Werribee Open Range Zoo....PART 1.

Mia and I followed the School bus to the Werribee Open Range Zoo with the Prep kids on board. We payed for our ticket and entered the Park. Greeted by signs made of metal. I thought we were off to a great start. I love this sort of art. To our left, we were welcomed by birdlife that Mia aptly named "Geeks", LOL. We later found out they are actually Cape Barren Geese, they come all this way to Victoria to the Open Range Zoo to reproduce.

Botswana Walk to the left, Open Range Bus right..

Mia and the "Geeks"...sounds like a band name, LOL.

Then we walked along and we could see Zebra grazing alongside Antelope, they looked at us in between munching on their grassy breakfasts.

The metal kind of Zebra... cheap to run right?? LOL

The school kids entered and we sat with them to have some morning tea, a loo stop and then onto the tour bus. Rebecca was our tour guide and driver of the space age bus. Hydraulic lifts pull the steps up and in, the doors close and the windows come down to enclose us in the bus.

First stage of the tour is the Australian Enclosure, Emu's Wallabies, Kangaroos and lots of "Geeks" were in there. The Emu's seemed to be having a bit of a dispute at the time, the roos bounced off out of the way. I could not get a clear shot of these animals, as the tour bus was right up close to the fence and it is about 4 metres high to keep the roos and the emus in.

Second Part of the tour was the North American Region. We entered through a gate into a large expanse. There were Bisen, 3 boy babies called "Pumpkins" because of their orange coats. We learned that the Bisen's horns are made of Keratin, just like our fingernails are.

Next we saw the Mongolian Wild Horses, 3 females and one male originating from China. There is an extensive breeding programme going on here and if the females are pregnant right now, then we should see some babies in 11 months time from now coming into the World.

Next we went into the Arid Region of Africa, and observed Oryx and the Dromodary Camel living in harmony. There was, once again, one male to the three female camels...got a feeling the males are very lucky here at the Open Range Zoo, LOL.




The next reserve was the Wetland African Area of Botswana. We could see "Harry" the Hippo lazing by the waterway there. Noted that males have two nodule looking things just above their nostrils, this identifies them as males because they have two massive canine teeth hidden there. They fight with their teeth and if threatened, all they need do is yawn widely to flash them pearly canines.....hell, I would run away too!!!

Ironically, their IVORY teeth make for their demise by poachers in the Congo, they are almost wiped out now and so, the breeding programme is a must here. Go the boys, and give in the girls, LOL.

The Hybrid Giraffe, looking right at the camera.


17 Year Old Giraffe..AKA Retired Stud Giraffe.

The largest reserve was where we got to see the Giraffe's. One was a Hybrid Giraffe, there for retirement. He is a non-breeder. The other, a Mixed Bag kinda Giraffe, a 17 year old boy who has soiled his oats all over Australia in the name of saving the Giraffe's.....yep, he got lotsa chillins running about.....he is there for retirement sake now. I must say, he was a fine looking boy. Apparently, everyone in da hood likes hangin' with Giraffes, because they are tall and can see predators approaching first. Hence, if they scarper, so will their co habitants.

This was a decline we took after seeing the handsome Giraffes....down into another part of the Open Reserve...which I will tell about in my next post in a few days time....so stay tuned EVEREE-BOD-DEE....