It doesn’t matter what your age is at Featherdale Wildlife Park. Everyone who visits the park has the opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with some of Australia’s native animals.
This park is conveniently located in Sydney, making it an easy destination for those who want to experience native animals, but may not have the chance to get out of the city. Featherdale has created a unique environment in an urban setting with a natural bush for the animals to be at home. Explore the park and see how their conservation efforts have helped keep the animals safe and healthy.
Featherdale Wildlife Park was created in 1972 on seven acres of private land. The family wanted to create a park where conservation and education were combined in a fun and engaging way. Since then, the park has become wildly popular with both locals and tourists wanting to visit the animals.
About the Wildlife Park
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The Diversity
The park’s animals that reside there range from kangaroos to crocs to flying foxes and even penguins. There’s a diversity of wildlife available to interact with, making this park one of the most popular tourist destinations. Not only do you get to learn more about the native animals, but you also get to essentially play with them.
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Conservation and Breeding
Not only does the park provide visitors to see animals in their natural habitat, but they also give back as well. Featherdale is one of the leading parks in conservation and breeding in all of Australia. Playing a vital role in fostering the knowledge and protection of future animal populations. These breeding projects mainly focus on endangered species, such as the quoll which has decreased rapidly within the last 50 years. The park also joins together with the Monash University of Victoria to aim to sustain a captive population to assist with the endangered species. Including testing DNA to ensure the gene pool is utilised efficiently. Depending on the time of the year, they strive to breed each animal in hopes to keep the species alive. You never know you might be in luck and see a baby koala or joey on your visit to the park!
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Researching
The wildlife park also focuses’ on researching the local animals of the Blue Mountains. With the most recent studies focusing on the Dingoes, Bush Stone Curlews, and Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies. All three of these species faces serious challenges in the wild currently, in a wide variety of reasons. Featherdale wildlife park studies the reasons for their endangerment, and the solutions on how these challenges can be over faced. From assigned protection regions, in captivity breeding, or further research.
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The Koala Plantation Fund
One of the main focus’ of Featherdale is their koala plantation funds. Striving in achieving a completely self-sustaining food plantation for its koalas. This will be done by the park arranging to plant 5000 eucalyptus trees at a property nearby in Lithgow. This will enable a sustainable environment for the koalas, with plenty of eucalyptus leaves to munch on and a variety of trees to sleep in.
What can you do at Featherdale Wildlife Park
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Close Encounters
The biggest attraction at the wildlife park is the option to feed or hold the animals, also known as their ‘close encounters’. Throughout each day, there are specific times that certain animals will be fed. Some animals like kangaroos and wallabies are available to be hand-fed, while the big crocodiles are not. You can watch them being fed, which is just as entertaining.
If your goal was to hug a koala while in Australia, this is your best chance. Sign up to cuddle up to a koala, and have a photo taken of the once-in-a-lifetime experience. Not only will you have proof you did it, but you can also brag to all of your friends and family at home! You can also snuggle up to a range of reptiles, including lizards and snakes. And even hold an owl or cuddle a baby roo.
Otherwise, the presentations are just as interesting, with a professional staff member showcasing a series of animals to a small viewing group. Thes presentations can include bird feedings, demonstrating how eagles or owls hunt in the wild. As well as dangerous animals like crocodiles or dingoes. They even feature unique Australian animals such as the platypus or echidna, some of the most unusual creatures on the planet.
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Join a tour
There are multiple tour groups which feature a Feather dale wildlife park walkthroughs. From blue mountain journey adventures with a visit to the park, to day-long trips amidst the park’s wildlife. Simply book a ticket before the tour date and sit back and relax, letting your professional guide take you through all the region’s most iconic spots. Due to these tour operators having a close relationship with the wildlife park, the tour groups can skip the lines and have a better first-hand experience with the most beloved animals showcased.
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Volunteer
If you are planning on sticking around for longer, why not go behind the fences and become a volunteer. With the Featherdale Wildlife Park providing plenty of volunteer opportunities to around 70 animal lovers through the entire year.
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Events
Schedule your visit to Featherdale to match up with the park’s most popular events. Spread out throughout the year, these festivities celebrate the animals and region by showcasing further entertainment and goodies for visitors. Not able to visit during these times? Why not get a group of your closest friends and hire the function space for a birthday party or more? With children parties particularly popular amongst the guests.
So, what’s stopping you? Spot into Featherdale Wildlife Park and see some of Australia’s greatest animals on offer.