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September 30, 2009 - Cairns Night Zoo
Let me preface this by saying that if you like animals and you are in Cairns, you really, really, really should make this event part of your trip here! We had so much fun!!!!!
So we arrived at the Cairns Night Zoo and were checked in. One of the first to greet us was Sam - the Sulpher-Crested Cockatoo (he liked being scratched behind his ears and told us so by saying 'scratch' and tilting his head to the side.
After we were checked in, we were allowed to grab a drink while we waited for our food to be served. We had water (we have been drinking tons of water here), but beer, wine, and sodas were all available as part of the evening's events. Next came a Swaggie with a Didgeridoo and gave everyone a lesson and a chance to play. Video will come at some point. Then the buffet was ready.
Freshly grilled steak, grilled chicken, Spanish mackerel, sausages, baked potatoes, the world's best cole slaw, pasta salad, green salad and crusty bread. Then the desserts came out. Pavlova with fresh fruit salad and lashings of whipped cream. I was too stuffed to try it, but Daniel said it was very good. Jack tried grilled chicken, a baked potato and the pavlova. He didn't like any of it, but at least he tried it!
While we ate, Dave sang us some songs. Our particular favorite was Country Roads! I feel sure he sang it for us (as he sang it when near our table), but later he seemed surprised to learn we were from Virginia. We bought his CD as we enjoyed his songs so much. Not so sure that Sam liked the music though, he got a bit agitated a couple of times, screeched and flared his crest!
Next we were given torches and a bit of a talk on what to expect and what we could and couldn't do and off we went.
So imagine, dark night and about 30 people walking through the zoo with small torches (flashlights) with lights about the size of a quarter. When we all shone our torches in the same spot, we could see really well, otherwise, it was hard to make out much of anything. We could hear animals moving, snorting, and growling in enclosures as we walked past, but if the zoo guides didn't shine their lights in, we didn't either because we didn't want to disturb the animals in there.
First we saw a couple of dingos. He didn't seem to care for us much. Howled quite a bit and paced back and forth. We did see two Cane Toads in his dinner bowl, so maybe that's what he was howling about. If you don't know about Cane Toads, you should check out this critter that was introduced here in the 1920s and is an environmental hazard numbering in the hundreds of millions today. It has wonderful defensive mechanisms, but there aren't any creatures in Australia that can overcome them, so they reproduce unchecked.
Then we got to see some cassowaries. A lovely bird (at least the blue neck and head which were what we could see in the dark), but not a friendly one. Apparently, it's claws are like a velociraptors. If it becomes angry with you, you might find your insides on your outside!
Next we went to an arena where we learned about cane toads and my daughter volunteered to hold a Black Headed Python!!!! It was about 8 feet long (I think). Katrina loved it and said that Jasper was heavier than she had expected! Afterwards, we all got to pet it.
Then we were taken to see the salt water and fresh water crocodiles. We watched as the salt water crocs jumped out of the water to grab a dangling treat. They can leap up pretty high. Our guide told us that as long as we watched the warning signs and used common sense, we were in no danger of being attacked by a croc. An average of two people are killed each year in Australia from crocodile attacks. Meanwhile, an average of 13 people are killed each year in Australia when a vending machine falls on them! He also said that the rumor that crocodiles are able to chase you are ridiculous. He said a person can easily outrun them. The salt water male crocodiles could not be in an enclosure together (or they would tear one another apart). The fresh water crocodiles though had no problems with being territorial and there were about 35 of them in an enclosure!
Next we went through the reptile house. Tons of snakes, lizards, geckos and skinks and some of us got to pet blue-tongued skink while we talked with Billie, one of the guides. He said he had wanted to work in a zoo since he was a kid and he started out by volunteering as a teen and has been working in a zoo for years.
Then, it was off to cuddle the koalas. This was so awesome! Daniel and Jack got video. We each got to pet each of the koalas. Their fur is thick and somewhat coarse. They were very attached to the guides and held on to them much like a youngster does a parent. It was definitely a highlight of the evening!
Next it was time for damper (bread made in the coals of the fire and drizzled with honey) and billy tea. We enjoyed this around the campfire while feeding and petting kangaroos!!!! Another really awesome thing to do.
Then, back inside for more music and dancing (videos will follow). Those three hours at the zoo were packed full of fun! Before we left, we perused the gift store and picked up some lovely souveniers, but not before we got to pet a Wombat! Huge! And soft! And cute!
This evening was definitely a high spot of our trip!!!!!
Oh, don't want to forget the photo I took of a kookaburra while we were visiting the opal shop. He was very good and sat in a nice pose while I stood about 2 feet away for a picture!
