Gold Coast Day 5: Crocs and Cassowaries

Doting attendants fed Eucalyptus leaves to koalas when we entered the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Started by Alex Griffiths in 1947 to keep the lorikeets fed, this Park has become a most loved Wildlife Sanctuary of Queensland.

We boarded a small train that took us around the park. Just in time for the Croc Show. Huge reptiles they were, jumping high up to sink their teeth into the chunks of meat shown to them by the trainers. Then we queued for a photo session with a baby croc!

 There was a board that said : (Some) Crocodiles do not eat for six months straight in a year, but the question is, "which six months?"

    Jog your memory about these remarkable reptilians. Their symbiotic habit - letting birds get right inside their mouth so the bird gets bits of food and the crocs get their teeth cleaned. And that their teeth regrow throughout their life. And the lore about crocodiles weeping for their victims! Hope all people give up their greed for crocodile meat and crocodile hide and conserve these reptilian wonders...

Fun in the winter sun...

There was a Bird show where magnificent flying creatures like lorikeets, kookaburras, kites, macaws, wedge-tailed eagles and pelicans were among the main cast, anchored by youngsters with a great sense of humour. It was commendable, their efforts to save many of these endangered species. 

Birds of many feathers flock here together

Time to watch the world's most dangerous bird, the Cassowary, from a safe platform. She was having her favorite food, fruits, rather fruit salad. Cassowaries are said to be very helpful in dispersal of seeds that they ejest. But resist the temptation to show your admiration of their shiny feathers, they can claw you, although only one case of human fatality is known so far. So it was a bit of a relief to know that this particular one was quite friendly with her caretaker and recognized her!

Hey I can kill....not just with my looks!!

 The one activity which kids would enjoy the most would be feeding the kangaroos. The emus too were strutting around. The kangaroo feed was a special food that looked like thick bits of noodles, sorry I don't know what they were made of...It was a delight to watch them leap on their hind legs, some of the mothers with babies in their pouches, stuff we had only read of before...

That must be the Alpha male feeding off Tweety;s hands

 It wasn't until the closure of the park that we reluctantly left the kangaroos to feed by themselves. It was Thursday, so the Malls and eating places were open till 9 pm! We made the most of it, making a beeline for K Mart, Target, and for some Pide, some chicken rice at the Food courts!