Conservation
Sponsor an Animal, be a Habitat Hero
Here at the Wildlife Habitat, we are all about the natives!
Our focus is on native animals endemic to the far northern region of Australia. From this Wet Tropics area comes some of the country’s most endangered and vulnerable species. When you sponsor an animal and become a Habitat Hero, you will not only be helping your sponsored animal, you will also be helping us to assist with efforts to protect these native species.
With this symbolic adoption, your contribution will also assist with:
- Threatened species breeding programs
- Animal husbandry
- Food & exhibit maintenance
- Veterinary requirements
Our Wildlife Care Centre is funded by the generosity of The Woodward Family CaPTA Group and from donations from people like you. We take in sick, injured and orphaned native animals found in the surrounding community and brought to us by concerned citizens. We assist in the rehabilitation, veterinary provision and wild release of these animals.
For full Terms & Conditions for the Habitat Heroes program, please read below.
Sponsorship Options
Choose one of our nine native animals to symbolically adopt and become their Habitat Hero. Each sponsorship pack includes a Habitat Hero pack featuring your chosen animal, filled with fun facts, an adoption certificate, and a Heart for TARC sticker for the park TARC donation tree.
Your symbolic adoption helps to ensure these iconic, endangered, vulnerable and rescued wildlife remain in our environment for future generations.
If you’d like something extra to remember your sponsorship by, you can also upgrade your adoption to include a plush toy of your chosen animal, perfect for gifting or keeping as a reminder of the hero you’ve become.
Our beautiful Tia was born wild in approximately 2012. She was orphaned and consequently rescued and taken to a sunshine coast wildlife hospital. She was placed with a registered carer for hand raising. Further checks on Tia revealed she had reproductive cysts. One successful operation later Tia was well, however due to the nature of the operation she is now sterile, and cannot be released back into the wild.
She arrived here to Wildlife Habitat early in 2014. Tia likes to travel, and we let her come with us to some off site venues on occasions. When she is on site with us, she is a model! She is super photogenic and sits in her tree captivating her audience. Tia eats Eucalyptus and there are over 700 different species in Australia. However, of those 700, she will only eat 25, and of that 25, she may only eat the ones she knows – talk about fussy!!!! Your average koala will sleep for 18- 22 hours a day and Tia is no exception!
One of Wildlife Habitat’s greatest success stories was James, Jabbie and their family. Jabbie was wild born and rescued as a malnourished juvenile. James and Jabbie were the WORLDS only successful breeding program of these birds in captivity. This impressive pair of Black-necked storks had 18 offspring. The chicks have been sent out far and wide, with some relocating to South Australia, New South Wales and Southern Queensland. Unfortunately James passed away in August 2018.
Goliath, a true icon of Far North Queensland, has recently found a new home at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas after captivating audiences at Cairns ZOOM & Wildlife Dome. Aged between 60 and 70 years, Goliath’s journey began two decades ago when he was captured as a ‘problem crocodile’ near Cairns. Originally destined for a crocodile farm owned by Louis Vuitton, Goliath’s inability to co-habit with his girlfriends redirected him to Rainforest Dome, later known as Cairns ZOOM & Wildlife Dome. There, he not only became the star of the show but also the first animal of the attraction. With dimensions of 4.3m and a weight of approximately 500kg, Goliath, adorned with no scars except for a hole in the webbing of his back right foot, is now a living legend at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas.
Cassie really is a southerner! She was born in Adelaide in 1992. She arrived to us at Wildlife Habitat in April 1993. It is believed that there is only about 4000 Southern Cassowaries left in the wild. Cassie has a lot of sass, and has a funky little walk that she was born with.
She spends her days eating fruit and “booming” to Airlie, her male counterpart next door. Almost prehistoric looking, and related to emu’s and the ostrich, Cassowaries are not known for their beauty, but Cassie’s talents are vital in other ways. She is an essential part of germinating seeds to keep Rainforests growing. She can digest some fruits toxic to other animals, especially the Cassowary plum. It needs to pass through the digestive system of the Cassowary to be able to germinate. She is a woman of many talents!.
Meet our beautiful Spotted – tailed Quoll, Capone. Often referred to as a Tiger Quoll, the Spotted – tailed Quoll is the largest member of the Dasyurid family on mainland Australia. Numbers of this species have been greatly affected by feral animals such as dogs, cats, foxes and cane toads as well as destruction of habitats, making the Spotted Tailed Quoll an endangered species. Born in July 2022, Capone came to us from Victoria where he was part of the Australian Zoo and Aquarium Association managed species breeding program. A carnivorous animal, his diet ranges from insects, birds, eggs, small mammals and carrion, however his favourite food is big juicy grubs or grass hoppers. Capone is a well loved member of the Wildlife Habitat family. You may find him dipping his toe in his water on a hot day or sleeping in his hanging hollow log.
The story of Ethan, our loveable Eastern Grey Kangaroo, certainly tugs at the heartstrings! After being ejected from his mother’s pouch at a mere 720 grams and enduring torment from wild birds, Ethan was found and hand-raised by one of our amazing Wildlife Keepers for 9 months. Requiring urgent medical treatment, four-hourly feeds, and around-the-clock care, he finally gained the strength and mobility to have supervised visits at Wildlife Habitat. He learned how to become independent, ensuring acceptance by our established mob of Kangaroos. Still bearing scars on his tail from the wild birds, he was given the name Ethan, meaning strength and endurance. Now, he takes pride of place in our Savannah habitat with all his mates.
Acacia is just a little bit special to us. Not only is she beautiful, adorable and an endangered species, she is also a part of a population management program for the Australian Zoo Aquarium Association. She is one of only a small population in captivity in the country.
First documented in the 1800’s mahogany gliders were so rare to see in the wild, they went for nearly 100 years without being detected again. Rediscovered in 1989, scientists realised that they weren’t extinct, but critically endangered. Their home in the wild is a narrow 122 km corridor in the Wet tropics south of Ingham – 300 km south of Port Douglas. Acacia has a little membrane that extends from her wrist to her ankle that helps her to “fly”. She is our little super hero in more ways than one! And for now, her home is with us!
Elvis is our resident rock star. He was born around 1980 and in 1988 earned his superstar status by being at World Expo 88 in Brisbane. Elvis spends his days with us preening and primping, as he is also one of our most popular birds. Elvis is particularly social, and a little bit cheeky. He can often be found sneaking around and making his way to the “bright lights” of the photo hut to have his picture taken or raiding one of the nearby food bowls. They say red heads have more fun, and with bright red stripes on his tail, Elvis lives up to that reputation every day! There are 5 sub species of Elvis’s cockatoo family, and 2 of his southern cousins are on the ‘under threat’ list.
Taro is a striking example of the rare and elusive Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo, a species found only in the rainforests of Far North Queensland, Australia. In November 2019, Taro was discovered wandering in a farmhouse yard near Atherton, disoriented and vulnerable. A veterinary assessment revealed he had central vision loss in both eyes—an injury that would make survival in the wild impossible.
Since then, Taro has been in long-term human care, where he has thrived for over five years. Though his eyesight is impaired, he has adapted well to his safe, purpose-built environment and plays an important role as an ambassador for his species. Taro helps raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by tree kangaroos, including habitat loss, vehicle strikes, and disease.
With his calm nature and quiet strength, Taro offers visitors a rare glimpse into the life of one of Australia’s most mysterious and threatened marsupials.