Australia Zoo

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Crocodile show at the Australia Zoo

Aviary at the Australia Zoo

Harriet, 175-year-old Galápagos tortoise

Australia Zoo at Beerwah, Queensland, Australia is a small, primarily reptile, zoo owned by Steve Irwin and Terri Irwin, who co-star on The Crocodile Hunter, their unconventional nature documentary series on television, as well as a spin-off series Croc Files. Their popular programs are shown on the Animal Planet television network in the United States and Europe.

Although perhaps best known for the crocodiles and the live crocodile feedings, the Zoo features exhibits of other Australian wildlife, including Asian otters, koalas, wombats, Tasmanian devils, snakes, and a giant Galapagos tortoise called Harriet, the world's oldest living animal, who died on 23rd June 2006.

Australia Zoo was named as one of Australia's Best Major Tourist Attraction for 2003-2004.

History

The land of the current site of Australia Zoo was bought in 1970, by Steve Irwin's parents. The original name of the attraction was the Beerwah Reptile Park. Over a decade later the park was renamed to 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 aid Saltwater Crocodile protection.

By the 1990s the Crocodile Environmental Park had become very popular and was seen as unique for its display of Crocodile feeding within the park. In 1992 the park was renamed again, becoming Australia Zoo.Steve Irwin 'The Crocodile Hunter'was reportedly killed by a sting ray barb will filming a documentary on September 4th.

External links

• Crocodile Hunter.com/australia_zoo Information specific to the Australia Zoo, on Steve and Terri's Crocodile Hunter website
• Animal Planet Crocodile Hunter
• Zoo Crew Zone All about the Australia Zoo Crew
• Sunshine Coast - Australia Zoo webpage