ALPACAS AT THE MELBOURNE ZOO
Melbourne zoo
After dropping the guys off,
we were invited to look at
any animal we wanted
to at the zoo.
Well our next favourite
animal was the "Elephant"
Of course the Melbourne
Zoo has a pregnant
Elephant- Dakkoon
i was intersted in talking to
the elephant zoo keeper, as
she explaned how Dakkoon,
fell pregnant by AI.,
first ever elephant pregnancy
in Australia by AI
Wow, she is due in
January 2010, and she
needs alot of exercise.
She has to be walked through the Zoo every night to get her exercise, how georgous, i hav it in my diary to go in January 2010 when the baby elephant is born.
We stood there and
watched the Bong Su,
(Bull), he was just so
georgeous, as he stood
by the little lake in his
enclosure, and held
one foot up whilst the
keeper was telling us
albout Elephants.
Every time she
mentioned the word
"tusk", he would wrap
his truck around his
tusk.
He was just superb,
whilst he stood there
on show.
Then it was time for
his daily bath, this is
where he walked over
to behind this huge
solid gate, the keeper
then let him know the
gate was open, and
he walked down the
lane for his bath, he
looks as though he
really enjoys it.
He then walked into
this huge building,
with massive bars around the area, whilst the 3 keepers ere preparing to bath him.
PAt the trainer, the same guy who will train the alpacas, was there at all time to supervise.
It was just wonderful to watrch this 3.5 metre high elephant weighing 4.5 tonne, stand there and enjoy the hose down, he turned around to where he wanted the water to roll off, held his tail out, lifted his foot, then he sat down like a dog, as they got their brooms and scrubbed hiback.
He then lay down, and held his feet up so his toe nails and feet could be checked, and scrubbed.
He has an ear infection, so they placed some ear cream down his ear, and he just laid there, enjoying every moment of the scrub.
As we walked back to the car, as we could not be gone long from the farm, we went past the baby tiger cubs, their new enclosure was huge, and just set up so beautiful, with tropical plants etc.
Elyse turned to me, and said our boys are going to have the best life.
As we walked back, ELyse said can we look at the gift shop, i said yes, and as we entered there were huge posters, postcards, bookmarks, fluffy toys, pencils, caps, rulers, all highlighting the main animal exhibits.
I said to Elyse next time we come in here, there will be huge posters of our alpacas faces, and on all the products, we were quite proud.
Ring and make an appointment and come and see how easy it is to farm alpacas.
Be warned though, you will fall in love with them, and want to take one home.
Looking forward to seeing you....Raelene, Rob & Elyse
Next time you visit the Melbourne Zoo....look out for the Alpacas.........................their newest residents.
AZtec Xocoloti.........Dk Brown weanling
Great Expectations .....Lt Fawn weanling.
Scandolous ...............White weanling
Tsunami..........................md fawn weanling.
,,were delivered to the Melbourne zoo on 26/6/08, where they will start their 30 day quarantine period, before entering the public arena at the Melbourne Zoo.
The area designed for the alpacas is within 100 mts of the main gate, just off to the right, where a parkland area, with beautiful shade trees will be redesigned, landscaped, and fenced to hold the alpaca display.
Whilst renovations take place, as they are also re designing new areas around the Alpaca Enclosure, THe guys will be near the taparie enclosure.
The Taparie is blind, and mainly comes out at night.
So whilst the Taparie .
The taparie is like a half horse and half elephant, so i am told, about the size of a full grown alpaca, and is not at all agressive, but a gentle animal.
It was an honor to supply the Melbourne Zoo with the alpacas, as we are told this is the very first time that the Zoo has purchased any animal from a private breeder.
The Zoos usually buy from other Zoos.
We came equipped when we delivered the alpacas, and there was a very warm welcoming committee, when the alpacas arrived.
They were weighed, and placed in their tempory quarantine area.
Whilst there, the handlers, and trainers will
be getting to now them.
The idea of the alpacas, is to train the alpacas
so they will be taken for walks through the zoo,
during opening hours, so that the public can
interact with them, Of course with trained handlers.
The Zoo would like to educate people about the alpacas and how they are farmed in their homeland, and how they are farmed here in Australia.
After delivering the alpacas, both Elyse and i were given a tour of our next most favourite animal, the elephants., going past a new exhibit, tiger pups, (georgeous).
We both went away saying to each other what a wonderful life our alpacas will have.
We met the Trainer, who is from California, and is one the world's best animal trainer.
We watch him with the elephant, and watching the elephant have his daily bath.
You can see the repore he has with the animals, and we knew that they would be in great hands, and cannot wait to see our guys when they come out of the quarantine.
...so when you visit Melbourne Zoo next, say hello to Xocoloti (the Drink Hot chocolate dates back to the Aztecs, and they called the drink Xocoloti), Great Expectations (we were in the Uk when He was born, we were sitting at stop lights, opposite a magnificant very old building, a restaruant called "Great Expectations), Scandolous, ( he was just so cheeky looking), and Tsunami, (in memory of the tsunami victims)....say hello for us
All details are accurate at time of posting on this site.
aLPACAS IN QUARANTINE AT THE mELBOURNE ZOO
Aztec Xocoloti
Great Expectations
Scandolous
Tsunami
