Today we finally got to see some exclusively Australian animals and birds.
Candle plants at the entrance to Whiteman Park
We visited Whiteman Park, about 30kms north of Perth CBD. This is a very large park where a whole day can be spent walking around the recreated village, having a picnic, going for a ride on the park train, visiting the heritage museums, hiring a bike and cycling the paths or just reading a book. There is another major part of the park, the Caversham Wildlife Park, where one can spend a whole day. Once again, all access and walking areas were wheelchair friendly and many of the signs were also written in Braille. We decided to visit Caversham first where we spent 3½ hours and didn’t notice the time go by.
When we got our tickets we learnt that the opportunity to see and touch some animals was imminent so we made our way to that first. Before entering each person had to sterilise their hands using a fast-drying liquid soap provided. Around the sides of the large ‘room’ which we entered were a variety of animals and birds, one of each kind and with each one was a staff member to tell us about them. There were a number of which we had not heard such as the Rufous Bettong or Rat Kangaroo, Tiger Quoll and a Quokka. Then there were others we knew of but never seen – Wombat, Koala, Olive Python and Possum. Trevor took an opportunity to hold the snake but it was not for me. The birds included a Kookaburra and different kinds of Parrots.
Rufous Bettong or Rat Kangaroo
Bobtail Lizard
Quokka
Tiger Quoll
There was a long queue to have a photo opportunity while sitting with a staffer who held the Wombat and allowed people to touch its legs only. With the Koala, for which we had to wait in a long queue again, one could touch its head and legs while it perched on a stand. It felt a real privilege to do this with these animals. All the birds and animals are taken out of their ‘home’ sections for just this hour each day. As we came out of the animal show hall we saw a cage with enormous bats hanging in it. They are so big and have such a large wingspan that they are also called Flying Foxes.
Trevor holding Olive Snake
Vicky & Trevor with a Wombat
Vicky & Trevor with a Koala
Bats or Flying Foxes
After this we began our walk around the Park to see a large variety of animals and birds which were in large fenced areas which gave no impression of their being in cages. We were able to walk into the Kangaroo compound where there was a large container of food pellets and we were encouraged to feed them by hand. It was interesting to see both Brown and Albino Kangaroos living together. There were a number of babies and as we walked passed one mother a baby decided to make itself known from inside her pouch. What a delight.
Baby Kangaroo in pouch
Brown and Albino Kangaroos
It was as we walked around that we saw Emus, a Monitor Lizard, Carnaby’s Cockatoos, Wallabies, Penguins, a Cassawary and many others. Visiting this Wildlife Park was worth every minute spent there.
Cassawary
Emus
Australian Black Swan
Monitor Lizard
We walked back to the car to collect our prepared lunch and sat at a table under the trees to eat it as it was a perfect day. Thereafter, Trevor and Chris visited the Heritage Car Museum while Carol and I walked around the village and discovered a shop which had some beautiful clothing for babies and children as well as a variety of household linens and homemade jams, pickles and biscuits. It was a pity that this shop was situated at the very end and around the corner from the other facilities such as bike hiring as the quality was good and the prices very reasonable.
Altogether we had enjoyed another wonderful day in Perth.
Tasmanian Possum
