“Someone told me it's all happening at the zoo..I do believe it...I do believe it's true" - Simon and Garfunkel

Oh hey, it's me...procrastinating AGAIN! Today I am putting off researching for my final paper that is due on Friday. Granted, I have been researching and reading articles since 11am today, so it's not like effort hasn't gone in.

Friday I went to the Australia Zoo, home of the crocodile hunter. It was sooo much fun. We didn't get the best weather, but that's ok. When we first got there we trekked through the snake house (Australia has 9 out of 10 of the worlds most poisonous snakes) and then made our way to Kangaroo Haven. We were lucky enough to get there when the zookeeper was feeding the roo's! She let everyone take a handful of food and feed them while she taught us about different parts of the kangaroo family structure. After that fun filled adventure we journeyed on to the Echidna exhibit. Echidna's are a type of monotreme (one of two, the other is a platypus). Monotremes are egg laying mammals. The Echidna looked like a porkeypink but had the cutest little face!

After that, we headed over to see crocodiles and Tasmanian devils before heading into the crocoseum for the animal show. The show was really entertaining and educational, but I am sure it would have been 10 times better with Steve :(

After a quick lunch, our group reentered the corocoseum for some zoo keeper lecturers. Keepers of koalas, snakes, birds and crocs all came out and gave 15 minute lectures about the animals and pressing issues concerning them. After they spoke we all got to have a pat of each animal except the bird.

After a very educational yet laid back morning, it was FREE TIME! My friends and I headed over to the Asia exhibit after taking pictures with "Steve". There we got to sit in on a tiger play session. It is amazing the bond these keepers have with the animals, the tiger keeper got right in the water with them playing tug of war and swimming! AMAZING! They are sooo lucky! Once the show was over we headed over to the elephant enclosure where we were able to hand feed the elephants! I fed Bimbo or Bambo, I dont remember his name, but he was a younger elephant and therefore didnt have the best manners while eating...basically my hand was covered in dirt from the trunk haha but wow what a great memory to have! Everyone picked up a piece of fruit and stepped on a yellow mat where the elephant would reach its trunk over the enclosure and scoop it out of your hand. The trunks are so powerful, muscular and rough!

We walked back to the zoo entrance where we encountered a wombat walk about. I got to pet the wombat and take some pictures...they are soooo cute! After some shopping in the gift shop, everyone hopped on the bus and we headed back to campus.

It was a great way to end the semester of field trips!

This week is my last week of classes!! I am so happy to be done with work (besides finals)! I am working on my final paper for my TV class ;) sort of.

Well there are only 27 days left for me here...bittersweet.


G'day,
Melissa

I will post some pics up later, but I haven't uploaded them to my computer yet.