That's him in the first picture. He is the new addition to the juvenile males' pen, along with Wolverine, Rogue, and Valentine. From the "sausage sizzle" to the evening finale of feeding the big salt water croc, this evening was all about giving terminaly & severely sick children a zoo experience. So, no pictures but lots of fun for visitors, volunteers & staff volunteers.
I assisted with a group of 119 prep-school kids (age 5 ? ish?) and 19 teachers & parents. They were an excellent group and any traumas were insignificant. I basically just had to get them to the shows, lunch, the paddocks, and get them back to the buses on time. Free Flight Bird Show was popular, as I knew it would be. Check out the short videos below the picture gallery. The Australiana / Sheep Sheering Show was good, with a couple of my kids picked to be on stage victims, er, volunteers. This group of children set a volume record for the loudest (appropriate) respose to the evil cat in the Blinky Bill SHow! When we were in the red kangaroo paddock, a little Joey put on a good show (vids). Pretty typical shift around the park, taking pictures when I can. The video of the bilby was a rare opportunity for me. I do get the work done. HONEST! But I can usually get my little camera out on short notice to snap a pic or take a quick vid-clip. There were definitely some winners today... Koala Photos Koala videos And the other pics!
Totally amazing day at the Sanctuary! Before my shift even started, I Had some good animal experiences in Blinkie Bill's Tree Home (formerly Australia's Green Cauldron). A bilby was active, but cooperated by posing for some pictures. In the nocturnal house, the spinifex jumping mice (marsupias) also cooperated, and the venomous snakes were their usual great posers. Lace monitor was getting some early morning in its new environment, and the neighboring koalas were in their usual and amusing sleeping positions. My first assignment was the ridge walk. It was quiet at that time of the day, so I was able to include the Forest Walk as well. Special treats for me were the elusive quokkas being visible close enough to photograph and video. I also was able to video a couple of separate sessions of the dingoes howling! AND vid-clips of tree kangaroo joey & mom, too! Koalafriends day at work. The definite highlight for me was a superb cuddle session with Bunker. It was even sweeter because as I occupied him, all the work in his pen was being done by keeper Dani.
Some of the pics have comments attached. We have a new resident in one of our koala pens a lace monitor! I just had to picture it all cuddly in the hollow stump.
I didn't pack a lunch today, so I was 'forced' to have a burger & chips from the Sanctuary Cafe and eat it at the new9ish) patio setting at the volunteer office. Sheltered from the rain that was to become a major factor before my work day was done. The Melbourne Cup, that is. The Race That Stops The Nation! It really is a horse race that affects the whole country.
The Kentucky Derby? Meh, just a wee horse race if you look at the percentage of the population that pays very close attention. Anyway, the point is that absenteeism is HIGH on Cup Day, and that includes CWS volunteers, and that is the reason I am putting forward for not taking many pictures in the park today - just too darn busy. Tee-hee. Before shift started I snapped a few good shots of a bilby. The train has not been running through the kangaroo paddock lately, and today a big section of rails was removed to replace some sleepers. |
AuthorRetired Canadian volunteer. Archives
March 2024
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