Bonorong

One of the “must-see” points of interest in the Hobart area is the Bonorong Wildlife Rescue Centre. 

We took a one hour drive north from Hobart to the town of Brighton and visited the center located on the top of a hill.  The center operates on volunteer labor and without financial support from the government.  It depends on tourist dollars to keep going.

The mission of the Rescue Centre is to take in, care for, and hopefully release back to the wild, animals native to Tasmania.  There is no shortage of animals on offer.  It is estimated that 500,000 marsupials, birds, and reptiles are killed accidentally on Tasmania’s roads each year.  This is only an estimate as many injured animals leave the road to die while others are carried away by carrion-eating species so the actual number could be much higher.

Our guide was well informed and communicated clearly the stories of the marsupials in attendance. Many of the marsupials are pregnant when they are killed.  We were advised that if you hit or come in contact with a recently killed animal, check its pouch for little ones.  They are so small that they often survive being hit by a car. Even a young Wombat the size of a jellybean can be rescued and survive.

A Near Adult Wombat Raised in the Centre

For those looking for Koalas, you might be disappointed. Koalas are not native to Tasmania.  There are two little guys there but they are leftover from a former zoo so when they go, they will not be replaced.  They are shy and we didn’t really get a good look at them.

I let the pictures tell the stories.

Deborah and Her Wallaby

Rhonda the Wombat

Tasmanian Devil

Randall and Randall

Randall the Echidna

Blue Tongued Lizard

Tiger Snakes

A 78-Year-Old Sheep Farmer Was Killed Last Week.

Tiger - From the Yellow Stripes on its Underbelly