Plat-billed Duckypuses, Rod Hull’s Chum and 3D

Thursday 18^th took a while to get going after the previous day’s excursion. General pfaffing in the morning, looking for non-existent pitch and putt courses, locating cinemas, libraries with internet availability (free!!), and supper shopping left us with an afternoon to spend in a small wildlife sanctuary (David Fleay’s Wildlife Park – look him up if you like), where we wanted to see more of the indigenous (or is it endemic?) fauna. Again the nocturnal habit of the duck-billed platypus, and the prohibition on use of flash photography, has left us with only blurred records of these funny little creatures, but at least we got to see them swimming like small otters in their tank. The breeding and release of them into the wild to try and sustain the species is one of the aims of the sanctuary. By the time we got into our tour, about mid-afternoon, there appeared to be hardly any other visitors and we had seemingly exclusive access to the keepers, who were delighted to chat about their charges. One girl spotted something on the back of one of the crocodiles, which we thought was just a large leaf, but promptly marched into the pen for a closer look. These were freshwater crocodiles that only grow up to about 7 or 8 ft long and have a much more pointed snout than the estuarine crocs, the males of which grow to about 5 metres. I doubt she would have rushed in quite so quickly if it had been an object on the back of the latter!

There were 2 large flightless birds, the emu and the cassowary. I guess that Rod Hull preferred the name “Emu” to “Cassowary”, because the latter had a far more interesting plumage (black with a blue and red head) and appeared much more lively and interactive than the emu. Just goes to show that marketing is all about having the right name. There were many types of marsupials, mostly with endearing faces that looked as if they would make friendly pets, and a tree-dwelling kangaroo! No, look it up if you don’t believe it! The koala seemed totally bored with life until the keeper whacked it with a eucalyptus branch she was putting in for its supper, and then it moved much quicker than in any films I’ve ever seen. She had previously chatted to us about the pair of dingoes, which although they are related to wolves not dogs, looked very affable and pet-like. She was obviously very attached to them and said that they were a pair of “big softies”. Probably would be until 28 more of their chums appeared, and then it might be a different story. Just like in New Zealand it was great to see these creatures in their own country, and in a reasonably un-zoo-like environment.

For the evening we treated ourselves to the 3D version of Avatar. No cheaper than in the UK, in fact probably more expensive but very comfortable cinema seats and a very empty cinema. We have to admit to being impressed by the 3D special effects, but don’t ask us to explain the plot – was the ending the same “alternative body experience” that that episode of Star Trek concerning the crippled former Enterprise Captain wanted? Answers in an email or a text please!

We had our last encounter with Australian wildlife when we got home from the cinema. I’m still not sure that Mum is convinced that I wasn’t imagining it, but as I was ferreting (good choice of word!) for something in the wardrobe a furry brown streak followed closely by a long-tail scampered along the base of the cupboard, turned the corner under a plastic bag and disappeared I know not where. The next day when Mum reported it, she was told that we were, of course, in the bush and you can’t get rid of all the animals. Another episode of Fawlty Towers for Australian TV titled “The Whingeing Poms”?