Marcus Achatz is the owner of Sheoak Ridge Nature Refuge, a property located approximately 30km south of Mossman. The property is a dedicated wildlife sanctuary used for tourism, recreation, education and wildlife rehabilitation, operating as a farmstay for limited numbers of Japanese students each year.
It is Marcus and his partner Claire’s intent to continue managing Sheoak Ridge Nature Refuge for its biodiversity values, while continuing to use the property to educate and inspire people about the importance of conserving habitat. They were in the process of establishing a Nature Refuge Agreement with the Queensland Government when significant changes were made to the program, and hope to revisit permanent protection in the future.
The property covers approximately 66 hectares, around half of which is riparian rainforest and half open woodland, featuring numerous permanent, melaleuca-lined billabongs throughout. There is a permanent spring-fed creek flowing through the property, which provides a water source for wildlife year-round. Vegetation types include rainforest, bloodwood woodland, white mahogany woodland, poplar gum woodland, paperbark woodland, melaleuca wetland, and blue gum woodland.
Examples of wildlife species known to occur on Sheoak Ridge Nature Refuge include platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), buff-breasted paradise kingfishers (Tanysiptera sylvia), 13 species of snakes, 20 species of frogs, striped possums (Dactylopsila trivirgata), feathertail (Acrobates pygmaeus), sugar (Petaurus breviceps), greater (Petauroides volans) and squirrel (Petaurus norfolcensis) gliders, quolls.
