CROCODILE Hunter Steve Irwin built his Queensland zoo show the world his love of animals - now the Dalai Lama will use it to promote kindness to all creatures.

Australia Zoo's 5000-seat Crocoseum will become the stage for the 14th Dalai Lama to launch the start of Kindness Week later this year, as part of his 2007 Australia Tour.

Kindness Week, which runs from June 13-19, is a major initiative by Karuna Hospice Services - Australia's only Buddhist hospice - which provides comfort and quality of life for people who are dying and their families.

It is designed to promote compassion for all living things.

Over the years, Australia Zoo - on Queensland's Sunshine Coast - has fostered a long-standing relationship with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India, with both sharing a similar philosophy for wildlife and conservation.

During his visit to the zoo, the Dalai Lama will share this philosophy with visitors through a short talk on kindness and animal conservation.

The Dalai Lama's Australian tour takes the spiritual leader to a number of cities around the country, starting with a forum in Perth on June 6.

He also will visit Bendigo, Canberra, Brisbane and Sydney.

Many of these events are free, with tickets to be released closer to the dates.