GALLERY: Kids become keepers at the Reptile Park

The Australian Reptile Park is seeking kid conservationists to join the team this school holidays.

Here on the Coast, we’re pretty proud of the work the Reptile Park does. It’s great to have such a force of good here in our backyard. But, nationally as it turns out, we are struggling to keep our native animals alive.

Tim Faulkner, the park general manager says it’s a pretty sad state of affairs.

“Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world,” Mr Faulkner says.

Particularly disappointing since we have some of the world’s rarest and most unique mammals.

In order to keep them kicking, Mr Faulkner says he’s asking the kids of the Coast to help.

[Wombat cuddles! Photo: supplied]

“Kids are the future for wildlife on Earth,” Mr Faulkner says.

“[The] Conservation Crusaders [program] gives them the chance to meet some of the world's most endangered animals, and fall in love with nature.”

Kids in the program will tour the Park, learning about the various conservation projects.

[Kids 2 Keepers program walking dingo pups! Photo: supplied]

At the end of the program, the kids will be registered as Conservation Crusaders.

It will be running every day during the school holidays. The program will give kids a behind-the-scenes look at some of the Park’s resident favourites, Australia’s crankiest croc Elvis, Hugo the giant Galapagos tortoise, Kraken the Komodo dragon, and everyone’s favourite new parents, Fred and Adina the dingoes.

[Hugo the Galapagos turtle. Photo: supplied]

Families can also get up close and personal with the Park’s venomous snakes and spiders, with a VIP backstage.

All these programs will be running during the July school holidays. Visit the Reptile Park’s website for full details.