Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

What Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary does

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary is a privately held, for-profit social enterprise operating from a single site at 593 Briggs Road, Brighton, Tasmania, Australia. The company is the only wildlife sanctuary in Tasmania running a 24/7, 365-day statewide rescue service, coordinating more than 20,000 animal rescues annually through a network of over 1,000 trained volunteer rescuers. In November 2025, Bonorong opened a new Wildlife Hospital & Rehabilitation Facility approximately seven times larger than its predecessor, equipped with digital X-ray, ultrasound, endoscopy, in-house biochemistry, and lab-based histopathology capabilities. The hospital is dedicated to the treatment and rehabilitation of all native, endemic, and migratory Tasmanian species and is publicly viewable through one-way glass, with a self-guided "The Journey" tour allowing visitors to follow an animal from rescue through rehabilitation to release.

The core offering is general sanctuary admission (9am-5pm daily) with included daily tours, supplemented by premium experiences (Night Tours, Animal Encounters, Feeding Frenzies, Private Premium Tours, school group bookings), annual passes, event space hire, and The Burrow plant-based cafe. Revenue is generated through admission fees, e-commerce merchandise sales via WooCommerce (plush toys A$24.95-A$69.95, clothing, books, gift cards), and tax-deductible donations through Friends of Bonorong, an ACNC-registered charity. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer onsite sales, online e-commerce, Roller booking platform (payments via Adyen), and reseller partnerships with tour operators and Hobart shuttle services targeting cruise passengers.

The underlying technology stack includes advanced veterinary diagnostics, a WooCommerce storefront with Stripe payments, the Roller booking platform, Google Analytics for web insight, and Cloudflare Turnstile for spam filtering. Research and operational partnerships span IFAW, Wildlife Health Australia, University of Tasmania (Rumpy/Wobbly Possum Disease research), University of Sydney (synthetic marsupial milk development), TasNetworks (wedge-tailed eagle necropsies), and platypus conservation groups. The company is owned by founder Greg Irons, who acquired it at age 25 after working up from wildlife keeper, and currently employs 11-50 staff including 4 veterinarians and 5 veterinary nurses supporting hospital operations.

Name

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Legal name

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary Pty Ltd

Website

https://bonorong.com.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary operates Tasmania's only dedicated wildlife hospital and 24/7 statewide rescue service, coordinating 20,000+ annual animal rescues through 1,000+ volunteers while running an ethical tourism venue with premium wildlife experiences, e-commerce merchandise, and donations via Friends of Bonorong.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation and Sanctuary Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release Centers (Public Viewing/Education) (THAAAFAC), Wildlife Watching & Encounters (Birding, Whale Watching, Primates) (THAJAIAC), Wildlife Photography & Filming Experiences (Permitted Visitor Programs) (THAAAFAI)

Keywords

• Wildlife sanctuary
• Wildlife rescue service
• Veterinary rehabilitation
• Conservation education
• Ethical wildlife tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

Brighton

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Sanctuary Admission Fees: Entry fees to the wildlife sanctuary, with daily tours included in ticket price. Premium experiences available at additional cost. This is the primary funding source for the 24/7 wildlife rescue service.
2. Online Shop Sales: E-commerce sales of plush toys, clothing, merchandise, books, postcards, and gift cards. All proceeds directly fund wildlife rescue service, hospital care, and conservation work.
3. Donations via Friends of Bonorong: Tax-deductible donations through Friends of Bonorong (ACNC registered charity). Monthly or one-time contributions via Visa, Mastercard, Google Pay, Apple Pay.
4. Event Space Hire: Private hire of event space and BBQ area for functions, corporate events, and celebrations.
5. Gift Vouchers: Gift vouchers for sanctuary experiences sold through the booking platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary operates an ethical wildlife tourism and conservation business in Brighton, Tasmania, offering public admission with daily tours and premium animal experiences, a 24/7 statewide wildlife rescue service coordinating 20,000+ rescues annually, and a dedicated wildlife hospital for treatment and rehabilitation of native Tasmanian species. The sanctuary supplements earned revenue through an e-commerce merchandise shop, event space hire, and donations channeled via its ACNC-registered charity arm Friends of Bonorong.

Product overview

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary operates as an ethical tourism enterprise offering wildlife experiences, education, and conservation services. The core offerings include general sanctuary admission with daily tours, specialized experiences (Night Tours, Animal Encounters, Feeding Frenzies, Private Premium Tours), a 24-hour Wildlife Rescue Service coordinating 20,000+ rescues annually, and a Wildlife Hospital & Rehabilitation Facility opened in November 2025 featuring advanced diagnostic equipment. The sanctuary also runs an e-commerce gift shop selling wildlife-themed merchandise (plush toys, clothing, books, drinkware, home goods) with proceeds supporting operations. Additional services include The Burrow cafe, school group programs, event space hire, and annual passes. Donations are accepted through Friends of Bonorong, an ACNC registered charity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Friends of Bonorong: The fundraising arm of Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary that fundraises for the immediate care of wildlife in crisis and for the ongoing protection of Tasmanian and Australian wildlife. ACNC registered charity.

Products and services

• Wildlife Sanctuary General Admission

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000+ animal rescues coordinated annually statewide through volunteer network
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBonorong Wildlife Hospital partners with IFAW, a major international animal welfare organization. This partnership provides support and resources for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operations in Tasmania.
• Wildlife Health AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive contributor to the Wildlife Health Australia Clinic Surveillance Program, supporting national wildlife disease monitoring and response capabilities.
• University of Tasmania (UTAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on 'Rumpy Possum Disease' in Ringtail possums and 'Wobbly Possum Disease' in Brush-tailed possums. Part of broader conservation research program.
• TasNetworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTasNetworks funds necropsies and trauma investigations on Wedge-tailed eagles as part of their environmental responsibility program.
• Friends of the Hobart Rivulet PlatypusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative monitoring program tracking platypus deaths in the Hobart Rivulet area to understand population health and threats.
• Australian Platypus ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for platypus death monitoring and conservation research in Tasmania.
• University of SydneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on development of synthetic milk supplements for marsupials, crucial for orphaned wildlife rehabilitation.
• Roadkill TasmaniaminorOthersCollaboration on roadkill awareness and prevention education. Roadkill Tasmania provides data showing 50% of roadkill happens where vehicles travel over 80 km/hr.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tasmania Zoo: Tasmania's other major wildlife park, located near Hobart. Operates paid general admission, animal encounters, and keeper-for-a-day experiences. Closest geographic and category-level direct competitor for tourist day visits in Tasmania.
• WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service): Australia's largest wildlife rescue organisation, coordinating thousands of volunteers for rescue and rehabilitation of native animals across NSW. Directly comparable to Bonorong's 1,000+ volunteer rescue operation model.
• Devil Ark: Free-range Tasmanian devil conservation breeding facility run by Aussie Ark in NSW. Competes for Tasmanian devil conservation funding, research partnerships, and donor mindshare targeting the same species Bonorong treats in its hospital.

Broad incumbents

• Healesville Sanctuary (Zoos Victoria): Victoria's native-animal-focused wildlife sanctuary operated by Zoos Victoria. Heals injured and orphaned wildlife, runs paid admissions, premium encounters, and conservation programs. Comparable in visitor-experience and hospital/rescue verticals, but at much larger scale.
• Australia Zoo: Queensland wildlife park owned by the Irwin family. Combines ticketed wildlife experiences, premium animal encounters, a wildlife hospital, and global conservation partnerships - directly comparable product stack to Bonorong at national scale.
• Taronga Zoo Sydney: Major Australian zoological institution with on-site wildlife hospital (Taronga Wildlife Hospital), paid admission, premium experiences, and conservation programs. Comparable across visitor, veterinary, and conservation lines at much larger scale.
• Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary: Long-established Queensland wildlife sanctuary with paid admission, animal encounters, a wildlife hospital, and conservation programs. Compares across visitor experience and hospital/rescue verticals.
• Featherdale Wildlife Park: Sydney wildlife park focused on Australian native species, offering paid admission, encounters, and school programs. Comparable school-group and tourist product mix, though without an operating wildlife hospital.

Others

• RSPCA Tasmania: Tasmania's animal welfare charity operating shelters, inspectorate, and wildlife services. Comparable charitable service ethos and ACNC-registered fundraising model, but with a domestic-animal welfare mandate rather than wildlife-experience focus.
• Australian Wildlife Conservancy: National conservation nonprofit managing large sanctuaries and ecological restoration programs. Comparable only at the conservation/NGO funding layer, with overlapping mission and donor base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bonorongwildlifesanctuaryh9851
• Facebookfacebook.com/Bonorong
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bonorong-wildlife-sanctuary
• Instagraminstagram.com/bonorong
• Xx.com/BonorongTAS

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary