Animals put down at Waratah Park

The last native animals have left NSW's Waratah Park, following the euthanising of five creatures and the revelation the park's owner didn't have a licence to operate a wildlife sanctuary.

The park where Skippy was filmed in the late 1960s and early 1970s has been closed since it was bought by Melbourne-based Prudentia Investments in 2006, but the company failed to renew the licence to keep native animals.

Four kangaroos and a swamp wallaby have been put down in recent months, the animals being destroyed because they were deemed too old to be moved or had untreatable health problems.

A Prudentia spokeswoman explained "the recent decision to euthanise (the) animals was taken with the best interests of the animals in mind and in consultation with our veterinary staff and the RSPCA."

The NSW Environment and Climate Change Department has been seeking homes for about 130 kangaroos, wallabies, emus, bettongs and pademelons still at the park.

A Department spokeswoman added "we're working with the Fauna and Marine Parks Association to determine which facilities can best accommodate the animals.

"It hasn't been finalised as to which animals will go where but they will go to good homes.

"All involved are now working through the logistics of the translocation process."

Waratah Park is leased by Prudentia from the NSW Lands Department.

The lease, which expires in October 2015, specifies the land must be used for 'Tourist Facilities and Services'.

The NSW Lands Department and Prudentia said they have been in negotiations for some time over the park but wonât reveal the nature of the talks or the matters being discussed.