Taronga Zoo
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Saturday 2nd January 2016 After a lazy day yesterday, we spent a much more energetic
day visiting Taronga Zoo. We took a ferry from Circular Quay to the wharf
below the zoo, and rode on the chairlift up to the top entrance.
The CBD from the chairlift. We spent a very enjoyable day at this well laid-out zoo, the
highlight of the visit for us being the gorillas. They have a family
group of four adults – a silverback male and three females, two of which
had babies. It was wonderful to watch them so close up, though of course
it was also a little sad that they were in captivity. This group,
however, is part of a breeding programme as these gorillas are threatened in
the wild.
The silverback
male.
One of the females with baby on her back.
Beginning to eat
solids.
Holding on tight!
A wide-awake koala,
posing!
Tree wallaby.
Giraffes in the ‘African’ section, harbour
bridge
behind.
A kookaburra hoping to find some easy food. After a very pleasant lunch at the restaurant overlooking
the harbour, we watched the free-flight bird show, which was very interesting
and entertaining, and not at all what I was expecting. A variety of birds
flew in on cue as a story was narrated. At one point an owl flew over our
heads so close we could feel the air move. It was great fun. By now it
was time to head home, so we made our way to the bottom entrance, which at one
time was the main entrance to the old zoo, which first opened on this site in
1916. Then it was a short walk to the ferry and bus back to the
boat.
The original entrance to the zoo, built on this site in
1916.
The view across the harbour from the bottom entrance.
Looking out over the boats from the road at Cammeray
marina, before descending the 109 steps down to sea level. S-F is right in the centre with the white flag two-thirds
up the mast. |
