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Thanks everyone for making my trip a reality.   I'll sort thru the notes,  photos,  and memories to put together my presentation. ... actually might be a few presentations because I had time to learn about koalas,  dingoes, devils,  echidnas, and wallabies.  It's been only a week since I left and I already miss the land down under.   I will return some day,  but for now I have some new ideas and techniques for training and handling Murray,  the wombat.  I also have first hand experience about the troubles wombats face in the wild and seen studies being done by Dr Elisa Sparrow that will conserve them and mend the rift between farmers and animal.   Thank you everyone.

Last day at the zoo

Today was the last day at the Perth zoo for me. .. they are very interested in a keeper exchange.   Fingers crossed that I can go back for a few months.   Some of the best keepers I had the pleasure of meeting.   Their echidna set up is amazing and would take many months to learn all the accomplishments they have made.   The wombats are great. .. the male is too aggressive to go in with.   There is a good possibility that Murray could change too when a female is in the picture.   I have a back up plan now to condition him in protected contact if that day comes.   I hope it doesn't come down to that but it's good to train him in different ways even if he stays as sweet as he is now.   I also learned some innovative ways to exhibit nocturnal animals so hopefully our night house will be more active and it will finally be opened to the public.   I know I'll see this city again in the future,  just don't know when.   In the mean time,  I have grown my list of contacts of Australian animals keepers to help me along my new journey.  Maybe a few of them will take me up on my offer to visit los Angeles.  

Zoo

The zoo has been great to me.   I learned so much and also got away for half a day to spend with the elephants. They are still free contact. .. so got to walk around the zoo with them.  Pictures soon.   Tomorrow is my last day at the zoo.   It's a pretty heavy echidna learning day and my last wombat and Dingo day.   I'll miss the zoo here but will be glad to get back home.   And. .. no Halloween parties tonight,  boo Australia.  

Perth

Perth is beautiful!   I learned so much today at the zoo.   I added a few photos of some friends that I would like to bring home with me.   The wombats aren't as handsome as Murray back in los Angeles though.   I got to go in with the devils and walk with the dingos.  The Echidna set up is unbelievable.   Cameras in den boxes,  hidden in logs,  hanging from the ceiling. .. all going to one central command center.  It's amazing.   Perth zoo is the only zoo in the world to breed second generation captive echidnas.  Tomorrow I will learn more about the wombats and devils.   They do not go in with their male Wombat, makes me a bit thankful that Murray is more docile.

Adelaide zoo

Adelaide zoo has pandas! !! I was surprised to see a small Zoo exhibiting pandas. .. the only zoo in Australia from what I was told.   I loved the pandas but I loved the trees kangaroos and quoka (?) Best

Adelaide

Leaving Adelaide to Perth.   I learned tons at the zoo and everyone was friendly.   I had some issues with my credit card info getting stolen but have finally got it worked out.   It was difficult to deal with since wells Fargo does not operate in Australia.   I decided to eat McDonald's while I was here since I heard it tastes different. ... well I ended up sick all night last night haha.   Guess that teaches me.   The internet was absolutely horrible at the hotel and in the Wi-Fi area so this is why I haven't posted in awhile. .. hopefully Perth will be better.

Nullarbor Plain

I've returned from Nullarbor... The first night we stayed at a beach shack right near the pier (or jetty if your Australian).  We went out spotlighting a saw some Western Grey Kangaroos, more sleepy lizards, and some wombats.  I had the chance to grab a wombat as it walked out from under the truck...but I hesitated and it ran off.  They can run so much faster than I ever thought they could.  The rabbits were all over the place, but this area is outside the dog fence so that was expected.  We drove over sand dunes and stopped by the coast.  I got to see 3 Australian Sea Lions.  We walked on the beach were they were at and they allowed us to get fairly close.  The next night we stayed at a Shepards Hut in the National Park.  We went spot lighting again, but we only saw one wombat.  There are spoil mounds all over this area but evidence shows that they are inhabited by rabbits and very few wombats.  The truck get stuck in a wombat hole while driving the old paddocks at night.  Elisa got us unstuck, very thankful for that because we were literally out in the middle of nowhere.  We also saw 1 Red Kangaroo which was very cool...they are much better looking than the greys. The only thing I did not get to see was the Wild Camels.  I'll post more pics once I'm back in the city.  Here are a few for now.

Camping

Yesterday was great...I tried surfing for the first time and Kangaroo tail.  I enjoyed both.  Surfing is definitely harder than it looks, but I gave it a go and had fun, and didn't get eaten by a shark.  We are going out on a 2 day camping trip so there will not be a blog entry for a few days I'm sure.  We will be spot lighting so I hope to get some good pictures of the wildlife.  I really haven't seen as many kangaroos as you would expect...but I should at night.  Photos are of the Roo Tail and the shark netting....you swim inside the net to protect you from the sharks.  I'll keep you posted in a few days. 

Series of bad luck

So this morning, the truck had 2 flat tires.  Not a surprise since we have been driving into paddocks full of limestone rocks.  But you do what you can to study wombats.  The truck had to go to one shop this morning to replace the tires then another shop to repair the windshield.  Dr Sparrow and I took advantage of the time and worked from her office a bit, then went on a 15k bike trek to the next town and back.  The truck should be ready soon but its too late to go out in the field.  Guess its a day of surfing at the beach and meeting some new friends.  The bbq is postponed until tomorrow, however, I did get to see the kangaroo tail....I'll post pics later.  Off to the bottle shop to pick up some beer then down to the beach.  I'm thankful for the little bit of free time I have today :)

Building Fences

Today I released the Carpet Python that I wrote about the first day.  I forgot to mention that when I landed in Ceduna, we came to pick up the snake to release it...and it had gotten out of the bag.  It was finally found and was released this morning.  I took down fencing at one wombat burrow and reconstructed it at another location.  Dr Sparrow is testing a one way door that can hopefully be integrated into the dog fence to relieve some of the pressure from high density Wombat areas.  I also stopped at a rehabbers farm today and saw some Western Grey Kangaroos.  As we left the farm to drive back to Ceduna, we spotted a mother Magpie dead on the road with its baby sitting net to it.  Back to the rahabbers we went so it could receive the care it needs.  Its mouth had quite a bit of blood in it but with some hope it will survive.  The broken windshield is getting replaced tomorrow morning/afternoon so we will be without transportation.  Dr Sparrow and I are planning on going on a bicycle trek around the area....Ill post what we find tomorrow.  There is also talk of a possibly having a bbq tomorrow, What's on the menu you ask??  Well, Kangaroo tail of course!

Elliston trip

Another long day of driving out to paddocks to view wombat burrows.  I did get to see how a sheep ranch operates and watched them shear sheep and process the wool.  I also viewed the predator free fence (much different from the dog fence).  My first meat pie was so incredible....that I had a second and third for dinner.  The sausage roll was just ok, and same for the sea shanty.  I'm going to need to go for a run tomorrow morning.  I also got my first look at wild kangaroo and shingle back lizards...or "lazy lizards" as they are commonly called.  Heres photos of me picked one up.  Our windshield broke on the way home tonight so this will put us back a few hours tomorrow morning until it can get repaired.  Im going to use the time off at the beach.  I also got to experience the fly situation all day, its enough to drive you crazy.

 

Today was amazing... I learned that wombats use burrows of other wombats resulting in some that are over 100 years old.  These pictures show how large they can become from many years of soil erosion.  As the front of the tunnels collapse, the wombats did deeper and deeper.  After several decades, the entrance turns into a this.  I also saw two snakes, a bearded dragon, a few dingo carcasses, 2 camel skeletons, 2 wombats, and 3 sleepy lizards.  The dog fence that cuts across 1/4 of the country was also seen today... I expected a fence that was quite large.  What I saw was the complete opposite.  pics soon.

Ceduna...here I come

Ok, so I'm at the airport once again... Last flight til I get to start working with wombats.  Last night I slept for 12 hours... But no jet lag.  I'm thankful for that.  So, things ive discovered about Australia/Adelaide so far....it's scary being a passenger while the car is driving on the other side of the road, Adelaide is the cleanest city I have ever seen in my life, beer costs $8.00 for a glass, everybody goes out of their way to be extremely friendly - even the immigration officers.  I bought a pre-paid sim card yesterday so.now I have a phone to contact everyone here in Australia, this makes my stress level so much lower.  I also talked to Dr Sparrow last night and looks like i'll be in Ceduna for an extra day.  Anyone in Adelaide need a hotel room for next Tuesday, it's already paid for :) .  She also received a carpet python (I think that's what she said) that we will be releasing this afternoon.  And yes, that means I'll take a picture for all of you out there who requested reptile pictures ; ). Oh, and for all of you who have been watching the government shutdown very closely...so has my cab driver this morning.  He also asked me if America is safe because he hears that people randomly shoot others on the street.  I'm glad to say that I set him straight and America is very safe and I've never seen anyone shot, it's a result of an over zealous media.  He thinks our guns should be taken away...I had no comment.  well folks, off to Ceduna...I'll post more pics and write more when I can.

Made it to the gate

My last few moments in los Angeles until November. .. getting excited.   I will re-examine my packing skills the next time I leave home.   I have no idea how I'm going to drag my luggage around Australia.   At least it's a good workout.

Departure

Hello Wombat Supporters

Welcome to my very first blog post, EVER. Tomorrow night I leave for Australia... I thought of starting this blog last minute,  i think it will be easier to stay connected with everyone.  My bags are packed, money has been exchanged for AU dollars, last minute email confirmations have been made... So I guess this is it.  I take my first trip down under, hopefully this won't be my last.  Thank you all again, I can't say this enough.  I hope I can educate, entertain, and inspire all of you with my endevour.  Ill post again as soon as I get an opportunity (wifi access) in Oz.