June 2, 2013 – WoollyMuses

Early one morning we rose and skipped the usual holiday breakfast, clambered into our rental car and motored down, or up, the Kennedy Highway towards Kuranda for breakfast with the lions at Shambala Animal Kingdom.

First impression was that we had arrived at an almost open range park until we spied, in the distance, some high mesh fences and what appeared to be a wall-less building that was complete with table, chairs and cooking facilities.

A short while later staff appeared and began to make us a sumptuous African savannah breakfast of various juices, bacon, eggs, coffee and tea. While we were enjoying our breakfast the odours from our bacon, eggs, etc. only had to drift a few metres to the nostrils of what is claimed to be the largest pride of (unfed) lions in Australasia.

However, Shambala Animal Kingdom boasts, and is home, to a variety of other animals all of which have their own personality and temperament. In this post focus will be on the other animals.

We found Percy Peacock keeping an eye on the hippos for any leftovers from their breakfast.

Percy observed, from the safety of his perch, his mates getting up close and personal in their search for tasty morsels.

All the while staying clear of powerful jaws.

The otters were moving so quickly that I often only managed to photograph the tip of their tail. The other option was a nice photo of concrete after the otter completed a snappy U-turn just as I pushed the shutter.

It was indeed a relief to see that they actually would stop to eat.

I’m told this bear had a cute name, however, at the time of writing no-one can remember it. Must have made an impression!

*****

To mimic how, or where, bears find their food in the wild, handlers create places to hide food to create a challenge at meal times and keep the bears mind stimulated.

It is only the wire keeping hungry lions from that bacon…..

Peacock

Even fast moving playful otters find time to stop for breakfast

I left the gallery in to ponder over it…..not sure which format I prefer….individual photos or gallery.

Tomorrow I will include more photos of ‘Happy’ and his friends.

WoollyMuses

Day: June 2, 2013

Breakfast with Lions ~ 1

Early one morning we rose and skipped the usual holiday breakfast, clambered into our rental car and motored down, or up, the Kennedy Highway towards Kuranda for breakfast with the lions at Shambala Animal Kingdom.

First impression was that we had arrived at an almost open range park until we spied, in the distance, some high mesh fences and what appeared to be a wall-less building that was complete with table, chairs and cooking facilities.

However, Shambala Animal Kingdom boasts, and is home, to a variety of other animals all of which have their own personality and temperament. In this post focus will be on the other animals.

We found Percy Peacock keeping an eye on the hippos for any leftovers from their breakfast.

Percy observed, from the safety of his perch, his mates getting up close and personal in their search for tasty morsels.

All the while staying clear of powerful jaws.

The otters were moving so quickly that I often only managed to photograph the tip of their tail. The other option was a nice photo of concrete after the otter completed a snappy U-turn just as I pushed the shutter.

It was indeed a relief to see that they actually would stop to eat.

I’m told this bear had a cute name, however, at the time of writing no-one can remember it. Must have made an impression!

*****

To mimic how, or where, bears find their food in the wild, handlers create places to hide food to create a challenge at meal times and keep the bears mind stimulated.

It is only the wire keeping hungry lions from that bacon…..

I left the gallery in to ponder over it…..not sure which format I prefer….individual photos or gallery.

Tomorrow I will include more photos of ‘Happy’ and his friends.

Early one morning we rose and skipped the usual holiday breakfast, clambered into our rental car and motored down, or up, the Kennedy Highway towards Kuranda for breakfast with the lions at Shambala Animal Kingdom.

First impression was that we had arrived at an almost open range park until we spied, in the distance, some high mesh fences and what appeared to be a wall-less building that was complete with table, chairs and cooking facilities.

However, Shambala Animal Kingdom boasts, and is home, to a variety of other animals all of which have their own personality and temperament. In this post focus will be on the other animals.

We found Percy Peacock keeping an eye on the hippos for any leftovers from their breakfast.

Percy observed, from the safety of his perch, his mates getting up close and personal in their search for tasty morsels.

All the while staying clear of powerful jaws.

The otters were moving so quickly that I often only managed to photograph the tip of their tail. The other option was a nice photo of concrete after the otter completed a snappy U-turn just as I pushed the shutter.

It was indeed a relief to see that they actually would stop to eat.

I’m told this bear had a cute name, however, at the time of writing no-one can remember it. Must have made an impression!

*****

To mimic how, or where, bears find their food in the wild, handlers create places to hide food to create a challenge at meal times and keep the bears mind stimulated.

It is only the wire keeping hungry lions from that bacon…..

I left the gallery in to ponder over it…..not sure which format I prefer….individual photos or gallery.

Tomorrow I will include more photos of ‘Happy’ and his friends.