Picture yourself cuddling koalas, holding pythons and owls, and experiencing a special Threatened Species Tour that brings you face-to-face with rare creatures. Sounds quite like an adventure? The Australia Tour is incomplete without visiting Moonlit Sanctuary Australia, renowned for its incredible animal encounter experience. Located in the heart of Victoria, Moonlit Sanctuary offers more than just a typical tourist attraction; it is a conservation centre dedicated to protecting some of Australia’s most vulnerable species. From playful kangaroos to mysterious nocturnal creatures, Moonlit Sanctuary provides a unique opportunity to connect with Australia’s incredible wildlife.
Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a family looking for an educational adventure, or a traveller seeking authentic Australian experiences, Moonlit Sanctuary promises unforgettable moments that will inspire and educate you about the importance of wildlife conservation.
Moonlit Sanctuary goes far beyond just preserving Australian wildlife. The sanctuary is dedicated to rehabilitating endangered species, actively preparing them for their natural habitats. The sanctuary’s team works tirelessly with carefully selected endangered animals, nurturing and strengthening them with the ultimate goal of returning these precious creatures to their rightful place —– the wild!Here’s the list of some of the Moonlit Sanctuary animals that the team is working to protect and save them from extinction.
- Bush Stone-Curlew: It is Australia’s second-largest glider, and inhabits across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. With habitat loss causing a 30% population decline, Moonlit Sanctuary is developing innovative breeding strategies to prevent potential extinction.
- Koala: Moonlit Sanctuary’s Koala Corridor Project addresses the critical challenge of koalas being confined to small, fragmented bushland areas. This three-year project aims to support regional koala recovery and protect other threatened Moonlit Sanctuary animals by implementing targeted conservation activities across their habitat.
- Pookila: Pookila faces severe population decline due to multiple environmental challenges including inappropriate fire management, and climate change. Currently, these animals are not on public display but are carefully maintained in Moonlit’s Mammal Conservation Breeding Centre.
- Regent Honeyeater: The honeyeater bird’s population has been reduced to fewer than 500 birds remaining in the wild and rare flocks of just 20 birds. Moonlit Sanctuary actively participates in the captive management program, having successfully bred 7 birds, with 40 birds released into the wild in 2013. Four more birds are scheduled for release in New South Wales.
- Tasmanian Devil: Tasmanian devils, once widespread in Australia, now survive only in Tasmania’s diverse habitats. They face critical extinction due to the Devil Facial Tumor Disease, which emerged in 1996. Their population has dramatically dropped to just 10% of their original numbers. Wildlife parks and zoos have established a managed population of around 500 devils to prevent their complete disappearance.
- Squirrel Glider: The squirrel glider faces survival challenges. Extensive logging has destroyed old trees drastically reducing their natural nesting hollows. Despite these challenges, the gliders continue to breed annually. Moonlit Sanctuary collaborates with zoos and wildlife parks to maintain a captive population.
- Spot-Tailed Quoll: Quoll populations are rapidly declining due to multiple threats. Land clearing has destroyed and fragmented their habitat, while predators like cats and foxes compete for prey. Moonlit Sanctuary is collaborating with the Zoo and Aquarium Association to develop and manage a national breeding program.
Suggested Read: Top 30 Things To Do In Australia. Thrilling Adventures 2025