Richard and Maureen Brasnett are the owners of El-Raes a property located approximately 20km north-west of Toowoomba. The property is a dedicated wildlife sanctuary and a residence. It is Richard and Maureen’s intent for the property to continue in its current purposes, providing a safe haven for local animals. Richard and Maureen also care for wildlife by putting out water containers and providing ponds for frogs.
El-Raes is situated on 2.02 gently sloping hectares of natural bushland, with approximately 0.4 hectares cleared for a vegetable garden and flower beds. The sanctuary provides vital habitat and protection for local wildlife, particularly as it adjoins two other properties which have been heavily cleared. Vegetation consists predominantly of thick vine scrub and includes a variety of eucalypts (Eucalyptus spp.), sheoaks (Casuarina spp.) and ironbarks (E. paniculata).
Wildlife known to inhabit the property includes short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor), lace monitors (Varanus varius), eastern blue-tongued lizards (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides), carpet pythons (Morelia spilota), and blue-bellied black snakes (Pseudechis guttatus). The sanctuary supports an abundance of bird life including eastern koels (Eudynamys orientalis), laughing kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae), pheasant coucals (Centropus phasianinus) and channel-billed cuckoos (Scythrops novaehollandiae).
