Shovels are in the ground for the Southern Hemisphere's first marine wildlife hospital

Construction is under way at Sea World on Australia's Gold Coast for a purpose-built wildlife hospital — the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere — designed for dolphins, whales, dugongs, rays, turtles, seabirds and sharks. Queensland environment minister Andrew Powell marked the start: 'shovels are in the ground.' The Sea World Foundation team already rescues hundreds of marine animals a year; the hospital, due to open next year, will expand treatment capacity and visitor education.