Baby elephant, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Elephants, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
The elephants on display at Taronga Zoo in Sydney are a major attraction, especially with the birth of the baby shown in these photos. The elephants are enjoying their new quarters opened only a year or so ago. This enclosure is much more spacious and elephant friendly than the old quarters and they obviously enjoy showing off to their admiring audience. One of the benefits of this new enclosure is the excellent viewing areas for the public. Large numbers of people can all view the animals simultaneously.
I remember fondly my earliest encounter with an elephant was in my home state capital city of Adelaide. When I was a child the Adelaide Zoo had several elephants and children were able to ride on them around the zoo. This no longer happens today, so I had to travel to Thailand and Nepal to have a ride on one of these wonderful creatures.
Further reading:
- Adelaide Zoo – archived articles of visits to Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
- Taronga Zoo – articles about my visits to Taronga Zoo, Sydney
- My travels in Nepal
- My travels in Thailand
- Elephants
Elephants, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Elephants, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Gorillas at Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Gorillas, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
One day I would really like to see Gorillas in their natural environment. I’m not sure how this is going to happen, and with the years galloping by I may no have the fitness to undertake the rigorous trek to see a gorilla in its natural habitat. In the meantime, I have to be content with glimpses like this in zoos. Not entirely satisfactory, I know, but better than not seeing them at all.
Gorilla, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Are they mountain goats?
Goats in the children's zoo, Taronga, Sydney
On our visit to Taronga Zoo last year we made a special point of seeing the children’s zoo section. This was for our grandson who was 19 months old at the time. We were amused by the goats on display in the farmyard. Several of them had climbed up on to the roof of one of the buildings there. With the goats looking down on us, I felt that we were on display – not the goats.
Goats in the children's zoo, Taronga, Sydney
Grey Butcherbird, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Grey Butcherbird, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
During our visit to Taronga Zoo we spent some time in the children’s section. This was for the benefit of our grandson who was about 19 months old at the time. Just as we were approaching this section of the zoo, a Grey Butcherbird flew across the path in front of me and landed on a nearby branch. He posed beautifully for me while I took a series of photos.
This individual was obviously quite at home in the grounds of the zoo and was unafraid of the many people passing by. He seemed quite at ease and probably thrived on food scraps provided by the keepers for the animals on display. Grey Butcherbirds are relatively common in the Sydney area.
I only wish all birds were as cooperative in posing for my camera. Still, taking that hard to get photo of a bird with all its challenges is so rewarding. I need to take the easy with the not so easy.
Grey Butcherbird, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
An unusual Platypus, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Platypus carved out of sandstone rock, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
I took this photo of a large platypus carved out of a sandstone boulder in the grounds of Taronga Zoo in Sydney. This unusual piece of sculpture is huge, measuring about 3 metres wide by 2 metres high.
It is only one of many pieces of art work scattered around the zoo, all with and animal theme.