Park News!

[Johno]

Johno here! Now this is what they said on the Wonderland Sydney website. Just click on media and sponsors then click on press releases. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feline Fantasy Becomes Reality Media Release - Embargoed - Monday 17th February 2003 5 February 2003 International Illusionists of The Year, Tony and Juleen’s Spellbinding Sorcery Illusion Show at Wonderland Sydney will be taken to a new level on Saturday 22nd February when a brand new Las Vegas style production takes the stage for a limited time. Through their respected reputation in the entertainment industry, the new production will see Tony and Juleen realise a life long dream to perform an illusion with a live tiger. In association with Wonderland Sydney, The Wonderland Conservation Foundation and the wildlife knowledge of Jonathan Minor, Director of Life Science, their dream has become reality. Tony and Juleen hope to raise the awareness of the tigers’ plight, having been inspired by their mentors “Magicians of the Century” Siegfried and Roy, who work to save the White Tigers and Lions of the world. “The goal is to increase the awareness of the tigers’ plight through the magic of entertainment. The message is simple “Education through Entertainment,” said Tony Laffan. Jonathan Minor has a strong history with tiger conservation in Australia and has been working for the past four years at The Australian Wildlife Park within Wonderland Sydney. The future will see Wonderland Sydney move into exotic animal displays and interactive educational centres. “This is the first stage of the strategy, developments for permanent displays are planned for late 2003,” stated Mr Minor. In addition to the Feline Fantasy Illusion the new production will feature several exciting new illusions. In a break from tradition Tony and Juleen together perform the Elastic Lady Illusion as one of the dancers takes on the role as “assistant”. In a humorous routine, Tony and Juleen pull and stretch her arms, head and body beyond belief. Two new audience participation routines will also be performed during the ½ hour show at Wonderland Sydney. One involves a wife pulling the lever of a two-meter high French Guillotine “Head Chopper” over her husband’s neck. The results are absolutely hilarious. WHO IS THE WCF? The Wonderland Conservation Foundation (W-C-F) has been established to fund the conservation of endangered animals. The WCF actively fund conservation in the wild, not just in captivity. One hundred percent of all funds raised by The WCF Tiger Appeal will go into protecting tigers’ in the wild. TIGER FACTS: The tiger is one of the most magnificent animals in the world, it is also one of the most endangered. Fewer than 5,000 exist in the wild and three of the eight subspecies have disappeared over the past sixty years. The South China Tiger is facing the same fate, with its population thought to number less than 50 individuals on the planet. All tiger subspecies are threatened by hunting and a lack of habitat and prey. Wonderland Sydney is the winner of Tourism New South Wales major tourist attraction award for 2002 and is the largest theme park in the Southern Hemisphere. ENDS