Koalas, Kangaroos and Crocs

Monday I got the bus out to the Cairns Tropical zoo. It's quite a small place but lots of animals. Again the weather was rubbish but at least there were a few dry-ish patches today.
First I went to the pelican enclosure (it was right outside the welcome center) and fed the pelicans which means throwing them fishing and hoping they catch them.

Pelican

Feeding the Pelicans

There were also a lot of other birds which are all rescued and their wings have been clipped so they don't fly away.

Cockatoo

At the cafe there was a keeper with a male koala so I spent some time talking to her and getting some one-on-one time with the koala.

Saying hi to the cafe koala

And there were walkthrough wallaby and later a walk through Kangaroo enclosure. I brought some food for them and some were hungry but a lot were probably sick of the pellets by now.

Wallaby (with a tail itch)

Wallaby Joey 

Turtle threesome

The free flight display was cool though it started raining again so they had to cut it short. (The birds don't like the rain any more than we do.)

Wedge-tail eagle

 I ended up with a few people hiding in the undercover area of the kangaroo walkthrough.

Kangaroo

Emu
 

They also had a crocodile section which I didn't spend very long in as I was headed to the Hartley's Crocodile farm later.

Freshie

 A fresh water crocodile isn't really dangerous to people. They have narrower mouths and can't open them far enough to grab a person (though I am guessing a large one might try with a small kid).
I also spent some time hiding from the rain in the reptile house where I saw these cute guys.

Cuddling Komodo dragons

 And then more Koalas. (Honestly I have had enough koalas now!)

Sleeping Koala (shocking I know)

Mama cuddling her baby

One the move. Rare

After lunch my bus wasn't for another hour so I ended up over the road at the Outback Opal Mine. The tour was actually a short video which was a shame because I then ended up in the shops. And they had a sale on. I don't think I need to explain the outcome.

After spending a lot of money I got the bus to Hartley's Crocodile farm. If you have half a day free in Cairns, I highly recommend spending an afternoon here. It is great fun and really interesting.

A Saltie is a estuary crocodile and can live in salt water but they also live in fresh water. They live in estuaries and swim in the sea to get between the estuaries. These are the ones which will happily have you for lunch. They have a wider mouth (all the better to bite you with) and grow much bigger, up to 6m!

Saltie

Giving me the evil eye

Rainforest boardwalk along the croc lagoon

 They also have a kangaroo walkthrough with some really cute joeys.

Kangaroo joey

Interrupting his leaf eating

Part of the entry is a boat trip around the lagoon to see the crocs up close. The driver puts a stick out with some meat on and annoys the crocs until they start jumping for the food. I was amazed how far they could jump.                                              

Jumping for chicken

Surrounded

Fight

The sound of their jaws slamming shut when they bite is incredible. It is so loud. The pressure is enormous! They gave us the evil eye as we handed back to shore. They didn't get any of the chicken so I imagine they were a bit annoyed. 

Immediately after the lagoon trip, there was a Croc attack demonstration which was basically a mad Aussie trying to get a croc to attack him. And succeeding quite well. The crocodile, called Hagrid,  was apparently a little more cheeky and spritely than normal. He kept trying to cut the guy off from his exits and stirring up the water and hiding for sneak attacks. There were a few close calls and very speedy retreats.

Waiting for the croc to be distracted

Legging it 

Teasing Hagrid with chicken

Jumping for it.

The presenter was very good, funny and informative. Though I do believe quite insane. He hand fed a croc. A couple of times. That should say it all.

Hand feeding the crocodile i.e insane

They had a rope with some cow hide on it to tease the croc. He caught it and tried to kill it with a crocodile (or death) roll.

Demonstrating a crocodile roll

 Getting it back however was more tricker. They have to lift their heads above water to open their mouths and eat it (or their lungs fill with water). The idea was when he did open his mouth, to whip it out with, as the presenter put it, his "ninja-like reflexes". It took a while!

Trying (unsuccessfully) to get the bait back.

 The presenters talked about the ways to get a saltie to release you if he catches you. Some say gouge its eyes, but the eyes have a protective muscle so often than doesn't work. Also you could reach into the throat and grab the tongue to force the throat open and lungs to fill with water, and it will release you. But this sounds like a very bad plan. And not sure how you would get your arm into the throat if it had a hold of you. Basically the conclusion was you die. No way out. So stay out of the water if there might be a croc in it! In fact stay 10m from the water edge so they can't shoot out and grab you in the first place.

Close call

After watching the crazy man who managed not to get eaten, I wondered around with a hot chocolate (I think I am getting a cold and this point felt rough but my bus was still a while away). I found the Cassowary enclosure and helped with the feeding before the bus pick up.

Baby cassowary

Adult cassowary

Feeding (or currently being ignored by) the adult cassowary

I really recommend Hartley's. It was a lot of fun, even when it rained a few times.