Kyabram Fauna Park ready to welcome visitors and wildlife
Kyabram Fauna Park today officially becomes part of the Zoos Victoria family, with the completion of upgraded facilities, reciprocal zoo membership, and an extension of the Victorian Government’s “Kids Go Free” initiative.
From today, children under 16 will receive free admission to Kyabram Fauna Park on weekends, public holidays and school holidays as part of a $20 million Andrews Labor Government initiative, which already includes free entry to Zoos Victoria’s other properties: Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary.
A Kyabram Fauna Park Committee of Managment was apppointed on an interim basis in July 2018 to develop a vision for the future of the Park and long-term sustainability.
The transition of Kyabram Fauna Park management to Zoos Victoria, combined with the recent Zoo and Aquarium Association accreditation, means Kyabram Fauna Park is now in a strong position to play a key role in wildlife conservation in Victoria, as well as increasing tourism to Kyabram and the Campaspe Shire.
A new visitor centre at Kyabram Fauna Park, refurbished Education and Conservation Centre, improved animal exhibits, predator-proof fencing and pathways mark the completion of $1.94 million of infrastructure works - part of a $2.7 billion State Government building works package to create jobs, tourism and support local economies.
Situated on 55-hectares of parkland and wetlands in northern Victoria, Kyabram Fauna Park has more than 600 animals, including Tasmanian devils, quolls, dingoes, koalas, kangaroos, wombats, echidna, emus and southern cassowary. A mob of meerkats has also recently arrived and a new Reptile House is scheduled to be completed later this year.
Zoos Victoria CEO Dr Jenny Gray said all Zoos Victoria Members and Kyabram Fauna Park Members would now have recipricol entry to Kyabram Fauna Park, Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary.
“As part of Zoos Victoria, Kyabram Fauna Park can continue its important conservation work, including connecting more visitors with nature and wildlife,” Dr Gray said.
“This is also a rare opportunity for Zoos Victoria to expand its critical wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation work in northern Victoria, thanks to the expertise and experience of the Kyabram Fauna Park team.”
Kyabram Fauna Park has cared for willdife and delivered conservation programs since 1979, including planting more than 7000 trees and plants to create habitat to provide food and shelter for free-ranging wildlife and encouraging the return of 35 species of birds to the local Kyabram area.
The Park is a two-and-half hour drive from Melbourne, and just 30-minutes from Shepparton or Echuca.
For more information, visit zoo.org.au