Welcome to Bonorong!

You’ve made it! Tasmania. Congratulations! This is the last place on Earth… next stop, Antarctica.

You may have come across the world to be with us, or you may live just down the road. We humans are lucky to be able to go almost anywhere we choose.

However, for many of the animals you will meet today Tasmania actually is the last place on Earth. Some of these species no longer exist anywhere else. For others, Tasmania is a last refuge. They are the survivors of legions that once spanned a continent but now this little island bobbing on the Southern Ocean is all they have left.

That’s why we are here – to look after Tasmania’s special critters. But we can’t do it on our own. We need you…

You may not know it but just by walking through our gate you become part of something special. Everything we do, we do with your help. You won’t know just how very welcome you are until you have met some of our animals and heard their stories of survival.

From all of us here at Bonorong (two, four and no feet),

Welcome.

Bonorong - a Sanctuary for Tasmania's Wildlife

Nothing makes us happier than introducing guests to our special animals. Nothing, that is, except seeing them go back to the wild. We operate Tasmania’s largest 24/7 Wildlife Rescue Service and our army of volunteers brings aid to thousands of suffering animals every year.

This service is funded entirely by our entry fees. This means every time we rescue an animal it is because someone like you came through our gate.

Bonorong is not a zoo – our aim is to get healthy animals back to the wild. All of them undergo meticulous assessment to ensure they are happy and healthy in our care, which is something we will never compromise on.

Every single one of our animals has a story to tell. At Bonorong you will meet animals that are extinct everywhere except our island refuge. 

Our ever-changing menagerie of survivors includes wombats, devils, quolls, native birds, lizards, snakes and emus.

Our Story

Our story is about passion (possibly tinged with obsession). As a seven-year-old, Greg Irons came to Bonorong for a birthday party and told his mum, “I’m going to own this place one day!”

He came to work at the then park as a young wildlife keeper and quickly worked his way through the ranks to become manager. By twenty-five years old he had achieved his dream of owning the business when the previous owners decided to pass the baton on to him.

For Greg, Bonorong is a means to help Tasmania’s fragile wildlife and ecology. Since he arrived, Bonorong has changed from a traditional, 1980's era wildlife park to an innovative and active Wildlife Sanctuary.  The Sanctuary is focused on giving back to the Tasmanian environment, rather than simply being a showcase.

Our Philosophy

Bonorong is a social enterprise – a little business with a BIG heart. We run a successful tourism enterprise which provides eco-education and experiences for each guest. Our skills and the funds generated through the Sanctuary allow us to proactively address problems in our surrounding environment and communities.

Part of our mission is to facilitate community solutions to community problems. Bonorong is an open house and we try to provide pathways for all Tasmanians to become involved in conserving our unique natural heritage. At the heart of this is a belief that in the same way an individual can devote their existence to doing good, so too can a business.

Access and Inclusion Statement

At Bonorong, just like our wildlife residents, we celebrate our differences to make an impact no matter how great or small. We commit to a unified mindset as succeeding together creates a long lasting and effective community and generational change. We strive to empower others to undertake active changes which support the environment and wildlife.

Friends of Bonorong

The Friends of Bonorong has been established to support and enable Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary to achieve its objectives in all areas of Australian native wildlife rehabilitation, care, protection and conservation, and to encourage the wider community to participate in this endeavour. The Friends of Bonorong is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC).

Supporters will play a critical role in assisting Bonorong in ensuring the survival of our wildlife through business partnerships, one-time donations, and ongoing donations and partnerships. Three distinct areas capture the essence of where assistance is required: Research & In-the-Wild Support, Bonorong Sanctuary, and Medical. Learn more about Friends of Bonorong here.