We work hard (well, as hard as required!), but there are occasional perks. This is a big one - getting to assist in early training of young koalas for future work as a poser. Working koalas must sit calmly on person while their picture is taken by one of our professional photographers. Transfers between the keeper/handler and paying customers must be learned and it requires trust between handler & koala. Today we got to assist by pretending to be clients. OK, what this really means for us volunteers is that we get to hold a young koala, and there are not many things nicer than an extended koala cuddle!! The object of our affection today was a male named Darren.
0 Comments
Having fun at Meet & Greet. I found time to swing by Lost Valley and Outback Springs while keeping an eye on the kangaroo paddock. Today's critters include: red panda, capybara, binturong, llama, fancy chook, glossy ibis, bush stone curlew, ring-tailed lemur, Goodfellows tree kangaroo, estuarine crocodile, and Tasmanian Devil. (Sorry, no red or grey kangaroo pictures today!) I began my association with the Sanctuary in February, 2009. At that time, the Volunteer Manager position was unpaid, and it was filled admirably by volunteer Nora Forrest. Back then, the training for a Park Volunteer position was a three month affair. We met weekly, on Wednesdays, to learn from experienced volunteers all about the animals & features of the park. We had homework assignments that forced us to come into CWS on our own time to complete, and weekly tests to pass. On our last day of training we had to give an oral presentation to our trainers and fellow trainees; we had to pick one animal in the Sanctuary and talk for five minutes about it! (I still remember my nervousness at speaking about 'Holey', the huge salt water croc!)
I had the distinction of being the only guy in a class of 24. There are six of us still active, but somehow two of the group wound up with different anniversary dates. It was nice to see four of us acknowledged in the latest Sanctuary Newsflash. Once again I start my shift in my happy place, feeding the lorikeets & helping people experience these little beauts close-up. I'll deal with the rest of my morning in a separate post. These furballs are SO photogenic, but I take few pics compared to my Tuesday morning shift as a park volunteer. The reason for that is simple: My hands are always busy & often dirty, so I hesitate to get out my camera or phone. But, I still manage to capture more than enough images to remind me of the specialness of being up-close to these incredible beings. It was another manic morning at the Lorikeet Arena. Lots of birds & lots of guests to help feed them makes my happy place special, indeed! Pelicans & waterfowl provide entertainment even before the formal feeding presentation, especially with Line now anticipating and welcoming the keeper with the food bucket! Life as usual in the kangaroo paddocks & Outback Springs.
Outback Springs is the newly finished precinct in the kangaroo paddock. (Check the CWS website for details.) The big impact for me today was seeing a huge Goliath Stick Insect up close! Wet kangaroos - Eastern greys and central reds. Plus birds - emu, spoonbill, magpie geese, and af course, ducks & pigeons. How fun is this!?! Hundreds of wet, hungry birds, a few happy customers, & me & my volunteer mates providing nourishment. The action was insanely wild! See the videos for some close-up action. |
AuthorRetired Canadian volunteer. Archives
March 2024
Categories |