86.) Critters

We were told before we came here that this is a strange place: the geology is strange, the animals are strange, the plants are strange, and the people... well enough said about that. But every once in a while something pops out of the background of strange, and captures your attention.

See it?

We parked on the campus and noticed a twig on the car roof. Just a twig...that was walking across the roof! Turns out to be a ... Titan Stick Insect, "one of the longest insects in Australia" (about 25 cm). According to the "Wildlife of Brisbane" book, they are long-lived and make interesting pets. We decided to live and let live, and released him to a nice eucalyptus tree.


















Photo disclaimer: The photos below are Nancy's, so they're not quite up to the normal standard of quality you're used to with Dirk's photos!

This week in the "Australia Wildlife Class" at Currumbin, we were fortunate to tour the new wildlife hospital. It just opened this year, and was funded entirely by private donations. Operating costs are high, as they take in up to 30 animals a day! Animals get hit by cars, attacked by dogs and cats, have diseases, fly into objects, get attacked by other species, orphaned, entangled in barbwire or netting or fishing line, get electrocuted, traumatized by lawnmowers and "whipper snippers," and swallow fish hooks. The vulnerable animals are losing their habitat every day, as more and more people crowd them.

We didn't see many of the patients, since they are already stressed enough with just being there, but here are some rehabilitating bearded dragons. Not sure why they were here, but at least they can keep each other company.

Here's a shy little wombat who looked as though he had been attacked by a dog and had puncture wounds in his back.


And here's a long-necked turtle who has had his carapace repaired along the back side.


















Laundry outside the hospital--a stuffed koala joey? Perhaps for keeping a lonely koala company?




















An orphaned baby gannet begging for food, he must now be "de-humanised" since he has imprinted on his human carer, who raised him from a small chick. A bird that has imprinted on a human will not survive outside their care. The goal for all animals that are brought into care is ultimate release in the Wild.

A vociferous sulphur-crested cockatoo. This guy is actually part of the birds-of-flight show promoting bird conservation.