Koala Sanctuary April 15, 2011

Wallaby

Cockatoo

Did you imagine that the whole animal thing here in AU could get any better? I did not think so, but today it did. We took a train and a bus (yes, I figured it out mostly on my own!) to a nearby Koala Sanctuary which was originally established in the 1920s when the koala fur trade was rapidly growing.  Noel Burnett founded the first ever Sanctuary for Koalas where they could live and breed.

While there we saw a variety if birds- cockatoos, budgies and a few others. We also saw several different kinds of wallabies.  The wombat was once again asleep so we were not able to check him out. Bummer.  We finally saw the infamous dingoes that Cooper has been dying to see. They were a little disappointing as they looked kind of like the dog next door.  Never the less, it was great to finally see them.  At one point Coop noticed that the dingoes were panting and said to me, "Mom, I didn't know dingoes panted." I said, "Of course they do. All dogs pant to cool off."  He replied, "I don't think that is going to work for them."

 

Dingoes

Then came the koalas. Not only did we get to SEE koalas, but we each got to PET (or stroke as we heard others say) one and have a photo taken.  Absolutely an incredible experience. Their fur is a little coarse and oily, but still soft. The koala we petted was named was Sean after Sean Connery and he was 7 years old.  He just sat there as people petted him and he got sleepier and sleepier as time went on. The koala caretaker informed us that we were not to call them "koala bears" because they are not true bears (bears are mammals and koalas are marsupials)) so we should just call them "koalas."  Spread the news!

Steph and Cooper with Sean

Another koala

Next stop was to feed the kangaroos. We imagined that it would be like feeding the goats at the zoo.  Kids on one side of the fence and goats on the other. Nope, not here. We actually went into a huge enclosed area where there were 10 or so kangaroos just lounging around. There was even one mama kangaroo with her joey in her pouch! We could not believe it!  Cooper was so happy. He spent his time making sure that each and every kangaroo got some food. He even tried to feed the joey, but as he tells it, "was not interested."  There really are not words to describe what it was like to be in that "pen" with all those kangaroos right there and to touch them and to feed them.  Incredible.

Tucker and a kangaroo

Tucker checking out a kangaroo

Mama kangaroo with a joey in her pouch

Cooper feeding a kangaroo

At one point,  the boys were swarmed by people on a tour from somewhere in Asia.  They were snapping pictures like crazy of the boys and the boys were, of course, eating it up. They were both flirting!  It was hilarious.

the boys and the paparazzi

more photos of the boys