Gail Cooling is the owner of Natural Sanctuary, a property located in approximately 35km north of Caboolture. The property is a dedicated wildlife sanctuary used for wildlife rehabilitation, and it is Gail’s intent to protect it from development and potentially buy surrounding land for the same purpose. She also hopes to see a population of the endangered Richmond birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia) return to the sanctuary.
The property covers 0.65 hectares predominantly comprised of natural bushland featuring various eucalypts and acacias, Richmond birdwing vines, fruit trees, acacias, bloodwoods (Corymbia terminalis), soap trees (Alphitonia excelsa), and various types of natural grasses.
Wildlife species for which Natural Sanctuary provides habitat include lace monitors (Varanus varians), pythons, common brushtail (Trichosurus vulpecula) and ringtail (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) possums, koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), rose-crowned (Ptilinopus regina) and Wompoo (Ptilinopus magnificus) fruit doves, white-headed pigeons (Columba leucomela), whip birds (Psophodes olivaceus), red-tailed black cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus banksii), cat birds (Ailuroedus crassirostris), superb (Malurus cyaneus) and red-backed (Malurus melanocephalus) fairy wrens, bats, owls, spangled drongos (Dicrurus bracteatus), rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanus), raptors and a variety of butterflies. The sanctuary also houses a variety of frogs including eastern banjo (Limnodynastes dumerilii), green tree (Litoria caerulea), striped marsh (Limnodynastes peronii), striped rocket (Litoria nasuta), and graceful frogs (Litoria gracilenta).
