koalas, kangaroos and owls... OH MY!

yesterday some friends and i went to the lone pine koala sanctuary. it is the first and largest koala sanctuary in the world. we had a really good time. a quick little pictorial summary.

we started off with the koalas.

unsatisfied with just petting one we decided to shell out the extra coinage to HOLD one.

they were so cute.

i think the one that i was holding got a little too excited. so male koalas have these scent glands on their chest from which they secrete a special scent to attract other females. well... i got squirted.

eww...

we then headed off to see a "birds of prey" show. it was pretty cool. they had some eagles, a hawk and an owl. i volunteered to stick my arm out for the owl to fly to. i had, what looked like the intestines of a rat placed into my glove, i then held it out and the owl flew over. but apparently i was holding onto the treat a little too tightly. the owl started to dig it's claws into me and peck at my hand. it didn't hurt. but i could DEFINITELY feel it's talons.

i think my friend matt video-taped this. i'll post it up when i get it from him.

we then went to feed some lorikeets.

wow they were loud.


some of us weren't so lucky. yep. that's bird poop!

we then went over to play with the kangaroos. yup. KANGAROOS! it was so cool.
you could get right up to them...


to pet them...


and feed them.


the little joeys were just TOO cute!


we then went back to see the koalas. took WAY too many photos. this one is probably my favourite.

can you see the little guy at the bottom? he's just by the mom's left knee.