Wazza's European Adventures

Paradise Wildlife Park - part 2

Hi - and thanks for coming back!

Continuing on my merry adventures at Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne, UK.

Below are some of the little creatures that I was truly amazed with. Their tactility was amazing. Their hair styles were even better. These guys were everywhere in their shelters (you know the ones - the shelters are in a more darker, secluded area of the park, usually close to the reptile sanctuaries) and they didn't make much noise (unlike the monkeys and gibbons!) They are extremely cute and very tactile. 

 I absolutely loved this little guy (below). He and his mate were going from branch to branch, keeping a good eye on me, and Brian. We got some amazing photos, just like this one where he was looking directly into my phone, and then into Brian's camera.

These two guys below, took the cake. They weren't doing a thing at first - just moseying around, looking for things in the dirt. Then they saw us, and jumped up to the nearest tree closest to the window, and started preening each other for our enjoyment. I was quite amazing.

So after a good walking around, to see where we really wanted to go - we wanted to find the big cats! - we strolled past the gibbons... oh boy! What a racket! 

 This big guy was probably the boss of the structure, going from one tree to another, going inside and outside, yelling at the others.

As you can see, this guy (below) was in and out of their sleeping structure. He gave us the ol' up and down, checking us out as much as we checked him out! These guys were amazing. The strength, flexibility and dexterity was too cool!

These below... were the noise makers. You could hear them all the way from the other end of the zoo! They swung back and forth, and did some amazing somersaults and flips just for fun. And they knew they were being watched, so they kept up the noise...

If one stopped the noises, the next one would start!

"WOOO WOOO WOOOP WOOOP WOOOOO!"

Freaking cool! I almost couldn't get their sounds out of my head for the rest of the day.

We decided that we had enough of the primates, and we went looking for the big cats. They are probably my favourite animals, and I heard there were some Bengal Tigers, Lions and Panthers in here, so we went for a search. We didn't have to walk far, as immediately after the gibbons were these majestic creatures.

 These are Siberian Snow Leopards... And they are so amazing. They were really hard to find, because their shelter was made for them, and it really does represent and look like Siberia in the cage. The only parts that aren't are these "sleeping platforms" on which they just sit there and snore away. They have agility too, walking around on nearly nothing to get to these platforms.

Look at this guy! He looked huggable! But I dare not! lol

I just loved the way they were so casual. Let's face it - they were bored! But they came right up to my face on the second floor balcony, and then just dropped on the platform with a "thunk!!" and stayed there. I didn't manage to get any more photos of them, but they were beautiful creatures.

Next were the other big cats...

This leopard was just bored shitless! He was not moving, and sleeping in the glorious sunlight. We tried to wake him (I think everybody did!) but to no avail. He was having some serious zzzz's!

 Sleeping away...

 Now this is what I was waiting for. I was here to see these guys. The Tigers. I'm a Tiger in Chinese Astrology, and I like that I'm a Tiger! :)

This one (left) was on the ground, pacing around. He was just exercising apparently (this is what the zoo keeper was saying)

He went up on the walkways, and then plonked himself down, to watch US! I just loved the attitude these guys had. Chilled!

When I managed to get a good shot, it was from this angle - these two were bored. I mean, what else is there to do when you are a tiger in the zoo? Sit back, relax, get fed, sleep and watch all the humans go by!

This guy (above) was pacing madly, after this shot. There is a protected area where you can take photos without the wire, and he would come right up to you, stare you in the eyes and walk off... I got a few of them... 

This one was just so regal, so majestic. I'm going to put him on a t-shirt!

 This photo (below) - it was roughly 30 cms away from my camera phone. Almost looked directly into his eyes.

Okay - I've gotta do some work!

Part 3 coming soon!

Cheers!

Waz

Wazza's European Adventures

20th of June - Paradise Wildlife Park. Part 1

Well, getting up early is not what I had in mind, but cousin Brian had an idea that he mentioned last night... He said there's a wildlife park not far from here, that we could go and have a look at - a zoo if you would.

It's called Paradise Wildlife Park, and there are quite a few people here. It is an odd place to have a zoo, but who am I to talk. I'm in England. Everything to me is a slight bit odd!

So from Harlow we had a great little ride, down one of the fantastic bolting roads between townships, and landed up at the Paradise Wildlife Park.

 

 I really didn't expect much, but when you have a man on "lollipop duty" (Aussies would understand - it's the childrens' crossing bloke), and that was BETWEEN two roads in the zoo, it caught my interest. The car park was astonishingly full, considering that it wasn't school holidays just yet, and this was Brian's idea, as he hates going to places where there's a lot of kids, and I kinda don't blame him for that.
Into the car park, down to the entry kiosk, pay the fee, and in we went. Brian had his trusty camera on him (as he does) and he was looking forward to getting in some beaut photos. In we went. Talking to one of the staff there, and they asked me where I was from (couldn't they tell?) "Straya!" was my answer, and she nodded, giving me a sly wink when Brian wasn't looking. Jeez... should have said "Dover!"

So first was the lemurs, and they to me are adorable. They have those lovely make-up looking eyes (you know ladies, when you've had a brutal night out and come home and look in the mirror?). A couple of the little guys had a good ol' gander at us. We got the camera's out (mine was my phone - and it wasn't too bad - as you can see!)

This little guy came up to me, right up to me. And gave me a good looking over. He was hanging with his brother or sister or mother or father - I don't know - but he was certainly interested in the cameras. He did a few poses. But he seemed very friendly, and extremely photogenic as I found out.

Look at him. Stared straight into my camera lens for a few shots.  But he is cute. His mates were deciding whether to come to the window or not, as they were on a stump, and arguing with body language 



"no, I want there"
"no i'm here!"
"but it looks better"
"but I'M here"
"give it here" - they swapped positions - "no, I want to be where I was previously"#
"WHAT?!"
"It was better!"
"I told you that! NO! Sorry no... one time deal..."

This went on for a time, so I got some photos of the others while they were arguing...

This photo below, is after the argument. They just sat there with their bodies back to back, for a while. They must have been husband and wife...

By the end of Brian's photos, I was at the next display. Just another version of these guys, but really really sloopy! I like these animals. They have a "look, I'm doing what I'm doing because that's what I do!" type of feel to them! They were jumping and swinging on the ropes and branches like true showmen.

This guy on the right was the star. He was making noises to the others, and then telling them how to get better photos done. He must have been a model in a previous life! He was strutting around, putting on the best show. Preening, looking over his shoulder, then attempting to do the fireman's whatever it's called on the rope. He was a natural star. It was quite funny when he was pointing to the others... 

"Hey! That's not the way! It's this way!" and after a while, he seemed just to preen himself and then drop off to sleep. Must have been either bored, tired of telling the others what to do, or it was nap time!

The others (below) well, once he was asleep, they just sat there. For quite a while, not knowing what to do... They were looking at each other for some sort of direction, it was hilarious.

Seriously, these guys started showing off when the big one fell asleep. As you can see from this photo, there are two of them on a big tree log, while another one was just below. They were looking off into space.. bored. Poor things... 

 Well, how about that. Emu's... And their names were Sheila and Bruce... Far out, come on. How many Aussie's do you know with those names? I don't know one! But maybe that's a good thing, as I would be really uncomfortable after this calling a mate after an emu...

I tried to offer them a Foster's...

They were real emu's. From Oz... they spat at that.

I would have to. How CAN you English drink Foster's? I've tried to warn them all by calling it Kangapiss Brewery. But to no avail.

And what do you know? I found another old emu! Here he is with a camera. This one's name is Brian. And he surgically had a camera put onto him...

Brian has been at the zoo several times. And apparently he's managed to escape a few times too...

#savebrian #youhavetowatchtheoldones

It really isn't a very big zoo/wildlife park, but it doesn't need to be. It has all the animals you really want. And they are treated really well. They seem like happy animals. Especially the monkeys, and the primates. Man do they make a bloody noise. I could hear them for the car park as we were leaving. 

 I love these guys. In my brain, I call them the heavy metal monkeys. They just have that look. And they LOVE posing for the camera, as you can see. They have that lovely mane of hair, and the black face. Almost look like little warrior dolls. but the can jump like hell! From the wood, to the fence, to the tree, to the wood, to the tree, to the bucket, to the tree...

I swear one of these guys wanted to have a conversation with me. They came right up... mouth moving without a sound coming out... As a matter of fact, I've got a few friends that have the same affect when they talk to me.

Tomorrow I'll continue with Part 2, where I have some great shots of the big cats and the other monkeys.

Till then!

Cheers

Waz