What a great day! We left the MH to have a rest today and we combined a good explore with an exercise day! We headed off to the Taronga Western Plains Zoo, which was just down the road.
This free range Zoo is huge - great the animals have so much space and they appear to be "in the wild"! Easy to get around to see the animals from all around the globe - walk, bike, electric buggy or vehicle - your choice! We chose to walk and why not - the weather was fabulous! The Zoo has a programme of Keeper talks and animal feeding - a good idea to pick up the program for the day you are visiting so you can plan your safari. Your ticket gives you two consecutive days at the zoo - ample time to explore this wonderful zoo and spend time with the animals and their keepers! Lots of lovely picnic areas and barbecues throughout the park, so it is a great whole day or two day experience!
Loved all the animals, but I think my favourite was the Galapagos Tortoise - fascinating - looks like ET or ET looks like them! Oh.... and the giraffe's! - quite graceful for long stretches.... and the Zebra's - they called them Plain Zebras, but I thought they were pretty fancy! ....The Ostrich - characters with their prancing, pink lipstick and soft fanning wings! Happy the Hippo! Could go on about each of the animals! - all had an endearing characteristic.
A fabulous and fascinating day! Always the way with animals and the natural world!
Let's go on Safari......just look at the pics, and learn something about these amazing animals as well if that interests you.
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| It's huge - fantastic to see the animals free ranging! |
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| The beautiful setting of the Savannah Visitors Plaza and picnic area. This is an area open to the public to visit - you don't have to go into the Zoo area. A nice place in Dubbo to catch up for coffee or for a picnic! You do get to watch the monkeys play on Primate Island! Lot's of fun watching their antics! |
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Bakhita's Cafe
You can visit the cafe and enjoy a meal or coffee overlooking the Savannah Lake and Primate Islands
anytime, you don't have to go into the Zoo. There is also a Safari Playground for the kids. |
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| They have an enormous paddock to roam around in and they are all crammed into the pen by choice! lol |
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| Mum and bub!:) |
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| Sitting quietly by the fence - been sedated, still has the arrow in his shoulder :( |
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Mother and daughter
Susie is 42 and Nile is 13 |
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| Sleeping Susie enjoying the sun! |
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| Happy the Hippo! Coming to visit us! Fascinating watching him! |
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| In he goes! |
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| Walks along the bottom of his waterhole! |
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| Here I am! |
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| Food, glorious food! |
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Loves a play with his keeper - the pressure hose is the best!
All play teaches them a behaviour so the keepers can manage the animal. |
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| My what big teeth you have! Bite pressure of jaw - 1,000 kgs!!! |
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| Happy having his teeth checked and filed! |
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| This is a behaviour the keeper teaches the hippos so they can check their mouths regularly |
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Sally is gorgeous!
She came to the Zoo with three of her herd, all have died now and Sally is left alone. :(
The Zoo is familiarising her with two camels at the moment, who will be introduced to her territory for companionship. |
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| having her feet brushed off and checked |
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| Endangered because of use in traditional medicine |
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| So Sad! |
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| Magnificent! |
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| Has to hunt for their food - find where the keeper has hidden it so they use their natural wild instincts |
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Amazing climbers!
If you are escaping a tiger never hide up a tree!!! |
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| Success - very happy! |
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| Such a beautiful face |
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| Delicious! Kangaroo on the menu today! |
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| Very cute! and fast!!!! |
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| Drying off after my swim! Funny- they rub on the grass like dogs do after a bath |
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| Certainly looks prehistoric! Amazing seeing the armour plates up close! |
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| Unfortunately 4 of the zoo's White Rhinos died a few weeks ago succumbing to an unknown disease |
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| A good trend! |
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| Found Rudolph! |
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| Gorgeous! |
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| These two were stalking and fighting each other! |
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| Wow! |
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| REGAL! Amazing - you feel their power and strength! |
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| I'm watching YOU! |
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| Very special! |
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| Great paintings! |
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| Athleteic! |
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| Thinking deeply! |
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| Lots of space and rom for fun and games! |
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| Toughies! |
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| Sleek! |
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| What a girl!! |
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| Love the pink lips! |
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| Love them! So fancy! The stripes were different on each Zebra! |
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| Love them!!! Fascinating to observe their actions and behaviour. |
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| They like to look at you! ET? |
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The historic hatchling - now 12 months old and still so tiny compared to the adults!
The Zoo has lots of eggs but most don't hatch. |
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| A funny fellow! |
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| Looks cuddly! |
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| Not so cuddly but inquisitive! |
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These two were causing the keeper grief - today they began fighting badly - not a behaviour they want to encourage!
The keeper had been there for 2 hours watching them and trying to decide on a solution! |
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| Sentry duties! |
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| They were all in hiding! When we arrived at the Zoo they were making their raucous territorial calls - noisy lot! |
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These were all out for a game and shenanigans !
Do you know the movie thy star in? |
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| Caught in mid leap! Chasing the birds! |
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The cheeky cocky pinching the Lemur's food! The lemur was trying to pounce on the cocky -
very amusing to watch! |
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| Safety in numbers - outsmarting the Lemur! |
A fabulous day and a great Safari!
Loved walking on the wild side!
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