It had been a while since my last visit to the zoo. It was time to go again. Another reason for going was to see the newly arrived baby Langur – a Francois Langur or Leaf Monkey. These are an endangered species from Vietnam.
So after a train trip to the Quay and ferry and gondola ride I entered the zoo. The first thing I noticed was that the alligator section seemed to be closed. I don’t know why. The alligators seem to have no physical barrier separating them from their pool and where you get off from the gondola ride.
Then down towards the rainforest aviary and an observation room where you can see the langurs. The baby was easy to spot. The adult monkeys are dark, but their babies are a bright orange colour. The new baby, named Embe, is about 5 – 6 weeks old. Another baby, born last year is now fully dark. Embe was quite orange. The baby was being looked after by an adult. Perhaps its mother, or an “aunty”. Baby langurs are passed around the harem and the raising is shared.
This visit, I avoided the seal and bird shows and instead spent a lot of time in the Blue Mts Bushwalk section.
When I entered I saw a lyrebird in full dance routine and it was also going through its imitations of other bird species. This was so impressive! I stopped taking still photos and instead recorded some video –
It was also interesting to observe that a group of white winged choughs seemed to be picking on the water dragons. Instead of basking in the worm sun, the lizards had to retreat under bushes.
I failed to see the platypus. I did see some ripples in a pool that indicted its presence I think. I later went to the platypus enclosure and was able to see and photograph one actively swimming around.
I then went to the Nocturnal House. Many of the creatures were active and provided good photographic subjects, but the challenges of photographing in such a dark location are great. Next visit I will need to bring some fast lenses.
Another observation on this visit was the fishing cat eating.
I can’t recall on any past visits seeing this cat actually in the pool fishing for food. That I think would be most interesting. It looked like the food it was eating was something that had been provided rather than something the cat had caught however.
More photos from my visit are online on my website here.
