Scimitar-horned Oryx, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Our local zoo here in Murray Bridge South Australia is Monarto open range zoo, with most of the animals on display kept in large paddocks where they are free to wander. Visitors to the zoo are escorted through the various enclosures on shuttle buses which run every few minutes throughout the day. Excellent views of all the animals can be obtained through the large bus windows. This is accompanied by excellent commentary given by volunteer guides.
The zoo takes its logo from the animal featured here, the Scimitar-horned Oryx. This species once ranged over all of North Africa but has not been sighted in the wild for over 15 years and is now considered extinct in its natural environment. It is conservation programmes like this at Monarto (and other) zoos which is so valuable, and the main reason I enjoy supporting their work.
In their natural habitat of steppes and desert, these oryx would eat shrubs, leaves, grass and fruit. They would form large mixed herds and were able to withstand extreme heat by being able to regulate their body temperature and the retention of water. They could survive for weeks in the desert without drinking. Sadly they were hunted for their horns and this resulted in their extinction in the wild.
Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Our local zoo is just a few kilometres down the road from our home in Murray Bridge. Monarto Zoo is a part of the Adelaide Zoo here in South Australia. We try to get to both of them several times a year, seeing they are so close. They are also world class zoos incorporating both the latest techniques in displaying the animals and in the conservation of endangered species.
Flowers in a friend’s garden
Last year we went to visit friends of ours in the Adelaide Hills. Like us, they are keen growers of Australian native plants. We had a lovely lunch with them before heading out into the garden to look at their collection of plants. While my wife collected cuttings (so she could propagate them) I was busy with my camera. I’ll show some of the photos taken over the next few days.
Click on the photos to enlarge the image.
Wittunga Botanic Gardens, Blackwood, Adelaide
On a visit to the Wittunga Botanic Gardens in the Adelaide Hills last year I managed to get some lovely photos of the various plants which were flowering at the time. This was early spring last year and many of the plants were already in full bloom.
On the downside, I didn’t see many birds. Admittedly it was around midday and one of the hottest days we’d had since the winter. I guess the birds were feeling the sudden burst of heat.