Park opens tree kangaroo exhibits

 THE latest addition to Port Moresby Nature Park’s growing attractions is the new tree kangaroo exhibits that were officially opened yesterday.

The three exhibits boast two different species of tree kangaroos – the endangered Huon (Matchies) tree kangaroo and the vulnerable Dora’s tree kanga-

roo.

“This facility will enable Port Moresby Nature Park to educate visitors on the plight and threats faced by these species and the need to conserve them in their natural environment,” Nature Park general manager Michelle McGeorge said.

“Nature Park has already successfully bred the Huon tree kangaroo and we believe that these facilities will enable the Park to develop its tree kangaroo breeding programme.

“The exhibit will form part of Nature Park’s Education School Excursion programme which commenced in February of this year and has already seen over 2,000 school children participate.”

McGeorge said the park’s curator Brett Smith had more than 20 years of experience in captive management and breeding of tree-kangaroos and had been training animal keepers there.

“This is to ensure that successful breeding and research programmes can be managed here and we also hope that the bio­logy students of the University of Papua New Guinea may see the programme as an opportunity for developing masters or honours based studies,” she said.

“Also under construction is a new wallaby precinct located beside the tree kangaroo exhibit which is hoped to be opened in the next few months.”

McGeorge added that a new building was also under construction which would house a bigger flower shop, a café and a souvenir shop.