Healsville Wildlife Sanctuary

The week we arrived in Melbourne our new housemate Liz was kind enough to drive us to a nearby wildlife preserve to see some of Australia's unique marsupial animals and amazing birdlife. The land which is now the State of Victoria has a lot of marsh and wetland, and it suffers cold winters and hot summers, which is reflected in the range and types of creatures found here. Ofcourse much of their habitat is now farmland and so preserves like this are vital to their survival. The preserve also has an excellent animal hospital where we saw live operations taking place.

A Wallaby and a POM

A buzzard using a stone to break a dummy Emu egg.
Apparently this is an instinctive behaviour.

A pair of Kookaburra

This guy needs no introduction!
Koala's are related to the dreaded 'ninja drop-bears'.

A Tasmanian Devil, no less.
Apparently once common on mainland Oz too.
Their name comes from the screaching noise they make when upset.

Wombats are excitable little things. This guy was running all over the pen and even trying to climb out.

Dingoes arrived with Austronesian traders around 3000BC.
They are descended from the Indian Wolf and are not marsupial.