We were fortunate to see many koalas in their natural habitat, sleeping in a tree or eating gum tree leaves. They are really cute but apparently dumb! It is interesting to discover how the animals in Australia are built to withstand the extreme heat. I was fascinated to learn that the koala has a brain the size of a small nut, and it rattles around in fluid in its cranium. Basically, the animal sacrificed the size of its brain to conserve energy. So if, in future, you hear me say to Viggo, "Stop acting like a koala", you will know what I mean.
We also saw dozens of New Zealand fur seals that hang out in South Australia, their mating ground. It was great fun to watch them hunt for food and play in the ocean and nearby rocks. They are large animals!
Birds at Vivonne Bay beach, Kangaroo Island  | Flinders Lighthouse |
Admirals Arch, Flinders National Park, Kangaroo Island | New Zealand Fur Seals at Flinders |
Sunbathing seal... scratch my belly, please! | Formation called Remarkable Rocks at Flinders National Park |
Rocks arch | Hollowed-out rock |
Rock on  | Koala bear, on the Koala Walk path |
Catching ...  | ... some ... |
...zzzzz's ...  | let's eat ...  |
... let's sleep ... | I know ... I AM cute and cuddly... zzzzz ...  |
V: What a great day trip it was to Kangaroo Island! The koalas sleeping ... and sleeping, goanna lizards scurrying across the roadway, New Zealand Fur Seals sunning on the rocks, birds of beautiful plumage gathered in the trees, and a few kangaroos hopping about . . . although far fewer than we were hoping to spot.
"No, Karen, no, we are not bringing a baby koala to Philly. I'm sorry, no."
In Adelaide, now, awaiting the Australia Day parade. Then we fly northeast, to Queensland, to the rainforest north of the city of Cairns. Hope the Internet is working well up there.
Oh, I just have to shout out to Chuck and Alan in Philly. It was so fun to chat with them today via Skype.
Stay warm in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Philly, friends!
No comments:
Post a Comment