Parndana Wildlife Park: In the Kangaroo Island region of South Australia

Shirley Ross is an unsung hero of Kangaroo Island wildlife. You'll often find her caring for yet another road accident victim. Like Lucky Legs, a Kangaroo Island roo with a liking for daytime television who shares the house with Scooter the dog and any one of the other patients at the Parndana Wildlife Park.

Once they've recovered they are turned out into the park to entertain the thirty thousand visitors who visit Parndana Wildlife Park each year. Visitors like little Eve and her family who were there the day the Postcards team called in. Eve said she’d spotted a few roos on drives around the island but at Pardana she was able to get really close:

“Where did you see the kangaroo yesterday?” “In the jungle.” “Is there a jungle on Kangaroo Island?” “Yes.” “I never knew that. I know there are plenty of kangaroos.” “Those are Kangaroo Island kangaroos.”

And little Eve is spot on. These are a subspecies of the Western Grey. They are a little shorter, stockier and darker and quite powerful and Shirley Ross explains:

“They've evolved shorter and stockier to push their way through the bush. They are darker in colour so they blend with the shadows and have thicker fur because of our weather.”

Fifteen years ago Parndana was a farm paddock until Shirley and husband Russell started building one enclosure after another. The park opened eleven years ago and now families who visit can get a quick overview of the island's wildlife and it's story as both sanctuary for endangered species and dumping ground for those who thought they might return.

An example is Boris - a feral pig with bug tusks:

“Boris is one of the feral pigs that we have on the island. They were originally dropped by the French in the early 1800s when they discovered Kangaroo Island. They dropped them off in case they were shipwrecked or when they returned they could have fresh meat.”

Boris aint pretty and he eats - well like a pig. But he's a classic example of much of KI's wildlife story. Animals like the platypus and koala were introduced to the island. Many because they were seen to be under threat on the mainland and now the koalas have certainly taken to the place.

A park favorite is Lucky, a HAND REARED koala:

“He came in when he was a kilo in size. He was on his mother’s back when his mother was hit by a car. His hand was injured so he can't use three fingers on his hand - he can only use his two thumbs. He now weighs about twelve kilos and he's eight years old. He spends about nineteen to twenty hours an day sleeping and the rest of the time feeding.”

Lucky that Shirley came along because now he really enjoys life.

From aviaries full of birds to spike the echidna, they're all here and as we helped Shirley feed the animals it was clear one of the delights at Parndana Wildlife Park is that you can get very close and personal with the locals.

But the only person who feeds the Wedge Tail Eagles is Shirley. And the reason becomes obvious when she enters the enclosure and puts some meat on a stick - the eagle swoops. The flaring of the head feathers show is all about telling us that this is his food and who's going to argue. The Wedgies along with the White Breasted Sea Eagles nearby were all injured before they came here and were given a second chance.

The Parndana Wildlife Park is just three kilometres west of Parndana on Playford Highway and is open daily. For more details click here.