AustraliaZoo^.info

Australia Zoo is a primarily reptile zoo located in the Australian state of Queensland on the Sunshine Coast near Beerwah/Glass House Mountains. It is owned by Terri Irwin, widow of the late Steve Irwin, famous for the wildlife documentary series The Crocodile Hunter, which helped make the zoo a popular attraction for Australian and international tourists. The director of the zoo is Wes Mannion, who was Steve's best friend.

Although primarily known for the crocodiles and the live crocodile feedings, the zoo features exhibits of a large variety of Australian wildlife, including Asian otters, koalas, wombats, Tasmanian devils, snakes, and (until 2006) Harriet, the giant Galápagos tortoise who was the world's oldest living chelonian when she died, age of 176. The Zoo also features a smaller selection of animals from around the world, including elephants, tigers, cheetahs and Komodo Dragons.

Australia Zoo contains over 1000 animals and more than 550 staff.

Australia Zoo was opened by Bob and Lyn Irwin in 1970 - when it was known as Beerwah Reptile Park. Bob Irwin is a world renowned herpetologist (amphibian and reptile scientist), who is regarded as a pioneer in the keeping and breeding of reptiles. His wife Lyn was well-known for caring for and rehabilitating sick & injured wildlife in southeast Queensland.

Bob and Lyn passed on their love and respect for wildlife onto their children, especially to their son Steve Irwin, who had helped his parents since childhood to care for crocodiles and reptiles and to maintain the growing number of animals in the zoo.

1n the 80's the park was renamed as the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park and the area was doubled with the purchase of another four acres. In 1987 the Crocodile Environmental Park was opened in an effort to help with saltwater crocodile protection. By the 1990s the Crocodile Environmental Park had become quite popular and was unique for its display of crocodile feeding within the park.

The zoo expanded slowly and in 1991 Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin overtook management of the zoo. In 1992 the park was renamed again, becoming Australia Zoo.