Santa’s sneaky visit to the Billabong Sanctuary Townsville

Kris Kringle has paid an early visit to the Billabong Sanctuary Townsville, delivering a few sneaky presents to some of the residents.

KRIS Kringle has paid an early visit to Billabong Sanctuary, delivering a few sneaky presents to some of the residents.

The cassowaries woke to a fresh fruit platter of melon, mango, banana and plums in their enclosure providing the feathered friends some nutrients for the holidays.

The koalas were surprised with a stocking full of eucalyptus leaves that they hungrily unpacked and rummaged through.

Furry friends were not forgotten either with the wombats and dingoes each given some new toys to unwrap including a stuffed Santa, candy cane, Christmas tree and Christmas pudding.

Billabong Sanctuary senior ranger Kate de Koning said Santa’s early visit was to create some festive cheer with the animals.

“Animal enrichment is something we do routinely so it is sort of like of a special variation of what we would do during the year,” she said.

“It is this time of year to get into the Christmas spirit, even though they are animals they can still have Christmas too.”

Ms de Koning said the sanctuary rangers loved seeing the animals eat and play with their gifts on the impromptu Christmas Day.

”They are part of our family and working in such close promximity with them everyday, it is hard to not get close to them,” she said.

“Unwrapping a present for wombats is unusual for them but they are really embracing it.”

Originally published as Santa’s sneaky visit to the Billabong Sanctuary Townsville