What is Australia Zoo?
Australia Zoo is a large wildlife park on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, made famous by Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. It is known for its crocodile shows, Australian animals and conservation work.
The zoo was founded in 1970 by Bob and Lyn Irwin, Steve's parents, as the Beerwah Reptile Park. Steve took over the park with his wife, Terri, and renamed it Australia Zoo in 1992.
The zoo's main arena, the Crocoseum, hosts daily shows featuring crocodiles, birds and other animals. The zoo also has kangaroos, koalas, wombats, tigers, elephants and rhinoceros.
Wildlife hospital and conservation
The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital treats thousands of sick, injured and orphaned native animals each year, many hit by cars or attacked by dogs. Treated animals are released back into the wild when possible.
The Irwin family continues to run the zoo after Steve Irwin's death in 2006. His wife Terri and children Bindi and Robert are well known for their wildlife programs and conservation work.
The zoo is near the Glass House Mountains, about an hour's drive north of Brisbane. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the Sunshine Coast and draws visitors from around the world who know it through Steve Irwin's documentaries.