Steve and Terri Irwin have dedicated their lives to wildlife care by protecting habitat, preserving species and rehabilitating individual animals. They share their passion for nature with Steve's parents, Bob and Lyn Irwin, who established the Beerwah Reptile and Fauna Park in 1970, which later became Australia Zoo. Steve grew up helping his parents care for animals and assisting with wildlife rescues. For many years Lyn cared for sick, injured and orphaned animals. She was a pioneer in koala care and applied many techniques in the care of these beautiful and unique animals that are still used today. Her dream was to establish a koala hospital at Australia Zoo. Steve and Terri Irwin, through conservation fundraising efforts, have carried on the dream by opening the Koala & Wildlife Hospital and Rescue Unit, located near Australia Zoo.

The Koala & Wildlife Hospital and Rescue Unit collects sick, injured and orphaned koalas and other wildlife, and provides care and rehabilitation in a state-of-the-art facility before releasing them back into the wild.

The unit includes a veterinary facility with an intensive care room and laboratory, and separate holding facilities for males and females, and diseased and non-diseased koalas. There is also an orphan enclosure designed specifically to allow hand-raised koalas to develop climbing skills and live with reduced human contact before being released back into the bush.

The Koala & Wildlife Hospital and Rescue Unit has full-time veterinarians on staff as well as a unit manager and veterinary nurses to provide first-class care for sick, injured and orphaned koalas.

Visit the official Crocodile Hunter Web site to learn more.