23rd April - Dubbo Zoo!

We had a couple nights in Dubbo to do the Zoo – Taronga Western Plains Zoo.   It is a 300 hectare open-range sanctuary which undertakes a vital role in national and international programs for rare and endangered species.   We chose to drive around the circuit, it is 6kms sealed road which can be done walking, cycling or driving.   There is also 15km of bike/walking trails throughout the zoo.  You can bring your own bike, or they have bikes for hire and electric buggys for hire, quite expensive really, so we

take the ute for a spin around the block.

It’s all about the animals today, we’ll start with some of the smaller ones.  The Ring Tailed Lemur (above), how cute.  These are the only ones I didn’t record any info about.  They seem happy enough and well fed though.

The Slender Tailed Meerkats, one of my favorites, always on the lookout.   There is always one in the group, standing guard on the lookout for danger and sure enough here he was (or she).  This little fella hardly moved a muscle, the others were scampering around playing, not a care in the world.   Their long claws on the front feet are designed for digging, their tunnels can have up to 15 entrance holes and can be several levels underground, that’s a lot of digging for a little creature. 

White handed Gibbons – now you wonder why they think they are human when they go out building them little cabins to live in.   

We have seen a few swans along our journey, but this is the first baby swans we have seen.   My Darl tells me they are goslings, nah I am sure they are swanlings...... or maybe that's cygnets.   Either/or anyway they are cute.

African Wild Dog – these dogs are in rapid decline in the wild of Africa.  The Zoo is assisting with a successful breeding program and assists with funding to field work in Africa.  The African Wild Dog can reach speeds of up to 60km/h and maintain a hunt for up to one hour, not too many animals escape their hunt. 

Giraffe’s have no ordinary tongue – it is strong and flexible and nearly half a metre long and dark blue in colour, this protects it from sunburn.  The long legs and large hooves of the Giraffe make for a mean fighting kicking machine.   Giraffes fight each other by swinging their heads and landing blows to each others necks, vicious for an animal that moves so gracefully.

Hippo’s one of my favorites…. They spend most of their entire day resting either in or near the water.    They submerge in water to cool off, closing their nostrils and ears when going under.   They tiptoe on the bottom for 3-5 minutes, sometimes staying down there for up to ½ hour.   Hippos swim or rest close to the surface to warm up.   Oh my!  What a big mouth you have.... all the better to eat humans with I am told.   But they don't eat humans they just K.C.D. with a power snap pressure of 1 tonne!!

Here's looking at you baby!!

I had to add this one, spot the little willy wag tail on the hippo's back, hitching a ride.....so cute!!

We also enjoyed playing with Dora the Greater One Horned Rhino.  Now Dora is a boy, not sure how they work that one out, anyway we riled him up a bit and he put on a bit of a show for us frollicking in the water (if rhinos can do that), it was great. This shot shows clearly his tough suit of armour.  Now Dora's horn is not so horny, he has worn it down rubbing it on trees, fences etc.  It is made of Keratin the same as our hair and fingernails.   These Rhino's live a life of solitude, spending their days grazing, resting or swimming... how lonely.

White Rhinos were on holiday today, their enclosure deserted, ah well I did a pose with the statues instead.

My Darl’s favorites are the big cats – lions, tigers, cheetahs – any meat eaters really.     Cheetahs as we know are the fastes land animal on earth, stalking their prey to within 30 metres then running them down at speeds of 110km/h.  Their  long lean body and light flexible skeleton enable them to cover 6 metres in one stride, that's ten human steps.

King of the Jungle!!   As we went around there weren't too many animals up and about.  Most were just lazing around like this pair (Cheetah and Lion). 

We attended the rangers talk about the tigers.  It was a  little like where do you look cause this guy doing the talking had to keep adjusting himself, I was a little uneasy at that....  Anway back to the tiger - they had a very high pole with a chook (dead) tied in a bag with smaller treats planted around the grounds.   Now the tiger is supposed to do the strut around the grounds getting all the little treats, then climb up the pole for the big prize....BUT he wasn't too bothered with the little treats today, it was straight up the pole for the chook.   I think he has done this one was or twice before.

Here's a couple of the more unusual animals.    Blow, I didn't get this one's name - another lazy one foraging.    Some sort of deer related animal, but don't quote me on that one.....  I like the colour and markings.

The Brazilian Tapir - most unusual looking.  Believe it or not this one is most closely related to horses and rhinos.   Tapirs have a flexible extendable nose, which they use to grab forest plants and fruits pulling them into their mouths.  They live in lowland rainforest and always near water, they are excellent swimmers.

The Galapagos Tortoise are reptiles and the largest of the tortoises.   They are only found in the Galapagos Arhipelago.....and here.  Numbers have dropped dramatically in the wild from 250,000 to under 20,000.   Adults weigh up to 300kgs, up to 1.4 metres in length and can live up to 150 years old.    They are not very attractive looking are they, but still pretty awesome creatures.   Someone told us later in the trip that Taronga Zoo in Sydney closed down and moved all their animals out here.  It certainly is worth a visit if you ever find yourself in Dubbo with some time to kill.

For something different, we ended the day with a drive out to Terramungamine Rock Grooves – 150 rock grooves created by the Tubbagah people of the Wiradjuri nation.   This site of ancient artifacts is of historical significance and is located beside the Macquarie River at Terramungamine Reserve just outside Dubbo.  This reserve looks like a free camp also, vans, winnies set up here by the river, nice spot - it's probably in the Camps book.