The Lorikeet Garden is the biggest exhibit to be added to Coral World since the park re-opened in 1998. A ribbon cutting will take place at Coral World on Tuesday, December 19th at 9:00 am. The exhibit will open to the public on Wednesday, December 20th.

The Lorikeet Garden is a 1,600 square-foot walk-through aviary. Coral World guests will be able to enter the habitat and enjoy the lorikeets flying freely in the enclosure. Guests also will have an opportunity to purchase cups of nectar to feed these friendly birds. The exhibit will open with 20 birds; however, Coral World intends to introduce more birds in the near future. Of the 20 birds, 17 are multi-colored rainbow lorikeets known for their sociable nature. There is also a pair of Blue-streaked lorikeets, and a Rainbow/Blue-streaked hybrid. According to Peter Noah, Coral World Vice President of Operations, all of the birds are hand-raised, so they are very comfortable around people. He said, "Of all of the birds I've worked with, lorikeets are by far the most entertaining. They are natural clowns, very acrobatic, and inquisitive about people."

Lorikeets are nectar-eating birds, usually crushing the flower and then licking the honey with their tongues. Their specialized "bottle-brush" tongues make it easier for them to extract nectar and pollen from flowers and from the small cups of nectar provided at Coral World.

Park President and General Manager Trudie Prior said, "We are very excited to offer our guests the chance to get close to these beautiful birds and to learn about them." Prior said, "In the last year we have been focusing on making the park more interactive, because we have concluded that our guests desire more interaction with animals and the environment. They no longer want to be just spectators." Earlier this year Coral World launched the Shark Encounter program designed to put guests in close contact with sharks in the Shark Shallows Pool. The opening of the Lorikeet Garden gives guests one more opportunity for a unique animal interaction.

Admission to the Lorikeet Garden is included in the general admission ticket. For those wishing to feed the lorikeets, there is a charge of $2 per cup of nectar.