Townsville Billabong Sanctuary
From Alva Beach we drove to Townsville where we are staying on a cattle farm - people we met on a campground a week ago invited us to their property. They also suggested to visit the Billabong Sanctuary just south of Townsville. Since the entrance fee is quite high we thought twice before we decided to go in, not knowing what wonderful experience was lying ahead of us...
Cuddly Koalas, a great Eastern Brown, Sarah and the Salty, the blue tongue lizard and a black head python
One show followed the next, hardly time to look around and have a snack... we started with the koalas, the usual pretty, cuddly experience followed by the reptile show. The talks gave a good inside in animal habitats and behaviour as well as first aid for the snakes bites. It didn't bother Sarah too much, she still wanted to pat every animal she could get her hands on...
Black Cockatoo, Frogmouth, Barn Owl, Cassowary
The cockatoo and the frogmouth are so used to visitor that you can get really close and have a good look. The owl flew from one care taker to the other, right through the guests, getting some of them to dug because it was so close.
Crocodile feeding time
The crocodile show was very impressive. These huge animals can stay under water for up to 2.5 hours, and only need a little breath before disappearing again for an hour or so. Not seeing one in a creek doesn't mean they're not there! So stay in a safe distance. They are amazingly fast to jump into the air to a hight of easily 1.5 m. Even Sarah was impressed (but she still wanted to pat them :-))