Symbio Wildlife Park

Zoo in New South Wales, Australia

Symbio Wildlife Park

34°12′16″S 150°58′10″E﻿ / ﻿34.204451°S 150.969438°E﻿ / -34.204451; 150.969438
Date opened| 1975
Location| Helensburgh, New South Wales, Australia
Land area| 16 acres (6.5 ha)
Memberships| ZAA
Website| symbiozoo.com.au

Symbio Wildlife Park is a privately owned medium sized zoo located in Helensburgh, New South Wales, south of Sydney and in close proximity to the City of Wollongong. Beginning in 1975 as a native Australian wildlife park, Symbio later expanded its holdings with a number of different animals from other countries also, and has contributed to conservation work and captive breeding programs for both Australian and exotic animals. In 2021 the park established specialty built captive-breeding facilities for native vulnerable and endangered Bellinger River snapping turtles, Manning River snapping turtles and Stuttering frogs. Among Symbio's animal residents is an albino echidna named Leo.[1][2][3]

In recent years, Symbio Wildlife Park has introduced additional visitor experiences such as behind-the-scenes access and scheduled keeper talks, reflecting a broader trend among regional zoos toward more interactive and educational formats. Modest upgrades to pathways, enclosures, and planted areas have also been made, with an emphasis on incorporating native vegetation and creating environments that resemble the animals' natural habitats.

Kelly Clarkson and David Beckham have visited the zoo with the singer visiting the zoo in 2015 and the footballer visiting in 2018.

Animal species at the park include:

* Alpaca
* American alligator
* Bare-nosed wombat
* Bellinger River snapping turtle
* Boyd's forest dragon
* Carpet python
* Central bearded dragon
* Cheetah
* Common death adder
* Common marmoset
* Dingo
* Eastern blue-tongue lizard
* Eastern grey kangaroo
* Eastern yellow robin
* Emu
* Freshwater crocodile
* Frilled-neck lizard
* Gang-gang cockatoo
* Gila monster
* Golden lion tamarin
* Inland taipan
* Koala
* Little penguin
* Manning River snapping turtle
* Meerkat
* Nicobar pigeon
* Noisy pitta
* Pygmy marmoset
* Rainbow lorikeet
* Red panda
* Red-bellied black snake
* Regent bowerbird
* Ring-tailed lemur
* Saltwater crocodile
* Shingleback skink
* Short-beaked echidna
* Southern cassowary
* Stuttering frog
* Sulphur-crested cockatoo
* Superb fruit-dove
* Tasmanian devil
* Tawny frogmouth
* Wedge-tailed eagle
* White-browed scrubwren
* White-fronted chat
* Wompoo fruit-dove

## Incidents

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In March 2022, a red panda named Kesari was put down after escaping from the park and being hit by a vehicle after a tree fell.[4]

## Gallery

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* Tasmanian devil at the park

* Wedge-tailed eagle at the park

* Eastern grey kangaroo and her joey at the park

## References

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1. ^ Greg Ellis (2017). "The big winners at the Illawarra Business Awards". illawarramercury.com.au. Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
2. ^ Greg Ellis (31 October 2018). "David Beckham and family visit Symbio Wildlife Park". theleader. The Leader. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
3. ^ Helen Smith (4 October 2016). "A Koala and a Butterfly are new best friends". metro. Metro Media UK. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
4. ^ "Kesari the red panda dies after being hit by a car south of Sydney". ABC News. 18 March 2022.

## External links

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* Official website

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Zoos of New South Wales

Zoos|

* Altina Wildlife Park
* Auburn Botanic Gardens
* Australian Reptile Park
* Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park
* Australian Wildlife Sanctuary Bargo
* Banana Cabana Primate Sanctuary
* Billabong Zoo
* Birdland Animal Park
* Blackbutt Reserve
* Central Coast Zoo
* Central Gardens Nature Reserve
* Featherdale Wildlife Park
* Hunter Valley Wildlife Park
* Koala Park Sanctuary
* Mogo Wildlife Park
* Oakvale Wildlife Park
* Shoalhaven Zoo
* Steve McEwan's Reptile World
* Sydney Zoo
* Symbio Wildlife Park
* Taralga Wildlife Park
* Taronga Western Plains Zoo
* Taronga Zoo
* Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens
* Wild Cat Conservation Centre
* Wild Life Sydney
* Zambi Wildlife Retreat

Aquariums|

* Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters
* Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
* Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre

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