By REBECCA BILLS
MORE than 2 million people have visited Victoria’s three great zoos this financial year with Healesville Sanctuary celebrating by giving away a Zoos Victoria family pass.
The milestone is a new all-time high for Healesville Sanctuary, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Melbourne Zoo and was a 5 per cent increase from the last financial year.
Healesville Sanctuary Director Glen Holland said it was great to be able to share this wonderful achievement with the Victorian community because nearly 350,000 visitors that made up the 2 million were from Healesville.
“It takes a massive team effort to achieve these great numbers and we know that our visitors love it here,” he said.
“We just want everyone to come along and enjoy the Healesville Sanctuary, as well as other zoos.
“More than 70 per cent of our funding comes from visitor admissions and donation and every cent helps us achieve our goal of becoming a world-leading zoo-based conservation centre.”
Minister for Environment and Climate Change and Minister for Youth as well as Warrandyte MP Ryan Smith said this achievement reinforces Zoos Victoria’s position as one of the must see destinations in Victoria.
Mr Smith also noted the success of the Victorian Government’s free-entry policy for children under 16 on school holidays and weekends, which was introduced two years ago.
“Since we implemented the free entry policy for kids, more than 1.1 million Victorian children have benefited by visiting our zoos during peak times,” he said.
The lucky winners of the Zoos Victoria family pass were the Staples family from Diamond Creek who said they were over the moon to receive it and with three young girls they will certainly make good use of the pass.
Healesville Sanctuary will be celebrating its 80th birthday next year.
