Taronga Zoo

Today was another 'Community Day' for me - this is a paid day where I can volunteer my services and myself along with 9 of my team mates from work went along to Taronga Zoo. I arrived as specified at 7:30am, ready and willing to start work for the day. Our designated keeper came to get us at 8:15 (!) and our post was with the miniture penguins.

Taronga: The Zoo with a view!

Two of my colleague were assigned with shovelling the old sand out and putting new sand into the enclosure. Scott and I were tasked with cleaning the little huts (16 of them) out by hosing and scrubbing them clean. The huts hadn't been cleaned since they were put in last July so there was a fair amount of penguin poo to be scrubbed off that's for sure! After we had finished those it was time for morning tea and a cup of coffee in the Keeper's staff room by the Elephant enclosure.

We were all set for more work but the keepers seemed happy with our mornings efforts and gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the seals! I got my picture taken right next to one called Kira and even rubbed her belly! The keepers showed us how they train them using a whistle and some fish and another seal put her flippers up on my knee as a trick! So cute.

I was so disappointed that I didn't take my camera along, but another lady in our group took a picture of my with the seal so if she e-mails it to me I'll post it here.

I haven't been to the zoo for a while and they certainly have been doing lots and lots of renovating and refurbishing! The place looks great, the animals are very well cared for and spending the morning with some keepers really showed me just how much they love the animals they look after. The new elephant enclosure looks great and they are still building and expanding to improve the enclosures for many of the other animals - if you haven't been to the zoo or it's been a while I'd highly recommend you give it a go. Make sure you visit the giraffes - well known to have the best view of Sydney bar none!!