Taking the Ferry to the Zoo

 

   Today I took the ferry out of Circular Quay in Sydney Harbor over to Taronga Zoo. It was a quick 12 minute ride across but provided great 360 degree views of the harbor. Whenever taking a ferry is an option, it is always my preferred method of transportation. Even back home, I love taking the ferry from Oakland/Alameda over to the city.

  It was a very nice, well-kept zoo and the animals seemed happy. Although, most of them were lounging in the shade but who could blame them! The enclosures seemed spacious and I was happy to see they are building even bigger spaces for the elephants and lions.  The pictures above are of the little penguin, which is native to Australia, and Lenny the 8 year old seal. I just happened to catch Lenny and his trainer on a morning walk and was able to walk with them for a bit, asking questions and getting a private lesson!

   Along with parks and nature in general, local wildlife is always something I'm interested in learning more about when traveling. While it would have been best to see these amazing creatures in their natural habitat, that will have to wait until my next trip to Australia when I have time to get out of the city and to the outback. I spent 4 hours walking around, reading, and snapping photos.

   I don't want to post too many pictures here, so I'll keep it to native species. Below are some pictures of wallabies, kangaroos, koalas, and my favorite - the tasmanian devil! They are sooooooo cute but ferocious little buggers in the wild. The locals call them 'Tassies.' This zoo is actually breeding them because they are an endangered species. I'm considering taking a trip to Tasmania soon and getting involved in the conservation efforts. All in all, I had a great time here and in Sydney in general!