The iridescent blues and green of a peacock’s plume is a beautiful sight to behold. It’s just not something you expect to see among the chooks and goats at Bundaberg’s beloved farm stay and animal sanctuary, Splitters Farm.
But if owner and animal lover Carly Clark has the resources and right space at their 160-acre property on Splitters Creek, she will take in any farm animal that needs help or a home.
There are more than 400 animals on the farm that you can visit and feed, most of them rescues, from ducks, chickens and guinea fowl to sheep, horses, alpacas, goats, pigs and more. The animals come in all shapes, sizes, colours, and temperaments!
“We do get peacocks from time to time, normally from schools where they have bred out of control. They also leave their mess everywhere and love looking at their own reflections so are always on the windows,” Carly said.
“But most of the animals come from broken relationships, drought and hardship or changing circumstances. We’ll get animals from deceased estates or domestic violence victims fleeing the area and needing to offload their animals in a hurry.”
“We also take in animals that are neglected and abused, from people who’ve had them confiscated because they are not doing the right thing, or they are animal hoarders.”
While farm life can be hard and heartbreaking at times, it is also comes with a sense of purpose and reward.
“When we get an animal, we don’t take it unless it is for life. And when we take on an animal if it is sick or injured, we do everything we can to save its life. But it’s important to note we aren’t an animal hospital, rehabilitation centre or foster home. We adopt them as our own,” Carly said.
Families can visit and feed the animals seven days a week. For extended time at the beautiful property, set up camp or glamp in a deluxe safari tent.