A day with the Koala's

Look! I'm being felt up by a Koala! lol, almost like holding a young child, except these things have claws that can tear ya a part! Warm and fuzzy though, it was fun to do.
So James and i went and checked out the Lone Pine's Koala Sanctuary. Oldest koala sactuary in the world. It's also been visited by American Presidents, the Dolly Lama, a Pope and various music artist from around the world--and now, ME!
There was a lot to see, and i have to say, just watching the koala's was fun. Some of the little baby ones were very playfull, active and climbing around the trees. Though the majority of them were sleeping. I mean they sleep somewhere around 19hrs a day, really only waking up to eat. I think the Koala's are defenitely my kinda animal.
They also had a petting zoo type area, called the Kangaroo reserve, they had the Big Reds in there, but they were fenced in. There were a lot of wallabees and some grey kangaroos. Think about the American white tail dear, that's kinda how the wallabee is in Australia. They're about as prevalent, and every bit as much a danger at dawn and dusk to road traffic. I've seen more than a few along the side of the road, even went with james and kylie tonight spotlighting them along some of the neighborhoods.
Back to the sanctuary though. Saw a lot of the native wildlife, the wombats, the many different birds, the echinada (like a hedgehog) and more than a few snakes. Australia has something like 37 venomous species of snakes, and the ones not venomous can still get big enough to be a problem.
They had presentations at the sanctuary where you could learn about the koala and how it is faring in the wild today, as well as learn about the various reptiles and birds. They even had a sheep dog demonstration where the dogs would herd the sheep towards pens and through obstacles.
I also have to say, i got to wrestle with one of the most dangerous of Australia's animals. The fierce, ferocious, man-eating salt water crocodile! It was a horrific experience, but one i think i am a better man for. For i will fear nothing after this!

Ok, so i hope you'll remember i said they get to be 6-8 meters long, so this one is only a year old. He is STILL one of the fiercest animals on the face of this earth. And one day he will be rather a bit bigger. lol, it was interesting to feel his skin and the muscles and strength even at that young age.
It was fun to see the Koala's. Most of them were nothing more than little grey balls of fur up in the trees, but some where busy eating and a few others were getting into tiffs over the more succulent of the leaves, or maybe one was talking down about the other ones lady love. Either way i wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of those claws they have.
In the states, we have ostriches on farms and in our zoo's, well the second largest bird is the Emu, and i believe them to be the DUMBEST of the birds, except possibly, the dodo. James and i witnessed two emu's fighting over a rock, for what reason i don't know, but in an effort to keep the other from having the rock, the first emu swallowed the rock. Ok, not a rock, more like a large pebble. Wow. ya.

ya, these were the two birds fighting over the pebble.

Going surfing tomorrow! So wish me luck, it's been a few years.