Australia really is where the Wild Things are. From the more famous animals like kangaroos, koalas and crocodiles, to the unusual and fantastic quokkas, bilbies, wombats and echidnas, to their deadly array of snakes and spiders, there’s no shortage of fascinating creatures in Australia. With such a diverse ecosystem comes the need to protect it, which is where animal sanctuaries and even some zoos come into play. Here are the four best ecotourism options for animal encounters along Australia's Eastern coast. The Great Barrier ReefI’ve written before about my experience in the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef and a hotbed for biodiversity. Situated off the coast of northern Queensland, the world’s largest living organism is in grave danger: this UNESCO World Heritage site lost 50% of its coral cover between 1985 and 2012, and problems such as climate change, increased plastic pollution, overfishing, coastal development, and poor water quality have only worsened the situation. Because of this, it is imperative that should you travel to the reef, you do so in an ethical manner. I traveled with Quicksilver Group, one of the highest-rated reef ecotourism companies and a certified Climate Action Innovator company dedicated to reducing emissions and keeping its carbon footprint as low as possible. I traveled on one of their day cruises all the way out to Agincourt, one of the best diving and snorkeling locations in the world, situated at the outer edge of the Barrier Reef along the continental shelf. Closer to land, pollution has muddied the waters and wreaked havoc on the delicate balance of this ecosystem, but out here, the reef was pristine. I spent my day snorkeling, both on my own and with a guided tour led by a marine biologist, admiring the brilliant display of life in this little corner of the world. What makes it ethical? Traveling with an ethical company, of course! While I went with Quicksilver due to their environmental commitments and competitive pricing, there are several others to choose from. This article suggests 10 of the best ecotourism companies in the area. In addition, it’s important to do your part. Here are a few of my top suggestions for making your trip and your day-to-day life reef-friendly:
Australia ZooDid I visit three zoos in the span of two weeks while visiting Australia? Heck yeah I did! While the historic Cairns Night Zoo has since shut its doors, there are still two other zoos that I recommend, the most famous being Australia Zoo, home of the late and great Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. While he made his name running around on television getting dangerously close to wild animals, his real legacy is in conservation, a legacy which his family carries on today. When I was younger, I wanted to be Steve Irwin. He inspired me to dream big and get involved in environmental advocacy, so I knew that when I went to Australia, I had to make it to his zoo, about an hour outside of Brisbane. Australia Zoo is massive, stretching out over 1,000 acres; I spent an entire day here and still didn’t get the chance to see everything. Home to over a thousand animals, the size (and the crowds) can make it feel a little like Disneyland, so I would definitely recommend planning what you would like to see beforehand. What makes it ethical? Although the ethics of Australia Zoo (and zoos in general) have been called into question once or twice over the years, the Australia Zoo is a member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association, which tracks animal welfare and conservation programs in Australia, and is heavily invested in conservation, education and animal research. It has led to the founding of several wildlife reserves and the largest wildlife hospital in the world. Although I was unable to find accessibility information on their website, this article by Wheelie Accessible Adventures, a great blog written by a wheelchair user detailing accessible adventures around Australia, is full of great information. Taronga ZooGoverned by the Taronga Conservation Society, Taronga Zoo overlooking Sydney Harbour was opened in 1916, and is now home to over 4,000 animals from around the globe. Here, you can find all the “classic” Australian animals (including a few of my favorite friends, quokkas and echidnas), plus a few new additions in 2019, including capybaras and three tiger cubs born on site (representing almost 1% of the global tiger population). What makes it ethical? Of all the places I visited, I was most impressed with Taronga Zoo’s dedication to ethics. For their human visitors, they have a variety of accessibility resources available, and are highly committed to serving people with autism in particular, with online and in-person resources, as well as periodic Access Taronga Days, where guests with autism (along with their family or friends) are invited to enter the zoo early for a safer, quieter experience. Additionally, although it’s only a small thing, I appreciated the statement at the bottom of their webpages: “We proudly Acknowledge the Cammeraigal (Taronga Zoo, Sydney) and Wiradjuri (Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo) people, their Country, spirit and traditions as customary owners of the lands upon which our Zoos stand.” In terms of their animals, they are committed to continuing programs for conservation, sustainability, and research. They also feature an animal ethics committee, dedicated to transparency and ensuring that “the animals involved in any research conducted by Taronga are treated humanely, considerately, responsibly and with justified means,” as well as two wildlife hospitals. Lone Pine Koala SanctuaryThe world’s first and largest koala sanctuary, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary opened in 1927 as a safe refuge for sick, injured, and orphaned koalas. The Sanctuary is just over 44 acres, making it much smaller than the Australia Zoo and giving it a less commercialized feel. Located just 15 minutes from the city of Brisbane and situated alongside the beautiful Brisbane river, it’s now home to 130 koalas, plus platypuses (platypodes?), kangaroos, tasmanian devils, wombats, dingoes, southern cassowaries, echidnas, emus, crocodiles, and some truly stunning wild birds. A five-acre kangaroo reserve means you can wander among these delightful creatures, and maybe even feed them some of the pellets for sale at the Sanctuary’s store (but be careful, because they can get very enthusiastic! When I ran out of food to give them, one of them stole the bag I had been holding to see if I was hiding any more!). There are a variety of animal encounter sessions throughout the day, where you can pay to get a closer look at the care that goes into making sure all their animals are happy and healthy. For the more socially-inclined, there’s free wifi and open-air bloggers lounges for you to rest and recharge (and Instagram) to your heart’s delight, and a free movie and market night on Fridays (food market from 3-7.30, and open-air movies starting at 6). What makes it ethical? Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is eco certified and certified by the Zoo and Aquarium Association. While you can interact with some of the animals, no animal is forced to have human interaction: koalas are switched out if they exhibit any sign of discomfort or unwillingness to be photographed, and are never held for more than 30 minutes per day. Likewise, the free-roaming kangaroos have a private enclosure they can retreat to at any time if they do not want to engage with humans. In addition, they are committed to sustainable environmental standards and wildlife conservation research. According to their website, “We are committed to maximising the positive environmental and social impacts of our operations. We achieve this through water and energy efficiency, biodiversity, communication and planning. Through cooperation with our employees, suppliers and customers, we aim to set a new standard in environmental wildlife management. This will contribute to building a stronger Lone Pine and a safer, cleaner, more sustainable Australia.” Lone Pine is mostly accessible for unassisted wheelchair users, but some areas, such as the two kangaroo enclosures and sheepdog area, are unpaved and may be difficult to access. They have a downloadable accessibility map and more information regarding disabled facilities on their website, but this article by Wheelie Accessible Adventures may be more helpful. There are plenty of ways to engage with wildlife in an ethical way, and with Australia’s ever-growing animal tourism industry, it’s more important than ever to make sure that our good experience doesn’t come at the expense of an animal’s health or happiness. While these are only a handful of ethical wildlife encounters available, they provide a great taste of Australia’s brilliant biodiversity, while also each seeking to preserve this biodiversity for years to come. Like this post? Why not share it?If you enjoyed this article, please leave me a comment telling me what you think! Or, if you found it useful, share it with your friends! You'll be helping me turn my passion for travel into a business, and more importantly, you'll be helping your friends out with any travel questions they might have, too. See more adventures!If you liked this post, you may also like:
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Hi, there! Call me Kris. I’m a world traveler, author and artist working to showcase the world's beauty and inspire you to find your confidence to see the world!
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