Sunday, April 11, 2010

Australia Zoo

It sure has been a while since I posted! I've suppose I've been busy, though I have been mostly doing things that don't really afford many exciting photo opportunities (mostly volunteering at the local bookshop and the Metro Arts Centre, also teaching the little kids). Spelling Bee was a great success but now it's over. We're in full swing with Wizard Of Oz rehearsals. I haven't danced this much in ages. We danced 5 hours in 31 degree heat with no air conditioning. Phew!

A little while ago, though, Pat and I found some time to hit up the famous Australia Zoo, home of the late great Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. It's in Beerwah, up the Sunshine Coast (I love that they have a Sunshine Coast here, too). I've got tons of pics, but since it was while ago, I can't remember the names of all the animals! I'll do my best. We spend a good 6 hours there - it was a huge place. All of the animals had nice large habitats, which made me happy.


Aw, a kookaburra. I love these guys, even though they laugh in the middle of the night like some sort of crazy hyena-monkey.


The classic Australian sheep.


Red panda!


Ganesh, part of the elephant exhibit.


The Buddha that welcomes us to the South East Asia part of the zoo, with the tigers, elephants and red pandas.


A happy little wombat (I call the wommas). I got my own little souvenir womma from the shop. They are so cute, but apparently quite vicious (a man in Victoria was attacked by one after he accidentally stepped on it).

I totally thought this guy was dead, but he was breathing. Just extremely lazy.



I cannot for the life of me remember what these birds are called. But they sure were beautiful!


Pat with his 'roo friend.


A sweet little wally-B.


Echidna!! Here is a video of him trundling about.




Oh, sleepy koalas. Such a tough life.




Crocodile! There were so many of them! We even watched Terri and Bindi Irwin feeding them. It was pretty awesome.


Emerald tree snake, absolutely the prettiest snake in the whole place (and non-venomous). The snake exhibit was quite impressive, the deadliest ones are actually pretty small.


This is Sabu, the elephant me and Pat fed! Feeling a trunk grab a piece of fruit from you really gives you a taste of how powerful these animals are!


The super-cute Asian small-clawed otters! I love the noises they make when they are getting fed!


Don't forget to check out Pat's pictures (there are some of me, and he's got a nicer camera) at his blog: www.patswalkabout.blogspot.com. To finish things off, here are some tigers hoping for some milk from their trainer. I'm sure glad I'm not him, but they were beautiful animals (and they really love milk).