David Howells Fleay (6 January 1907 Ballarat, Victoria – 7 August 1993) was an Australian naturalist who pioneered the captive breeding of endangered species, and was the first person to captive breed the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Ballarat is a city in regional Victoria, Australia, approximately 120 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, with a population of 84,000 people. ... Motto: Peace and Prosperity Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Governor HE Mr John Landy Premier Steve Bracks (ALP) Area 237,629 km² (6th)  - Land 227,416 km²  - Water 10,213 km² (4. ... August 7 is the 219th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (220th in leap years), with 146 days remaining. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Table of natural history, 1728 Cyclopaedia Natural history is an umbrella term for what are now usually viewed as several distinct scientific disciplines. ... A breed is a domesticated subspecies or infrasubspecies of an animal. ... The endangered Sea Otter An endangered species is a population of organisms (usually a taxonomic species), which is either (a) so few in number or (b) threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters that it is at risk of becoming extinct. ... Binomial name Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Shaw, 1799) The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a small, half-aquatic mammal endemic to the eastern part of Australia, and one of the three extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young (the other two are echidnas). ...

Early years

Fleay had an aesthetic upbringing: His mother, Maude Glover Fleay, had studied painting under Fred McCubbin; his father, William Henry Fleay, was a manufacturing chemist in Ballarat. After education at a state primary school and later a private high school, Ballarat Grammar School, Fleay was first employed in his fathers chemist shop and then was briefly a teacher at Ballarat Grammar. The Letter 1884 Frederick McCubbin (25 February 1855 - 20 December 1917) was an Australian painter who was prominent in the famous Heidelberg School, one of the most important periods in Australias visual arts history. ... Chemist Julie Perkins of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory pours from a Florence flask. ... Ballarat Grammar School. ...

He left for Melbourne in 1927 to study for a Bachelor of Science degree and Diploma of Education at Melbourne University. There, he met another student, Mary Sigrid Collie, and they married in 1931, the same year that Fleay graduated having majored in Zoology, Botany and Education. He was employed as a teacher in Ballarat until 1934. Melbourne is the state capital and largest city in the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-largest city in Australia, with a population of approximately 3. ... The University of Melbourne, located in Melbourne, in Victoria, is the second oldest university in Australia (the University of Sydney is the oldest). ... Zoology (Greek zoon = animal and logos = word) is the biological discipline which involves the study of animals. ... Pinguicula grandiflora Botany is the scientific study of plantlife. ...

Work in Natural Science

Fleay's interest in the natural world coincided with the awakening of scientific interest in endangered species, and the realisation by the public that Australian animals were worthy of attention other than as a source of food.

He realised the importance of endangered species early in his career when, in 1933, he was the last person to photograph a captive thylacine or Tasmanian tiger at the Hobart Zoo. In the process he was bitten on the bottom, the scar from the injury carried proudly throughout his life. Binomial name Thylacinus cynocephalus (Harris, 1808) The Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was a large carnivorous marsupial native to Australia. ... Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. ...

In 1934, Fleay was asked to design and establish the Australian animal section at Melbourne Zoo, and worked there for 4 years. During this time he had several scientific achievements, including the first breeding in captivity of the Emu, several bird species including the Tawny Frogmouth, and marsupials including the Koala. He also commenced research into the breeding habits of the platypus. His next public education efforts were nature talks on a Melbourne radio station, in 1937. Later that year, disagreements with the zoo's management came to a head and Fleay was dismissed, principally because of his belief that native birds and animals should be fed what they would eat in the wild. The Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens, commonly known as the Melbourne Zoo, contains more than 350 animal species from Australia and around the world. ... Species Dromaius novaehollandiae Dromaius baudinianus(extinct) Dromaius ater(extinct) Synonyms Dromiceius novaehollandiae disambiguation page The Emu (pronounced , or (primarily American) ) (Dromaius novaehollandiae, Latin for fast-footed New Hollander. ... Binomial name Podargus strigoides Latham, 1802 The Tawny Frogmouth, Podargus strigoides, is an Australian variety of Frogmouth found throughout the Australian mainland, Tasmania and southern New Guinea. ... Orders Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Marsupials are mammals in which the female typically has a pouch (called the marsupium, from which the name Marsupial derives) in which it rears its young through early infancy. ... Binomial name Phascolarctos cinereus (Goldfuss, 1817) The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a thickset arboreal marsupial herbivore native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae. ...

Healesville Sanctuary

Coincidentally, the Healesville Sanctuary some 90km from Melbourne was in need of a director and he was appointed. The animals there included quolls, Tasmanian devils, dingoes and various birds of prey, to which he added tiger snakes that were milked for antivenene, and platypus. Many animals were housed in large paddock-like areas with swing-weighted gates so that visitors could freely interact with the animals. He also conducted daily 'feeding' displays of the platypusses (plural of platypus). Healesville Sanctuary is a zoo specializing in native Australian animals. ... Species See text. ... Binomial name Sarcophilus laniarius (Boitard, 1841) Synonyms Sarcophilius harrisii The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus laniarius), also referred to simply as the devil, is a carnivorous marsupial now found only in the Australian island state of Tasmania. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus dingo (Meyer, 1793) Breed standards (external link) ANKC The dingo (Canis lupus dingo) is a type of wild dog, probably descended from the Indian Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes). ... Species Notechis scutatus Notechis ater The tiger snakes are two species of highly venomous snake found in Australia. ... Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites. ...

His greatest achievement at Healesville was in 1943, when he bred the first platypus in captivity. His platypussary (platypus enclosure) incorporated features of their native streams. On about 5 November 1943, "Corrie" was born. No-one other than Fleay successfully bred and reared a platypus until 1998 when Healseville Sanctuary again had success. Since then, breeding has occurred only twice more: at Healesville and Taronga Zoo (twins). November 5 is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 56 days remaining. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... Giraffes in front of Sydneys skyline. ...

In 1947, he took three platypuses (the plural of platypus) to New York for the Bronx Zoo where they occupied a platypussary built to his specifications. He studied animal husbandry at various zoos and wildlife sanctuaries across the U.S.A., returning to Healesville in October to discover that the Board had dismissed him for supposed unauthorised donations of animals to various foreign zoos. While untrue, this caused considerable hurt: He was demoted and remained at Healesville as a consultant. Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq. ... This article is about the zoo, for the tv series see The Bronx Zoo (TV). ... For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ...

He was also keeping a private collection of animals, but in 1951 the Government of Victoria legislated to prevent private individuals from charging fees for the public to see animal collections. This caused him to decide to move the collection.

Burleigh, Queensland

After extensive research, the Tallebudgera Estuary in the hinterland behind Burleigh on the Gold Coast in Queensland was selected, the reasons including that it offered an untouched natural habitat for koalas apart from already having cleared areas (then farmland) for development of animal enclosures. The Fleays gradually acquired land and by 1958 had enclosures for people to see platypuses, snakes, dingoes, plain turkeys, ospreys, crocodiles and alligators; in contrast, bandicoots, flying foxes, sea eagles, wallabies and koalas, were free to visit from adjoining the forest. However, his focus was on the scientific study of the animals. For places with the same name or other meanings, go to Gold Coast (disambiguation) Glitz and palm trees The Gold Coast is a coastal region approximately 70 km south of Brisbane, Australia that, over the past 50 years, has coalesced from a collection of scattered villages into a city of... Gold Coast city is located in the south east corner of Queensland, Australia. ... Emblems: Faunal - Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus); Floral - Cooktown orchid (Dendrobium bigibbum); Bird - Brolga (Grus rubicunda); Aquatic - Barrier Reef Anemonefish (Amphiprion akindynos); Gem - Sapphire; Colour - Maroon Motto: Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Const. ...

The area also included middens used by earlier generations of the Gold Coast's Kombumerri Aboriginal people. Fleay retained these heritage areas, and maintained good relationships with the Kombumerri. A midden, or kitchen midden, is a dump for domestic waste. ... Australian Aborigines are the main indigenous people of Australia. ...

The animals were fed partly from donations from local bakers and butchers, with local residents donating dead animals to feed the owls (or the goannas if it was no longer fresh); mice and rats were collected frequently from the McKerras Research Institute behind the hospital; worms were collected fresh daily for the platypuses; eels, pigeons and flying foxes were also killed to provide food for the owls, snakes and crocodiles.

Injured or sick animals from as far away as New Guinea and Central Queensland were accommodated at the sanctuary. Those that lived were kept for research or breeding; native animals, when recovered, were released into the wild; deceased animals were fed to the survivors.

In 1982, 37 acres (150,000 m²) of the land owned by David and Sigrid Fleay was sold to the Queensland Government and became a Conservation Park. The following year, the 20 acre (81,000 m²) main Fauna Reserve with its animal enclosures was also sold to the Government. The remainder of the site 7.5 acres (30,000 m²) was transferred in 1985. Under the terms of this arrangement, David and Sigrid Fleay continued to live and work at the park: In 1983 it closed for 5 years for redevelopment and re-opened in 1988. The government retains the property as the David Fleay Wildlife Park.

Achievements

• First captive breeding of the platypus (1943), Mulgara (1955), Planigale (midget marsupial) (1958), Taipan (snake) (1960), Powerful Owl Ninox strenua (1968), Greater Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa (1969), Grey Goshawk (1971), Australian Masked Owl Tyto novaehollandiae (1971), Australasian Grass Owl Tyto longimembris (1972), Crested Hawk (1975), Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax (1977), and Fluffy Glider Petaurus australis (1988).
• Extensive snake venom production, including Death adders, Brown snakes, Mulga snakes and tiger snakes for Dr C.H. Kellaway of The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.

Binomial name Dasycercus cristicauda (Krefft, 1867) The Mulgara (Dasycercus cristicauda) lives in deserts and spinifex bush of central Australia. ... Orders Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Marsupials are mammals in which the female typically has a pouch (called the marsupium, from which the name Marsupial derives) in which it rears its young through early infancy. ... This article is about the Australian snake. ... Binomial name Ninox strenua (Latham, 1802) The Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) is a species of owl native to south-eastern and eastern Australia. ... Binomial name Tyto tenebricosa Gould, 1845 Subspecies The Greater Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa) is a medium to large owl found in south-eastern Australia, Montane rainforests of New Guinea and have been seen on Flinders Island in the Bass Strait. ... Binomial name Accipiter gentilis (Linnaeus, 1758) The Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis; from OE. góshafuc goose-hawk) is a medium large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. ... Binomial name Tyto novaehollandiae (Stephens, 1826) The Australian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) is a Barn owl of Southern New Guinea and the non desert areas of Australia. ... Binomial name Aquila audax (Latham, 1802) The Wedge-tailed Eagle or Arrawa (Aquila audax) is a very large Australasian raptor and the most common of all the worlds large eagles. ... Species Acanthophis antarcticus Acanthophis praelongus Acanthophis pyrrhus Acanthophis hawkei Acanthophis wellsei The death adders are a group of three or five species of snakes native to the Australian continent. ... Species See text. ... Species Notechis scutatus Notechis ater The tiger snakes are two species of highly venomous snake found in Australia. ... The Walter and Eliza Hall Institue of Medical Research is located in Parkville, Melbourne. ...

Honours

• Australian Natural History Medallion for 1941
• elected as a Corresponding Member of the Zoological Society of London in 1945
• elected as a Corresponding Member (Life) of the New York Zoological Society in 1947
• Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1960
• Associate of the Queensland Museum in 1978
• Fellow of the Explorers Club in New York in 1979
• Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1980
• Advance Australia Award in 1980
• honorary Doctorate of Science by the University of Queensland in 1984
• appointed a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow in 1984

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is a learned society founded in April 1826 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Lord Auckland, Sir Humphry Davy, Joseph Sabine, Nicholas Aylward Vigors and other eminent naturalists. ... This article is about the zoo, for the tv series see The Bronx Zoo (TV). ... Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand Cross... Queensland Museum - 1879-1899 later, the building housed the State Library Queensland Museum was first founded by the Queensland Government in 1862, and had several temporary homes until the Government built a home for the Museum in William Street, Brisbane. ... The Explorers Club is international organzation formed by the survivors of Frederick Cooks 1894 Arctic expedition. ... Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, wearing on her left shoulder the Order of Australias Sovereign Badge. ... See: Rotary engine Rotary International Rotary milking shed rotary intersections This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Paul Harris is an inventor, magician, and writer. ...

Animals bearing his name

• Fleay's Barred Frog (Mixophyes fleayi)
• the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle (Aquala Audax Fleayii), a separate sub-species identified by Fleay

Binomial name Mixophyes fleayi Corben & Ingram, 1987 The Fleays Barred Frog (Mixophyes fleayi) is a large species of frog restricted to small pockets of rainforest in northern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland, Australia. ...

Publications

• We Breed the Platypus (1944)
• Talking of Animals (1956, reprinted 1960)
• Living with Animals (1960)
• Nightwatchmen of Bush and Plain (1968)
• Paradoxical Platypus (1980)
• Looking at Animals (1981)
• photographs featured in E. Byrne's The Unique Animals of Australia (1961)
• Extensive writing as a newspaper columnist on natural history topics
• Scientific papers including in The Victorian Naturalist, The Australian Zoologist, Walkabout and Wild Life

External links

• David Fleay Wildlife Park
• David Fleay's 1945-46 Tasmanian Tiger Expedition