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Australian Pelican (Pelecanus Conspicillatus)
Animals are SO improbable!
“A funny old bird is a pelican.
“His beak can hold more than his belican.
Food for a week
“He can hold in his beak,
“But I don’t know how the helican.”
– Dixon Lanier Merritt
I do love a good zoo!
I especially love zoos where the enclosures are respectful of the animals, their habitats, and of the visitors who come to see them and learn about them. Unlike some of the zoos of the past, modern organisations put a lot of energy into research and animal welfare, as well as education and conservation. They design enclosures that connect people with nature while allowing the animals to be sufficiently stimulated and comfortable with being on public view.
I enjoy visiting zoos in different places: they offer the opportunity for a lovely walk in a semi-natural space. I always marvel at how different localities have approached the design problems of managing limited room and turning it into suitable climate zones for their animal populations. Balancing aesthetics, safety, animal comfort, and visitor engagement is a constantly evolving field.
Naturally, I usually take my cameras wherever I visit. It amazes me how bizarre and different various animals are, and I’m always on the lookout for their defining colours, textures, and patterns (see: Teeth, Claws, and Colourful Patterns or A Tale of Two Tarongas).
Many years ago, my husband and I spent some time in Adelaide, South Australia, and used the occasion to visit the Adelaide Zoo, ‘one of Adelaide’s most iconic attractions … [and] home to more than 2,500 animals and 250 species. Over the years I’ve returned to the photo-set many times – so many times that Lightroom has had frequent upgrades in the interim – but have never quite pulled it all together.
Until now.
Join me in marvelling at some weird and wonderful natural decorations.
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Almost Abstract : The City Reflected
Patterns seemed to be the theme of this particular Adelaide visit: even on our morning walks, it was the geometric shapes and urban abstracts that caught my eye. (iPhone4S)
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Prehistoric Trees Overhead
Critically-endangered and legally protected Wollemi pine trees (Wollemia nobilis) are members of the 200-million-year-old Araucariaceae family. Described as a living fossil, prior to their rediscovery in 1994, the trees were only known through fossil records that date about two million years old.
Nature’s Artwork : Magnificent Bark
All the trees around us have a style of their own. I think this eucalyptus is a spotted gum (Corymbia maculata).
Pale Water Lily – Nymphaea sp
Our first stop was in the Lily House; …
In the Lily House
… I’ve always loved delicate-looking but hardy water lilies.
Capybara – Hydrochoerus Hydrochaeris
I first saw greater capybara in their native South America. Just from the posture of this giant rodent, you can get a sense of their enormous size: they grow up to 1.3 metres (4.3 feet) long and can weigh up to 79 kg (174 pounds).
Panda Dreaming
Adelaide is the only place in the southern hemisphere to house – in specially built enclosures – giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
Inside – Outside : Panda Reflected
The Chinese government loaned Wang Wang and Fu Ni to Adelaide Zoo in 2009 as part of a global giant panda breeding program. So far, there has been no luck in producing babies.
Emu – Dromaius Novaehollandiae
Emus are fascinating-looking creatures. Their fluffy feathers feature a unique double plume: emu and their cousins the cassowary are the only birds in the world that have two feathers of the same length originating from the one quill.
Tasmanian Devil – Sarcophilus Harrisii
It is hard to photograph these feisty little endangered balls of furry energy: they are rarely still for long. Although they only grow to five to 14 kilograms (11 to 30 pounds), with their sharp, shearing teeth and powerful jaws, they are the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial.
Bush Thick Knee – Burhinus Grallarius
Also called bush stone-curlews, these distinctive long-legged shorebirds are endemic to Australia.
Pelican Pond
We arrived at the pelican pond just before feeding time; …
Pelican Portrait
… that gave me the chance for a closer look at the textures in that extraordinary beak with its hook, and the bird’s feathers.
Pelicans Feeding
The birds were too fast for me to catch the flying fish thrown by the keepers …
Those Bills!
… but I did get to marvel at those amazing beaks!
Little Wattlebird – Anthochaera Chrysoptera
Zoos always attract local, non-captive visitors.
Little Penguins – Eudyptula Minor
It may well be anthropomorphising, but there is something about the antics of the native-Australian fairy penguins that always makes me smile!
Those Eyes! Those Lashes!!
Domesticated thousands of years ago for their wonderful wool, the faces of South American alpaca (Lama pacos) have to be part of their appeal.
African Wild Dog – Lycaon Pictus
That is the shade of perspex between us and the painted dogs; today they roam wild(er) in the affiliated Monarto Safari Park.
Malayan Tapir- Tapirus Indicus
Endangered in the wild, Asian tapirs are the only tapir species outside of the Americas – and with their three back toes and long proboscis definitely qualify as odd-looking and unique!
Frog with a Reptile Keeper
We made a point of arriving at the reptile house in time for the keeper presentation. I didn’t take notes, but I think this is a magnificent tree frog (Ranoidea splendida).
Blue-Tongued Skink
Every Australian is familiar with the friendly blue tongue lizard (Tiliqua scincoides).
Yellow Corn Snake – Pantherophis Guttatus
These colourful beauties, on the other hand, are dangerous invaders, and are illegal to import or own domestically.
Magpie-Lark – Grallina Cyanoleuca
As we are leaving, we come across another pretty little uncaged native bird.
It was a most enjoyable way of spending a few hours.
Until next time,
Happy Wandering!
Pictures: 08February2014
