My first encounter with Blinky Bill
Just in time before I leave back to Europe, my boyfriend took me, as a surprise, to the Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney.
We hand feeded kangaroos, wallabies, and enjoyed a face-to-face encounter with wombats, emus, quokkas and many more Australian native animals.
My personal highlight, if any, were the precious minutes with Archer, the koala.
Marsupials
Marsupials are a type of mammal. They give birth to young in an
embryonic state, which develop in the female’s abdominal pouch. Almost
all marsupials are found in Australia, such as Kangaroos, Koalas,
Possums, Tasmanian Devils and Wombats.
Koalas
Koalas feed exclusively on Eucalyptus leaves. They have specially
designed gut flora that assists in safe digestion without being affected
by the leaves’ toxins. Koalas rarely drink water, attaining their
hydration through the Eucalyptus leaves.
Many people believe that Koalas are drunk or ‘high’. Eucalyptus leaves
do not make them drunk or high, but instead provide a minimal amount of
energy. Koalas therefore sleep for 18-20 hours per day to conserve their
energy for the night-time.
In New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, the Koala is now listed as a Vulnerable species.
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| Archer |
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| Archer |
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| Chester |
Kangaroos
The Red Kangaroo is the largest living marsupial. Males are larger than females,
and can reach a height of up to 2 metres; however generally Red
Kangaroos average between 1.5 metres and 1.7 metres in height.
Female kangaroos can produce 2 different types of milk at once- one type
for an active joey that lives outside the pouch at foot, and another
type for a joey that is still developing inside the pouch.
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| Kangaroo |
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| Kangaroo |
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| Kangaroo |
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| Kangaroo |
Wallabies
Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies are highly territorial, with a home range
spanning about 15 hectares. They are a social species, living in family
groups consisting of 2-5 adults, as well as juveniles and joeys. They
are a very agile species, moving confidently, strongly and swiftly
around their rocky habitat, using their long, bushy tail for balance and
padded feet for grip. During the day they shelter or bask in rock
crevices, caves and overhangs and are most active at night.
They are listed as endangered in New South Wales.
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| Wallaby |
Quokkas
The
Quokka is one of the smallest wallabies. This marsupial has the ability
to climb trees. - See more at:
http://australianmuseum.net.au/quokka#sthash.rjxflAlH.dpuf
The
Quokka is one of the smallest wallabies. This marsupial has the ability
to climb trees. - See more at:
http://australianmuseum.net.au/quokka#sthash.rjxflAlH.dpuf
The
Quokka is one of the smallest wallabies. This marsupial has the ability
to climb trees - See more at:
http://australianmuseum.net.au/quokka#sthash.bpKA739E.dpuf
Quokka
is one of the smallest wallabies. This marsupial has the ability to
climb tree - See more at:
http://australianmuseum.net.au/quokka#sthash.bpKA739E.dpuf
The quokka is one of the smallest wallabies. This marsupial has the ability to climb trees.
Quokkas can be found on some smaller islands off the coast of Western Australia.
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| Quakka |
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| Quokka |
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| Quokka |
Wombats
Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats are listed as endangered in New South Wales.
They can grow to 1m in length and weigh over 30kgs! Unlike Common
Wombats, Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats have a broad, hairy nose, and
their fur is smooth, silky and grey-brown. They can also reach speeds of
up to 40km/hr!
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| Wombat |
Tasmanian Devil
Tasmanian Devils are found (in the wild) exclusively in Tasmania, in all
habitat types including outer suburbs of cities. They are also
excellent swimmers, can be found near water courses.
They are endagered by a variety of reasons:
- Devil facial Tumour Disease
- Low genetic diversity
- Road fatalities
- Predation by feral dogs
- Competition for food by feral foxes
- Persecution by humans
In the wild, Tasmanian Devils suffer from a terrible and deadly disease
called “Devil Facial Tumour Disease” (DFTD). This disease causes large,
painful tumours to develop on the Tasmanian Devil’s face and neck,
disabling them from eating or drinking. Within 3 months an infected
individual will most likely starve to death. The disease is transmitted
primarily through saliva when biting.
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| Tasmanian Devil "Max" |
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| Tasmanian Devil "Max" |
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| Tasmanian Devil "Max" |
Other Mammals
Echidnas
The spines covering an echidna are actually tough, hollow, modified
hairs. They are made from keratin, the same substance our hair and
fingernails are made from.
When startled or attacked, echidnas will quickly dig into the ground and
curl themselves tightly, leaving only their sharp spines exposed.
Short-beaked Echidnas belong to a unique group of mammals called
Monotremes. Apart from echidnas, the only other animal in the world that
belongs to this group is the Platypus. They are egg-laying mammals with
a pouch for the young to develop in after hatching
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| Echidna |
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| Echidna |
Reptiles
Turtles
Turtles are ectotherms—their internal temperature varies according to the ambient environment, commonly called cold-blooded.
They are divided into two groups according to how they withdraw their necks into their shells. The Cryptodira withdraw their necks backwards while contracting it under their spine, whereas the Pleurodira contract their necks to the side.
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| Turtle |
Crocodiles
Also known as the Saltie, Estuarine Crocodile and Indo-Pacific
Crocodile, this species is the largest living reptile in the world.
Adults measure an average of 4.5-5m in length from snout tip to tail
tip, and can weigh up to 1000kgs. Saltwater Crocodiles have a large,
powerful head with 40-50 sharp teeth that continuously fall out and
replace.
Saltwater Crocodiles have been estimated to live over 100 years.
Although fast in water and on land, Saltwater Crocodiles cannot zigzag while running. :)
Birds
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| Nightjar |
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| Pelikan |
Emus
Emus have the ability to communicate by using an inflatable neck sack. They are a flightless species- however they do have small wings which
they use to cool themselves. Their feathers are quite remarkable, as
they are ‘double shafted’, meaning that 2 feathers grow from one
follicle. This gives Emus their ‘shaggy’ appearance.
They are opportunistically nomadic and may travel long distances to find
food; they feed on a variety of plants and insects, but have been known
to go for weeks without food.
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| Emu |
Raptors
Black-breasted Buzzards inhabit arid scrub, riverine and tropical woodland.
They are listed as Vulnerable in New South Wales
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| Black-breasted Buzzards |
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| Black-breasted Buzzards |
Little Penguins
The smallest of all penguin species, the Little Penguin is an adorable bird, standing at 40-45cm tall and weighing up to 1kg.
Little Penguins will dive an average of 5-20m to find food. The deepest recorded dive by a Little Penguin is 72m.
The colony of Little Penguins in Manly, New South Wales is listed as Endangered.
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| Penguins |
