodile, which was recently caught at Saunders Beach and rehomed at the park.
Owner Bob Flemming said the roving rangers would give young visitors a more handson experience with wildlife.
“We are catering for families, especially young children, who really are not that interested in our wildlife presentations where we talk about the ecology of animals,” he said.
“So the rangers between 10.30 and noon walk around the park with different animals and the kids get to hold or pat them.
“It is also a great opportunity for kids to have a one-on-one relationship with the rangers and ask all their crazy questions.
“We will have pythons the kids can hold and they can handle a crocodile and we will also have some of our young alligators out as well.”
But he said a new surprise in Ouch Ouch the echidna would also be making the rounds with a ranger.
The park’s head of mammals Meg Whitworth thinks echidnas are one of the coolest animals because they thrive in all parts of Australia.
“That includes the desert, the rainforest, the beach and even the snow,” she said.
“Ouch Ouch is still in training at the moment, but children can come over for a pat,” Ms Whitworth said.
“But further along, we are hoping to train Ouch Ouch so he can come up into people’s laps so he can have a feed.”
Mr Flemming said there was a competition during the holidays to name the new crocodile, which had been rehomed as it had become a problem animal.
“He had become a problem croc as he had become used to people and that is when they are potentially very dangerous.”
While the new addition is still sulking at the bottom of his pond, Mr Fleming said it should not be long before he showed himself.
“We are going to wait to the end of the holidays before we make a decision about the croc’s new name.”