Healesville Sanctuary

14 December 2005

The Premier of Victoria, Steve Bracks, today opened Healesville Sanctuary’s new Australian Wildlife Hospital.

“Healesville Sanctuary’s new Australian Wildlife Health Centre is a world-first that takes visitors to a new level of experience,” Zoos Victoria CEO, Laura Mumaw, said today.

“The $6 million State Government-funded veterinary facility was the biggest project for the Sanctuary since its foundation,” Ms Mumaw said.

Visitors will enter a real working hospital environment, engage with veterinary staff and see first-hand all the previously behind-the-scenes areas including the operating theatre, laboratory, emergency and post-mortem zones, care and recovery wards, and rehabilitation and release areas.

“The Centre will build on the international reputation of Healesville Sanctuary, whose vets each year treat more than 1,500 native animals and perform over 5,000 procedures, from check-ups and minor treatments to major surgery.” 

The brainchild of the Sanctuary’s Senior Veterinarian, Dr David Middleton, the Australian Wildlife Health Centre takes visitors on an interactive journey of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation to patient release.

“This remarkable Centre will showcase the relationship between wildlife health, environmental health, and human health. It gives us a special opportunity to understand more about the shared world in which we live,” Dr Middleton said. 

In the Centre’s interactive environment, visitors will have the opportunity to:

• Engage with vets as they assess and treat injured animals undergoing surgery; 
• Listen to the heartbeats of eight species of wild animals through a ‘stethophone’ and compare it to their own on a pulse oximeter;
• Diagnose and solve real wildlife cases using interactive microscopes;
• Use a radio tracking antenna to track an animal and learn about reintroduction to the wild; 
• Discover the top 10 rescue tips if you happen to find yourself involved in a wildlife emergency’ on a roadside.

Designed by Minifie Nixon Architects, the Australian Wildlife Health Centre is itself an iconic building with a dramatic golden roof structure.  Interactive multimedia displays offer visitors information and hands-on activities. Unique school programs have also been developed to ensure the Centre is a place of life-long learning.

Ms Mumaw said the Australian Wildlife Health Centre was an excellent representation of the modern ‘New Zoo’ experience – where visitors could engage directly with staff and wildlife in a purpose-built environment.

“We’re excited about inspiring people to connect with wildlife and thank our supporters who have helped us achieve this vision,” Ms Mumaw said.

Zoos Victoria has forged a $1 million, five-year partnership with RACV to support the AWHC. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has contributed $300,000 towards multimedia and website support and Friends of the Zoos have also contributed $250,000.

Healesville Sanctuary Director, Matt Vincent, sums up the excitement surrounding the opening of the Centre: “This is a place that’s good for the heart and great for the soul!”

Further information:
Nicole Humble
Communications Manager
nhumble@zoo.org.au
Tel: 03 5957 2856
Mob:  0437 170 566

Click here to download a PDF of the media release