I had come to Tasmania, in part, to see animals unlike those anywhere else. Millions of years ago, Australia (then connected to Tasmania) broke off from the supercontinent of Gondwanaland, isolating its life forms and leading to their unique evolution. Tasmania finally became its own separate island about 12,000 years ago, thanks to rising seas. Though Tasmania shares kangaroos and wallabies with the mainland, only-in-Tassie species include the Eastern quoll, red-bellied pademelons, the iconic Tasmanian devil and 12 birds. Automobiles, dogs, feral cats and habitat loss threaten wildlife, but by spending money at animal sanctuaries and hiring conservationist guides, we help preserve precious species.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Bonorong, near Hobart, runs the only wildlife hospital in the state. Keeper Miguel Yarce explained that while the hospital aims for rescue and rehabilitation, some animals cannot be released. These live out the rest of their lives in enclosures at Bonorong. On a Private Premium Feeding Frenzy tour with Yarce, we interacted with many of them. A porcupinelike echidna ate insect porridge from my gloved hand, a Tasmanian devil accepted hunks of possum from a grabber I extended, and Forester kangaroos gobbled pellets I offered. It was particularly heartwarming to cuddle a baby wombat and pet a pregnant blue-tongued skink, a lizard that is aptly named. But as I peered through one-way glass into the hospital and read the list of patients, I remembered that the encounters were not just for my enjoyment.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
593 Briggs Road, Brighton. Tel. (61) 3-6268-1184