Eco Hero Bel Martinez Explores Australia's Oldest Zoo and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Eco Hero's Australian Adventure

• 🏆 South Florida teenager Bel Martinez, winner of the Local 10 Ecohero contest, is on a trip of a lifetime in Australia.
• 🇦🇺 She is joined by the Local 10 team, including Christy Krueger and Zoo Miami's Ron McIll, documenting their experiences.

Melbourne Zoo and Conservation Efforts

• 🐨 At the Melbourne Zoo, Australia's oldest zoo, Bel encountered kangaroos and koalas.
• 💡 The team learned about conservation efforts, including the successful breeding program for a species previously thought to be extinct, hatching 81 individuals since January 2023.

Animal Sanctuaries and Indigenous Wildlife

• 🦘 The journey included a visit to an animal sanctuary dedicated to rescuing indigenous animals like the dingo.
• 🐾 The quirky wombat was also highlighted as a focus of labor and love at the sanctuary.

Natural Wonders and Unique Wildlife

• 🏞️ The team explored Port Campbell National Park, home to the iconic Twelve Apostles, magnificent rock stacks formed by millions of years of erosion.
• ⛰️ They climbed a volcanic site over 6 million years old, noting its cultural significance as a meeting place for three different tribes.
• 🌊 Later, they flew over the southern ocean and ventured into the rainforest to search for the platypus at Lake Elizabeth, where they were successful in finding them.