Wildlife Surrounds is a 15-hectare wildlife education centre nestled in Mount Surround, approximately 50km southeast of Townsville, North Queensland. Founded and managed by Zoologist and conservationist Shakira Todd, this purpose-driven centre blends edu-tourism, environmental education, and community engagement while offering a protected refuge for local wildlife. At the heart of the property is Wildlife Surrounds Conservation Fund Inc., a registered not-for-profit organisation committed to the following goals:
- Contribute to the conservation of, and coexistence with, Australian wildlife, particularly dingoes
- Participate in and promote research that contributes to knowledge about Australian wildlife and wildlife management practices
- Provide information and education to the public about Australian wildlife and wildlife management practices, based on scientific work and other reputable sources
- Provide support to the community, and community organisations, in conserving and coexisting with Australian wildlife
- Provide feedback on policies, legislation and management practices that relate to wildlife management
The property adjoins Bowling Green Bay National Park and features a mosaic of moist to dry Eucalypt woodlands, interspersed with native orchids, cycads, and riparian vegetation along Spring Creek and Double Creek. Wildlife is abundant, with regular sightings of northern quolls, short-beaked echidnas, brown tree snakes, red-tailed black cockatoos, scaly-breasted lorikeets, and both laughing and blue-winged kookaburras.
Ambassador animals — including dingoes, skinks, and pythons — help foster meaningful connections between visitors and the ecosystems they represent. Through immersive experiences, Wildlife Surrounds inspires a deeper understanding of Australia’s unique biodiversity and the importance of living in harmony with it.
