By Elissa Friday
With a passion for wildlife and conservation, Xavier and Madeleine Morello enjoy their work introducing kids to all sorts of native Australian wildlife.
The couple own and operate Wildlife Xposure, offering live interactive animal presentations throughout Victoria to educate children and other onlookers with unforgettable animal experiences, involving everything from snakes and crocodiles to owls and local marine species found in our Victorian coastal waters.
The couple has recently moved from Melbourne to the Surf Coast with their family and menagerie to a property amongst the trees, with over an acre of protected unspoilt indigenous native forest full of local wildlife.
“This move has helped us align even more with our true dream and ethos for Wildlife Xposure, providing ethical and sustainable interactive wildlife conservation programs,” Xavier said.
The programs are ideal for schools, kindergartens, childcare facilities and also offer wildlife birthday parties, displays, stage presentations for festivals, shopping centres, corporate events and much more.
With over 12 years of experience in wildlife education and eco-tourism, outdoor enthusiast and passionate wildlife advocate Xavier also takes a keen interest in nature photography.
Xavier’s first pet, a blue-tongued lizard, was the beginning of his fascination with wildlife, which developed into a “life-long passion”, he said.
They have ten pythons, two dingoes, four crocodiles, four goannas, five water dragons, eight green tree frogs, a colony of squirrel gliders and threatened species such as potoroos, Madeleine explained.
“We also have a barn owl, a barking owl chick and two tawny frogmouths.”
Madeleine says the property is not only a haven for their animals but also a diverse range of native wildlife.
Wildlife Xposure’s in-depth presentations and displays include programs on native animals, marine life, and creepy crawlies like bugs, spiders, and other invertebrates, which Madeleine describes as “really popular with kids”.
