Little Homies of the Australia Zoo

Oz Zoo

Maya, Tim, and I spent a rainy day at the Australia Zoo, the Irwin family's labor of love. Steve had just recently died, and while a subtle sadness sat upon the grounds, the staff remained strong in their capacity to carry out the everyday functions of the zoo. The show must go on, as they say. A touching memorial had sprung up at the entrance to the zoo, in commemoration of, and as a show of love for, Steve Irwin.

The Australia Zoo is a testament to the depth and breadth of Steve's love for all animals, a love carried forward now by his family. It's the finest zoo I've ever been to.

So many different critters call the zoo home. We wandered the grounds, taking in the exhibits and inspecting the idiosyncracies of critters great and small...

...some native only to Australia...

Jabarus:


Wombats:


Koalas:


Emus:


Cassowaries:


Kookaburras:


Kangaroos:


Australia is home to the Top 10 Most Poisonous Creatures in the World. Here is but one of them:


We stopped into the Crocoseum (yes, it's actually called that)

to watch a bird show:

and a crocodile feeding:


We checked out the Cheetahs,

who turned out to be just big softies:


At one point we were chased by an irate duck. Was it cognizant of the fact that I had enjoyed Duck L'Orange the previous night? Hard to say.


It was a day well spent. Steve sure had a soft spot for animals, and the world sure had a soft spot for him. I can only hope he's off wrestling ever-bigger and wilder crocs in a The Great Big Outback in The Sky...