GOLD COAST BULLETIN

Monday, July 10, 2013

GOLD Coast theme park Sea World announced it would branch out from marine to extreme with a new multimillion-dollar jungle-themed attraction featuring Queensland’s first gorillas.

The exhibit, targeted for a 2015 opening, was to include gorillas, hippos, crocodiles and other animals as part of an African encounter attraction.

The gorillas would be sourced from an international breeding program designed to shore up populations of the primate.

Sea World officials were tight-lipped about the project, which was to be the park’s latest foray away from traditional

marine-themed attractions.

A Sea World spokesman said the African safari-style attraction would be an exciting addition to the theme park, which forged its name on dolphin shows and aquarium exhibits. “We are all excited about a wonderful new attraction which will be a Sea World first, but we’re not able to release any more details just yet,” he said.

Gorilla populations had been decimated, as one of the closest living relatives to humans

battle loss of habitat and hunting for sport and meat.

There are about 50,000 gorillas left in the wild and just 600 of the famous mountain gorillas.

Al Mucci, president of the Queensland branch of the Australian Zoo and Aquarium Association, said Sea World’s gorillas could act as pinups for the plight of the animals.

The proposed attraction was not built, with Village Roadshow instead spending $50m on its new Atlantis precinct.