Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1022720
ZOO NEWS MEMBER MAGAZINE 10 FE ANIMAL FEATURE SKINKS ON SHOW The sun will be shining this spring as Healesville Sanctuary prepares to unveil a newly renovated Reptile House and for the very first time, the exhibit will feature the critically endangered Guthega Skink. SLITHERING SUCCESS With the renovated Reptile House due for completion just in time for the spring school holidays, the Sanctuary staff are thrilled for our resident reptiles who now have more space, height and climbing structures, as well as much more natural vegetation which are all big ticks for improving our animals' welfare. Another new addition to the Reptile House collection is a pair of Guthega Skinks, on display together for the first time. The Guthega Skink is a unique species but one that Zoos Victoria has committed to protecting from imminent extinction. The first step in the recovery process for this alpine species was learning about the skink and working out how to breed them. After six years of hard work, set-backs and lots of research, the Keepers at the Sanctuary were proud to successfully breed the Guthega Skink for the first time in captivity anywhere in the world. Behind the scenes, Zoo Keepers have been busy preparing a breeding program in a climate-controlled facility that mimics wild alpine conditions. Breeding them in captivity represents a huge milestone for the species but we still have a lot to learn and a long way to go in the fight to save this species from extinction. The wild population of Guthega Skinks live in limited, isolated, alpine habitat and are at significant risk of catastrophic events such as a major bushfire. Our ever-improving knowledge of the species helps to safeguard their future. CALLING ALL REPTILE LOVERS The renovated Reptile House will be home to many animals, including some brand new species that will call Healesville Sanctuary home: NEW! When Gidgee Skinks feel threatened they will find a good hiding spot and inhale large amounts of air to make their body swell up. This makes it tough for a predator to dislodge them from their hiding place! NEW! Inland Bearded Dragons do not vocalise, they communicate through posturing, colour display, head bobbing and arm waving. Scrub Pythons can grow up to 7m long, making them adept climbers. Green Tree Frogs are quite long-lived , often surviving until age 20, or even older! Our Green Tree Frogs are estimated to be about 8-10 years old. This is an educated guess based on how long they've been with us, but as they mostly arrived at the Sanctuary through the Australian Wildlife Health Centre, their origins are a little unknown. Tiger Snakes are one of Australia's most venomous snakes and while some people may find them scary, we think they're an impressive example of superb adaptation, perfectly suited to cope in some pretty inhospitable conditions throughout Australia. The newly renovated space will be much bigger and will include more mixed exhibits with the animals themed by geographic region. The updates have been designed with animal welfare at its core, enabling the Keepers more flexibility to provide the very best care for some of Australia's most interesting reptiles. Make sure you check it out! ››› DID YOU KNOW? GUTHEGA SKINKS ARE ALPINE LIZARDS; ONLY FOUND AT SITES MORE THAN 1,600M ABOVE SEA LEVEL. GUTHEGA SKINKS ARE A SOCIAL SPECIES, OFTEN LIVING IN COLONIES MADE UP OF AT LEAST AN ADULT PAIR AND THEIR RECENT OFFSPRING.