The Australian Zoo is an absolutely treat! I'm not going to lie, I really wasn't sure what to expect of it...as we are not really that big into zoo's ..as we had not so good experiences in the past..but this zoo is absolutely amazing!
Our free shuttle bus from our hostel dropped us off at main beach at 8am where we waited for a coach bus (compliments of the zoo) to arrive at 8:30 am. This service cost us $5.00 / p.p and that included our fare to and from the zoo. The ride took about an hour to get there, but while your sitting on the bus they are playing episodes of 'Steve Irwin Diaries'.
We get there around 9:45..with 15 minutes until "hold a koala" starts!
So many awesome animals are here in the zoo...and not only are most the area's an 'open concept' confinement ..but they also have many other animals like talking parrots, lizards and possums just hanging around the zoo with staff for people to pet or take pictures with.
The first area we checked out were the Asian small clawed otters! So adorable..small and very active little guys! They also did a small Otter show, where a staff member went right into the otter's den and fed them while she told everyone about the species, their lifestyle, diet and other funny facts about them personally.
Afterwards we didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to hold a koala ..so we dashed to the koala area, pumped and ready to hold a little fur ball! Of course, like most things, this comes at a small cost of $20/p.p...so Brad was sweet enough to let me hold him, but we got a picture of the both of us together with the cute little guy. Interesting facts about Koala's...
1. They don't drink water (unless they are sick or in danger of survival)
2. They like to eat only selected species of eucalyptus leaves, and eat about 500 g / day
3. There whole diet consist of eucalyptus leaves, and they sleep around 20 hrs/day
4. Koala's are not bears, they are marsupials
The only down fall to this 20$ fee is that you don't get to spend any time with the koala..its literally a line up of people just having the koala cling to one person to the next... I asked the staff member a few questions regarding the koala...so I guess I was lucky enough to hold him for 20 seconds lol.
Afterwards we checked out the croc area...lots of outdoor man made water holes..(open concept again) and you walk along a pathway, about 10-15 ft above ground, and you can look down on the crocs lurking in their water holes..or out bathing in the sun...pretty cool to see...some big crocs for sure, and even some grandma's!
The Zoo had 2 American Alligator pits, a large Freshwater crocodile pit area and 8 Saltwater pits..where they have even named each of them.
There were also many reptiles to see...Rhinoceros Iguana's (about 2 ft long) get their name from the outgrowth on the end of their noses that look like horns.
Lots of smaller australian lizards running around freely in the zoo also which was pretty cool just to see them doing their thing and not being locked up in cages.
The komodo dragon was really awesome. He was about 3 meters long...the body was like a brownish grey colour, but his head had more bright colours like blues & greens. This is the largest land lizard, and can grow to be 100 kg !
I didn't know that there saliva contains poisonous bacteria ... so it will not bring prey down right away, but after a few days of infection, the prey will die. They are carnivores who will eat any prey sized from small rodents to large water buffalo's! (Needless to say, the Komodo was in a more secure surrounding and we could only look from behind glass)
The Perentie was something I had never seen before. Looked kinda like a cross between a large komodo dragon and a crocodile. They are the biggest monitor lizards in Australia measuring up to 2 meters +
Next stop was Aldabran Tortoises ! Such an amazing reptile! These guys can weigh up to 300kg and about 1 meter tall! Today they are considered to be a rare species and they are trying to introduce them to other neighbouring islands to enhance the chance of long term survival and these tortoises are protected where they currently inhabit. Im glad they walk so slow...gave us a good chance to check em out! They also had cute little fresh water turtles swimming around in the water nearby.
Afterwards around 12:30 there was a great croc show in the Crocoseum! The staff had lured out a large croc into the main 'crocoseum'...or theatre where about close to a couple hundred of ppl could sit around and watch the show! Pretty crazy how close they can get to them..on land that is! A croc cannot manoeuvre as quickly on land compared to in the water..and one of the staff members proved this by sitting literally about 2 ft away from about a 10-15ft croc...so crazy! They also had a bunch of awesome birds flying around..and even displayed some snakes! Such a difference experience than what you would see back home!
Next, onto the cassowaries ! These birds are crazzzzy! These birds are very endangered and extremely dangerous because they are aggressive! (The females more than the males) They are quite large...1-2 meters in height and the heaviest bird in Australia, and the second largest in the world after the ostrich...some of their names are 'Stomp' & 'Rocky'. Says it all folks! You don't want to provoke this bird...which we found out afterwards when Brad thought one was going to peck his sandal.
We also checked out the Dingo's & Camels...when we got to the camel's den, the staff was actually taking them out for walks! Its so nice to see them taking them out of their dens and giving them exercise and a break from being in a confined area. The animals here in the zoo are truly spoiled to others than I have been to before, not only are they out walking the animals at certain times, but staff is also observing them, taking measurements of some (like the koala's, they were weighing them and monitoring their size and keeping records of all their data)
The Tasmanian Devil was awesome..he was a small male, 4 years old and already a dad to 3 joeys! Taz Devils are carnivorous endangered marsupials only located now in Tasmania...hopefully we won't run into any of them when we go on our journey to pick fruit in the new year! Apparently, they can devour an entire prey item..even the bones! He kept running around when we were trying to take pictures of him..but Brad snapped this good one of his being curious on his hind feet
Next were the Wombats! I really like them...they are like large hamsters! They were pretty active..and then had a nice large den for resting and a huge play area outdoors. They are actually marsupial mammals, and closest relative to the koala
KANGAROOS!!! I could have spend forever with them...they are sooooooo cute! There were about...20 maybe all just hanging around the designated area in the zoo...not caged..lying around..some hopping around..others being fed by other zoo comers.. man, this shit was the coolest! We bought a bag of kangaroo food for 2$ which contained like corn & what looked like deer pellets. First we started off just petting the cute lil guys, and then I was too anxious so when we bought the food from the info centre, the staff member told us to hold your hand low..and then as they go to eat out of your hand..slowly move your hand upwards and then they will think your taking the food away and want to hold onto our hands while they eat...holy crap it was cool..so the eating began and we were both so happy! Like little kids really..just giggling and petting them. Some mind you were rougher eaters than others..and of course, theres always a pig in the group- at one point brad had 2 roe's eating out of his hands at once....they are just too cute!
There were tonnes of cool storks and cranes also, this one was my fav..the Jabiru.
Beautiful colours...so bright and pretty!
We also got to see the top 10 venomous snakes including the python seen below...this guy was HUGE!
The Bengal Tigers were awesome also...another fav....never seen them interact like this..and the staff crew were right in there with them! They had 'play toys' for them to chew on and chase into the water...so many times we saw them run and launch into the pool located right in front of our eyes..sooo cool to see these animals run and jump..and she even got one to climb a tree! It was pretty sweet to see them so up close!
The main reason they are putting on the 'tiger show' also is to raise awareness & donations for the poaching that goes on for tigers meat, bones, and hides. They also were selling amazing pictures of them and all proceeds were going to save tigers in other countries. They are estimating that by 2020 there is a good chance that they will all be extinct :( Such large beautiful animals- weighting up to 300kg.
This guy kept going over the log to try and move it...He was the male of the group...so he was too much of a 'big man' to be playing with the 'play toys' i guess lol
The two females were extremely playful, jumping in and out of the pool..its not a skit or anything, they just play with the tigers and its up to them on whether they want to play or not..nothings forced
Fetching her play toy in the water...so unreal..this is actually glass...but when she jumped into the water..it was right at the glass wall..so water went spraying everywhere..pretty cool..looked like she was launching right at you
Action shot of the jump from the side...I was so excited..so its a bit blurry..and it just happened to start pouring rain right when the show started so I had to be quick.
Lastly, was feeding the elephants..there were 3 of them..the big man, the momma and the baby. They were so cute! The male elephant was actually dancing while he was waiting to be fed...it was really cute actually, and I'm kinda pissed we didn't take a video of him doing it..just putting one foot in front of the other...while standing...waiting patiently to be fed by all of US!
So they set up like a conveyer belt type of situation to keep the feeding flowing nicely! There's a big white (almost like a fishing pail dad) thats filled with all kinds of goodies...cantaloupe, carrots, squash, bananas etc all cut into halves ready to be fed! Felt too cool being able to do this...their trunks are rough and after they have been feeding for a while..a bit slimy lol. But that didn't keep me from going multiple times over and over...they just like suction cup the food right out of your hand..and the little baby one would kinda like shake your hand and grabbed it from you...such a cool experience!
BEST ZOO EVER!!
You know, I kinda thought the whole Steve Irwin show and all was fake and just a front...but the truth is that he has set up so many conservation projects and programs for animals, its truly amazing! The Irwin family and staff rescue animals everyday and Steve even made their own koala hospital located right in the zoo. I have really come to change my whole understanding of Steve Irwin and all his enthusiastic insanity!
In fact, I'm pretty jealous. They have the best job ever! I think it would be such a rewarding job saving, working and helping these animals. Many of the conservation projects that are going on right now and continuously are for: Cheetahs, Crocs, Elephants, Tigers, Tasmania Devils & Tagging Turtles & Crocs.
Steve Irwin also has his own Wildlife Reserve dedicated to him, where many petitions are going on to keep mining practices out, and many others! Sign it today!
http://savestevesplace.com/
Random Other Thoughts
1. WASTE is ridiculous here...in the restaurant alone, we probably throw out each night after work about 3 big garbage bags of liquor bottles/beer bottles/glass coke bottles etc...3-4 bags of paper & cardboard...its so disgusting!
2. The Pacific Fair Mall is a mansion castle for shop-a-holics located at Broad beach... Mom & Stace; now theres a place you could easily spend 9-5 shopping! We bought fresh squeezed juice from a smoothie bar there called New Zealands Natural..and it was the bomb! Mine was watermelon, pineapple and boysenberry; brad had a berry one...unreal! http://www.newzealandnatural.com/Australia
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