Southern White Rhinoceros, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Southern White Rhinoceros, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
The Southern White Rhinoceros is one of the featured animals at our local Monarto Zoo, just a few minutes’ drive from our home.
The Rhino is one of the largest land animals in the world. This particular species is found in southern Africa. Its habitat includes grasslands and savannah where there are trees and a water supply. Rhinos have poor eyesight they rely on a good sense of smell to locate food and water. They also have a good sense of hearing.
For more information about this animal click here.
Southern White Rhinoceros, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Southern White Rhinoceros, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Southern White Rhinoceros, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Southern White Rhinoceros, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Kangaroos, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Western Grey Kangaroo (with joey), Monarto Zoo, South Australia
On our bus tour of Monarto Zoo last year I managed to get these photos of several kangaroos. The Western Grey Kangaroo was carrying a joey in the pouch (see above). Below is a shot of a large Red Kangaroo.
When the zoo was opened to the public in 1993 the area was enclosed by a tall fence. Some kangaroos native to this area were trapped inside the fence and have continued to thrive, albeit not in the enclosures housing the cheetahs and lions!
Western Grey Kangaroo (with joey), Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Red Kangaroo, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Addax and Barbary Sheep, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Addax and Barbary Sheep, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
A few kilometres from our home in Murray Bridge, South Australia we can visit the Monarto Zoo which is a part of the Adelaide Zoo in our state capital city. This is an open range zoo with visitors being able to travel through the animal enclosures on regular shuttle buses.
Today I am featuring two of the animals seen in the zoo. In the photos (click on them to enlarge the image) you can see Barbary Sheep (brown colour) and Addax, a species of antelope.
For more information about each species, go the zoo website:
Addax and Barbary Sheep, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Addax and Barbary Sheep, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Scimitar-horned Oryx, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
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.
Scimitar-horned Oryx, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Giraffe at 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.
Giraffes at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Giraffes at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Giraffes at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Giraffes at Monarto Zoo, South Australia