Brendan Sheean has always loved connecting with nature, so he took his passion on the road to teach others about the wonders of wildlife. Photo: Wildlife Reimagined.
Who are you?
My name is Brendan Sheean and I’m a passionate wildlife educator. I’ve been lucky enough to work in the zoo industry for more than 20 years at awesome places such as the Australian Reptile Park, Alice Springs Desert Park and the National Zoo and Aquarium.
I’m also the co-director of Wildlife Reimagined, an education and conservation service that works throughout the Canberra region to reconnect people with nature.
Tell us about Wildlife Reimagined.
Simply put, our mission is to educate people about the wonders of nature. We want to inspire everyone we meet to love, respect and preserve our incredible wildlife and natural habitats.
We care for a range of animals at our home base in Yass, including reptiles, birds, mammals and invertebrates. They come with us to schools, daycare centres and special events, so people of all ages can interact with and learn about them.
We also take people on safaris in places including Namadgi National Park and Tidbinbilla, so they can see animals in their natural habitat.
Wildlife Reimagined’s endangered species residents include Banksi (Major Mitchell cockatoo), Chilli (eclectus parrot), Baaka (woma python) and Tanami (Murray-Darling carpet python). Photos: Wildlife Reimagined.
What made you want to work with wildlife?
I’ve loved animals and the beautiful environments they live in my whole life, so there probably isn’t a particular moment when I decided I was going to do this. It just evolved pretty naturally.
My first ‘real’ wildlife role was volunteering at the Australian Reptile Park after high school.
Is there one member of the menagerie you’re especially connected to?
I try not to play favourites, but Chilli the eclectus is such a character. He’s a real flirt and extremely intelligent. He can say a few words, too.
Who inspires you the most?
There are many inspiring people out there who have done so much for the Earth. David Attenborough comes to mind right away. But my mentors in the zoo industry helped develop my skills to where they are today, so it’s those people I’ll always be grateful for and inspired by.
The team’s invertebrate displays make regular appearances at school fetes and community events across the Canberra region. Photo: Wildlife Reimagined.
Can you describe Canberra’s natural landscape in three words?
Stunning, surprising, diverse.
Tell us about your favourite wildlife moment captured on camera.
There’s a brilliant photo out there of a whale carcass on the ocean floor, with a tiger shark circling nearby. The image is titled ‘Nature’s Prey’ and earned its photographer, Ashlee Jansen, Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year in 2022.
You’re getting a glimpse into a rarely seen part of ocean life, which absolutely blew me away.
Do you have a favourite book?
Any sort of bird field guide is pretty much guaranteed to draw me in. I also love reading about tree kangaroos, which are a lesser-known but really beautiful species.
Brendan and the team include night safari tours in their program. Would you traverse the wilderness at night in search of elusive nocturnal animals? Photo: Wildlife Reimagined.
What activities would you recommend for a 24-hour visit to Canberra?
Check out the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve for gorgeous bush, wetlands and walking trails. The mammals and birds there are absolutely beautiful – you might even see a platypus or two.
If you’d rather go north, Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary is home to iconic echidnas and smaller marsupials such as quolls, bettongs and dunnarts. Wildbark Cafe there does great coffee.
What’s your morning routine?
It’s a busy one but enjoyable. My day starts by checking on all of our animals, feeding them and saying hello. Those quiet morning moments are the best time to bond. Then we load up the van for whatever trip we might have that day, usually in Canberra.
What are you working on at the moment?
Wildlife Reimagined will be holding its second Bugs Alive exhibition, the largest event of its kind in Australia, at the National Botanic Gardens this October. Our first event last year was brilliant and we have lots to build on, so it’s really exciting.
Our butterfly house and spider displays will make a reappearance, plus some new exhibits, so keep an eye out on our socials for more updates.
For more information or to book an experience, visit Wildlife Reimagined.
Original Article published by Morgan Kenyon on Region Canberra.
