Kennedy Highway – WoollyMuses

Breakfast with the lions at Shambala Animal Kingdom took place at an open air, except for a roof, venue surrounded by the largest pride of lions in Australasia.

A splendid breakfast of various juices, bacon, eggs, coffee and tea the odours of which had only a few metres to drift to the nostrils of some grumpy and unfed lions.

To reach the breakfast area we had to walk along a short, narrow laneway between four hungry lions on our right, and their counterparts on our left. We thought they were all females. More later.

While most of the boys waited with some degree of patience…….

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The alpha male was decidedly displeased at the wait for his morning morsels.

While enjoying breakfast we were within close proximity to the inhabitants of both sides

and taking these photos was not a difficult task.

~~~~~~

I cannot remember if there was any food placed in these red balls or if they were just toys. Either way the lions enjoyed playing with them until staff produced a bucket of red meat. Breakfast!

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We noticed some of the “lionesses” looked to be quite a bit bigger than their counterparts. Upon commenting about our observation we were told that these females were actually boys with the ‘male’ part removed. I did not know that a male lion needs to be ‘entire’ to grow a mane until then. Although, having been around sheep all my life I have seen the difference between wethers and rams – both males but the latter can be used for breeding.

Just as the these fellas can.

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Breakfast or no breakfast this bloke had a burr under his saddle.

He did not appreciate company at all.

Either that or he wanted to let everyone know who was boss.

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.

Breakfast with the lions at Shambala Animal Kingdom took place at an open air, except for a roof, venue surrounded by the largest pride of lions in Australasia.

A splendid breakfast of various juices, bacon, eggs, coffee and tea the odours of which had only a few metres to drift to the nostrils of some grumpy and unfed lions.

To reach the breakfast area we had to walk along a short, narrow laneway between four hungry lions on our right, and their counterparts on our left. We thought they were all females. More later.

While most of the boys waited with some degree of patience…….

~~~~~~

~~~~~~

~~~~~~

The alpha male was decidedly displeased at the wait for his morning morsels.

While enjoying breakfast we were within close proximity to the inhabitants of both sides

and taking these photos was not a difficult task.

~~~~~~

~~~~~~

I cannot remember if there was any food placed in these red balls or if they were just toys. Either way the lions enjoyed playing with them until staff produced a bucket of red meat. Breakfast!

~~~~~~

~~~~~~

~~~~~~

~~~~~~

~~~~~~

~~~~~~

Just as the these fellas can.

~~~~~

~~~~~

~~~~~~

Breakfast or no breakfast this bloke had a burr under his saddle.

He did not appreciate company at all.

Either that or he wanted to let everyone know who was boss.

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.