Vlad Balashov and Galina Kouznetsova are the owners of Balashiha, a property located in Wombeyan Caves, approximately 100km west of Wollongong, NSW. The property is a residence and dedicated wildlife sanctuary which is also utilized for wildlife rehabilitation, tourism, education and recreation. Vlad and Galina intend to continue using the property for wildlife rehabilitation and as a tourist accommodation.
Balashiha covers 47 hectares of mostly cleared, hilly country overlooking the Blue Mountains. Originally a sheep farm, the property is predominantly covered in native grassland.
Wildlife found on the property includes eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), red-necked (Macropus rufogriseus) and swamp (Wallabia bicolor) wallabies and bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus). A wide variety of birds also live on the property including wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax), gang-gang cockatoos (Callocephalon fimbriatum) and superb lyrebirds (Menura novaehollandiae).
