Sydney's

Australia Main || Sydney | RBG | Taronga 2 3 4 | CG 2 | Blue Mntns | Aquarium | Tour || Cairns

Taronga Zoo is big. This is a miniaturized version of the map--I think it may be a little too small to get anything out of...

They had a good family unit of gorillas, adults, juveniles, and little ones. As always, it is not difficult to see the echoes of ourselves in their behavior. One will be peacefully munching on their leaves while a little one watches and tries to imitate. Another decides that his leaves aren't good enough and he'd rather have her leaves... I'm sure you've all seen it before.

You wouldn't think it by looking at them, but the duck-billed platypus and spiny anteater (echidna) are very closely related. They're both monotremes (not marsupials) of roughly equivalent mass. They both have tough bills which are sensitive to electromagnetic impulses--these guide them to their prey when sifting through murky river beds or loose soil. We were told lots of further congruences, but those are the ones I remember. :}

They had a lovely show called the World of Flight which demonstrated close-up a number of the birds at the zoo. We were there a bit early in order to try and get a good camera angle. The area where the show was had a great view of Sydney, so here are a couple shots: one of the skyline and one of the Opera House from a completely different angle.

You are probably beginning to suspect the truth about the shells/sails of the opera house--that is that they're purely decorational. The theater complexes within them are virtually separate from the shells themselves.

Australia Main || Sydney | RBG | Taronga 2 3 4 | CG 2 | Blue Mntns | Aquarium | Tour || Cairns