Featherdale Wildlife Park

Featherdale Wildlife Park is a zoo located in Doonside, Sydney, Australia. It is found in Sydney's west, about 40 km (25 mi) from the city's center. The park is home to many animals that live in Australia and is known for having one of the largest collections of Australian fauna in the world.

Visitors can enjoy many different animals, see shows, and take part in fun activities. The park covers an area of 3.29 hectares (8.1 acres) and includes places for animals to live, areas for visitors to see them, picnic spots, shops, and other facilities. Featherdale focuses on animals that are native to Australia, such as birds, reptiles, and marsupials. The park is approved by the Zoo Aquarium Association Australia, which helps make sure the animals are well cared for.

History

Featherdale Wildlife Park began on a small 7-acre farm bought by Charles and Marjorie Wigg in 1953. It opened in 1972 as a special place for Australian animals, designed by their son-in-law Bruce Kubbere. Over the years, it has grown into a famous tourist spot, winning awards and welcoming many famous visitors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Will Smith. In 2019, Featherdale took over Mogo Zoo, but faced challenges like closures during the COVID-19 pandemic and fires along the south east coast of NSW.

Visitation

In 2016, the park estimated that it had welcomed about 11.5 million visitors since it first opened its doors.

The number of visitors from inside and outside Australia changes depending on world events. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, many people from other countries could not travel to Australia, so fewer international visitors came to the park. Before 2016, about half of the park’s visitors came from other countries. In 2016, out of around 400,000 visitors each year, about 180,000 were from Australia, with many of them living in Western Sydney.

Facilities and amenities

Featherdale Wildlife Park is located in Doonside, part of Western Sydney, about 40 kilometres from the city centre. The park covers 3.29 hectares (8.1 acres) and includes spaces for animals, as well as places for visitors to relax, shop, and get information.

The park offers many helpful facilities for all visitors. There is a car park with spaces for about 100–120 cars, two picnic areas, three bathrooms, a two-story café, an information centre, a gift shop, a function centre for events, first aid, and a special area for school groups to gather. The park also makes sure it is easy for everyone to visit, including those who use wheelchairs. There is a special card that helps carers of people with disabilities get free entry, and the park supports programs for people with disabilities and those who face challenges. The park is approved by the Zoo Aquarium Association Australasia, meaning it follows important rules to care for animals and visitors.

Exhibits and wildlife collection

The park has many animals that live in Australia, and it is known for having one of the biggest collections of Australian animals in the world. Some of these animals, like the Tasmanian devil and plains-wanderer, are rare in the wild. You can see kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, and many other interesting animals such as dingos, emus, and little penguins. The park has about 2000 animals from 260 different species.

You can get close to many of the animals and even take part in special experiences. You might get to feed kangaroos or meet koalas, penguins, and quokkas.

Featherdale says it is the largest place in the world to see Australian animals. It cares for over 1700 birds and animals, showing more than 300 different species, including some of Australia’s most famous animals. It also has the largest group of koalas in the state and is very good at taking care of them.

Breeding, conservation and study contributions

Featherdale Wildlife Park has helped with many breeding and conservation projects. These projects help scientists learn more about different animals by keeping them in safe, controlled places with special diets and conditions. The park shares samples and information to help with these important studies.

The park helped a study about spotted-tailed quolls at the University of Wollongong. They let scientists watch how the quolls grow and develop, and they also shared samples to learn more about these animals. Featherdale also helped with studies on koalas, echidnas, yellow-footed rock-wallabies, common wombats, and common brushtail possums. Scientists from many universities used samples and observations from the park to understand these animals better and help protect their populations.

Thefts

In October 2006, some visitors broke into Featherdale Wildlife Park and took four special snakes called Collett's snakes.

In February 2013, someone took a five-year-old female emu from the park.

During Christmas in 2012, ten special birds were taken from the park. Two of these birds, blue-and-yellow macaws, were later found and returned safely. The birds showed some signs of stress but were otherwise okay.

Ownership and management

Featherdale Wildlife Park is a private business that does not get money from the government. Over the years, it has changed owners several times. In 1996, it was bought by a company called Amalgamated Holding Limited for $5.5 million. Later, in 2013, it was sold to Moss Capital for about $15 million. Moss Capital later became the Elanor fund, which still owns the park today.

The park has many staff members who care for the animals. In 2013, there were over 100 staff, and now there are around 73. In 2013, the park made about $9.2 million, but profits dropped later because of the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions. Running the park costs a lot of money each year for feeding the animals, security, and keeping the enclosures safe. The park also faced competition from other zoos in Sydney, such as Sydney Zoo and Taronga Zoo.

Species

Featherdale Wildlife Park is home to many interesting birds, animals, and reptiles. Some of the birds you can see include the Australian magpie, Budgerigar, Cockatiel, Emu, Galah, Kangaroo Island kangaroo, Koala, and Rainbow lorikeet.

There are also many reptiles like the Blue-tongued skink, Frilled dragon, Saltwater crocodile, and Tiger snake. You can also see mammals such as the Common wombat, Dingo, Eastern grey kangaroo, and Tasmanian devil.