By BRIDGET SCOTT
A RARE occurrence will excite visitors to the Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park as staff welcome a critically endangered species to their enclosures.
The Mornington Peninsula attraction has just welcomed two endangered species to their wildlife community.
Two rare and critically endangered regent honeyeaters are set to be introduced to their enclosure on Saturday, while the spot-tailed quolls have already taken up residence.
The facility is well-known internationally for its breeding programs involving endangered species and director of the sanctuary Michael Johnson is excited about the new additions.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to be in support of,” he said.
Mr Johnson explained that the honeyeaters are classified as ‘critically endangered’ – meaning the next stop for this species is extinction.
There are less than 500 of this species left in the wild, but Mr Johnson hopes the decline will stop.
In a similar position are the spot-tailed quolls which have a specifically designed breeding enclosure at the sanctuary to encourage mating.
The honeyeaters will be introduced to their enclosures on Saturday 7 September to tie in with Threatened Species Day.
Graeme Phipps, a former curator at Taronga Zoo and instigator of the conservation breeding program for the species, will introduce them to their new home.
Mr Johnson said he expects both the species will be a great attraction as are many of the endangered animals at the park.
Mr Phipps will show the honeyeaters to their new home at 1.30pm at the conservation park in Pearcedale.
