Aussie Fauna

While in Brisbane we visited the Loan Pine Koala Sanctuary which hosts a wide range of Australian fauna.

We'll start with representative marsupials. The Tasmanian Devils were not very active, and consequently a bit difficult to photograph.

This wombat was a bit more awake.

A wide variety of kangaroo and wallaby were free roaming and visitors encouraged to feed them.

The emu is the second largest bird in the world

and the cassowary not far behind. These have seriously massive legs and feet which make them dangerous when encountered in the wild.

Kookaburra are a variety of kingfisher.

I think this is a nightjar.

These next two weren't at Lone Pine, but spotted out and about elsewhere in Brisbane.

Pelicans were common along the river

and ibis in the parks of the city.

Lone Pine had a collection of captive birds of prey which had been trained to put on a show. This is a barn owl

and this a large sea eagle.

No discussion of Aussie fauna would be complete without some reference to the reptilian kingdom.  This is a small fresh-water crocodile and some turtles.

Australia's largest lizard is the perentie.

I think these are water monitors.

These medium size lizards were common in parks and forested areas.

Finally, what we really went to Lone Pine to see - koala. Generally it's a tough life for these captive animals -

sleeping for long periods,

looking adoringly cute

and having to socialise with humans.