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A tiny orphan begins its life at the Centre in a carefully heated port-a-cot, kept indoors in a quiet room where the sights and sounds of the human world can be minimized. Once mobile and able to thermoregulate (maintain their own body temperature), the young joey begins its full rehabilitation process.....
The Toddler's House Conveniently located adjacent to the Homestead - perfect for that wonderful 3am feeding round - the Toddler's House is equipped to suit what we call 'emerging' (ie. making their first forays out of the pouch) Wombats and Macropods (Kangaroos, Wallabies and their cousins: macro = big, pod = foot). Heated, and within screaming (them, not me) distance of my own bedroom, the House provides these wide-eyed youngsters with a little more room to explore, but not so much as to make them nervous! Macropods
have plenty of hanging space for their artificial pouches, whilst Wombats live
in padded plastic tubs at ground level. Floor-to-ceiling |  |
of cheerful sunlight. The Toddler's House is also home to Obadiah, the "llamaroo". Vaguely resembling a cross between a llama and a kangaroo, Obadiah is a home-made toy designed specifically for Macropods. Safely stuffed with crumpled newspaper and fitted with a zip to allow easy refilling, Obadiah hangs from the |  |
Toddler's Room ceiling, where he is kicked, punched, scratched and "huffed at" by all manner of over-confident juveniles looking for someone to beat up. Far better to practice on Obadiah rather than their poor "mother" (that would be me).
From the Toddler's House, slightly older Kangaroos and Wallabies are upgraded to a spacious enclosure, fondly referred to as the Padded Cell, whilst Wombats enjoy daily outings in Fort Wom.
 | The Padded Cell This delightfully sunny enclosure is completely injury- and escape-proof. Covered in green grass and dotted with towering Blue Gums, it is surrounded by 2m high fences made of chain-mesh and lined with soft shadecloth. Around the base of the fence, further mesh is buried on either side ensuring nothing can get in or out. |
 | Even the most over-excited Macropod will find it difficult to give itself so much as a bruise in here, making it the perfect place for bouncy youngsters or sick/injured adults. A three-sided shelter stands in one corner, housing artificial pouches of assorted sizes, whilst a dual lucerne/pellets feeder and a wallaby paddling pool (it was meant to be a drinking trough, but that's life) ensure everyone is kept entertained. This enclosure even sports a 6-bottle automatic Macropod Bottle Feeder! One of mankind's greatest ever inventions! |
Fort Wom Boasting the persistence of a mother-in-law coupled with a problem solving capacity to rival Einstein, Wombats are the world's most intelligent and formidable Marsupial. When faced with a dilemma, they will literally sit down and ponder the problem. They are also one of the most difficult critters to contain. They dig, they climb (oh how they climb), |  |
they chew, headbutt, pull, push, tear, scratch and pulverise anything which attempts to hold them back. They are compulsively contrary creatures: the best way to make a Wombat go forwards is to attempt to push it backwards, and vice versa. Thus, the construction of a successful Wombat pen is not a challenge, but an art. Presenting: Fort Wom. This nail-, back-, pliers- and patience-breaking creation sports heavy-duty weldmesh on all four sides AND |  |
| The Wardrobe | |
 | This 1m x 1m x 2m construction is one of my proudest achievements: it was made entirely from recycled, scavenged materials; it can contain the smallest possum and it doubles as an attractive piece of bedroom furniture (a long story). Usually, the Wardrobe lives in one corner of the Toddler's House, and is the first taste of freedom for tiny orphaned Ringtail Possums and Feathertail Gliders, giving them just enough room to practice their climbing whilst keeping them sufficiently confined not to get lost! It sports a heated pouch, a small artificial drey and an easy, multi- |
 | stemmed mini-forest to scurry around. Capped polypipes screwed to the large branches hold fresh native leaves, delivered daily. The Possum Playroom The Possum Playroom is a warm, private hideaway where artificial trees and aerial pathways permit young Possums and Koalas to begin developing their acrobatic skills, or sick/injured individuals to recouperate in warmth and peace. Adjacent to the Toddler's House, it's perfect for animals requiring regular feeds and/or medical treatment. Artificial dreys and wooden nestboxes are tucked amidst the branches, whilst water containers hold fresh native leaves, replenished daily. |
The Graduation Aviary Here, Possums, Gliders and Koalas learn what life outdoors and above ground is really all about. Tucked under the trees in a quiet corner of the centre, this spacious enclosure is filled with Koala-comfy tree forks, artificial Possum pathways and pipes filled with fresh native leaves. For these arboreal animals, it's their last step on the road to "wildness". |  |
Avian Accommodation
A number of injured birds come into care each year, ranging from Magpies, Parrots and Kookaburras to Waterbirds, Owls and other raptors (birds of prey). These are catered for in a series of enclosures - small, heated cages for sick or orphaned birds; and larger, outdoor aviaries for animals further along the path to recovery. Currently, we're in the process of constructing a brand new flight aviary out of a converted hydroponic igloo, some 20m x 6m x 3.5m. Due to be finished in January 2007, this will provide ample exercise room for larger species of birds, assisting them in developing (or re-developing) their muscles and aerobatic prowess.
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Kingbilli 2000 All Rights Reserved. Website designed |