The Dubbo Chronicles: No. 14 - An evening with John Cleese

Last night I went to a charitable event at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo, where John Cleese (who is sensitive to the plight of the ring tailed lemur) was performing 'an evening with' to mark the opening of guest accommodation where people would be able to stay the night at the zoo...

I had been invited by a friend who had got a group of people together...

The evening started with cocktails and canapes to the sound of African drums...

 Then the star of the evening turned up and talked about his childhood...

Career... 

and his passion for conservation...

Dubbo Chronicles No. 12 - Take me to a zoo that's got chimpanzees

I have just joined up as a member of the Western Plains Zoo! I went on my first visit there the other day.

I didn't see all the animals, as I ran out of time. But my membership allows me to visit as many times as I like for a year. 

Above: With the Giraffes.  There was a newly born giraffe there last week, only a few days old. 

Below: Some African Gazelles

Above: More of the Giraffes (they were far away feeding). They have to splay their legs in order to reach the ground.

It is a very large zoo, about 10 kms away from my flat. There is a cycle path all the way from door to door, and once there you can cycle around from enclosure to enclosure.

Below: More African Elky Thingees

Above and Below: The amazingly lazy Hippos. They didn't flinch a muscle for the whole 10 mins I was there, even when a bird landed on one's face!

Then I saw 2 female Rhinos and a baby Rhino...

The Rhino calf is called Macheo, which means sunrise in Swahili.

There were also some Cheetahs...

And some different African Elky Thingees....

A Bengal Tiger...

Some Monkeys...

Ostriches...

Zebras with a foal...

Emus and Roos...

Another African Buck of some species...

And some Galapagos Tortoises...

I had to cut my visit short, as I was getting dark, but look forward to my next trip out there soon, and taking my camera with me, instead of using my iPhone!