Koala – Melbourne Zoo
Finally, Melbourne is getting some cooler weather and yesterday was just perfect for photography – Zoo Photography.
The Zoo was relatively crowded as many families made a last excursion before the first school term of the year starts in the coming week. There are often slight differences between the 4 terms in the school year between states in this country.
For the first time in my life, I saw a Koala get down off a tree and scurry across the ground. I was surprised at how agile this tree dweller is, especially as he looks half asleep most of the day. He had plenty to eat in the first tree, so I’m not sure why he swapped trees, but since this lumbering gait across the ground is something most Australians will never see, let alone people from other countries, I’ve recorded his little walk in photos for you.
In the first photo, he starts to clamber (or should I say slide) down the tree trunk.
He turned around, stared straight at me and smiled in the next image – yes – smiled.
Then…..right down to the ground.
I took a mixture of Manual mode, ‘Sports’ setting, Aperture Priority and Landscape settings yesterday and you’ll probably notice some of the images are sharper in focus or a different white balance. I tried to even the photo appearance up in editing. Sometimes I managed…….and sometimes not. I’m still using the simple iPhoto editing section of the Mac Pro as I find it too tedious to go through PSE9 and/or the old free Picasa 3 software I occasionally used on my old desktop computer.
Then after looking around to see if anyone was watching, he gave a short 18 inch leap up and onto the tree trunk (I never knew Koalas could leap either, they’re too dopey. I say dopey, because Eucalyptus leaves have little nutrition and therefore Koalas have little energy).
…………then climbed a wee bit higher and went back to eating Eucalyptus leaves placed on the tree trunk by the animal keepers. I only saw one koala in the new-ish enclosure yesterday. The other ones must still be ‘on holiday‘ from when the enclosure was empty over Christmas and New Year. Over this break, a large canvas sail was erected over the enclosure as it was a bit too hot for the little Koalas. This large canvas sail will not only provide some shade, but I think will make it easier to take better exposed photographs when the bright sun is out over summer.
Reblogged this on vienaqui and commented:
Great photographs of a Koala from a Melbourne Zoo .
Thank you for sharing my post on the Koala. As I mentioned in my post, it’s rare to see them on the ground during the daytime.
They are indeed beautiful . Thanks for sharing
You are most welcome
2nd shot is PHENOMINAL!!!!!!!!
Thank you for the lovely comment. From time to time I have animals look straight at me when I move my eye from the DSLR viewfinder and I like to think they get the telepathic messages I try to send them. IF ONLY BIRDS & ANIMALS COULD TALK……
it was such a sweet look, and I could see it’s lil’ smile
I want one!
Now, now, Jules.
If you think your Godfrey bites, I can assure you that those Koala’s claws could do even more damage.
But seriously, how could you not want a cuddle when they look so friendly as in my second photo in the post.
It was so amazing to see all these photos. You have captured the Koala’s activities so well. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome, Nandini.
I think I got some better light in the shots I took this past Saturday. An overcast sky sure does make a difference when you’re photographing animals and birds.
So very cute,Vickie. That’s fantastic to get one on the ground! I saw all your posts too. Thanks!
I agree with the ‘cuteness’. Hope you & Ashley enjoyed the variety of photos I emailed to you, Steve.
Great set – what an amazing thing to capture.
Yes, it was amazing to watch. We Australians take these Koalas as an everyday thing, but one walking on the ground was certainly a rare sighting.
Beautiful sequence. Definitely not your typical shots of this fascinating creature .
I’ll pass this one on to family & friends.
Please do pass my images on. I figure I might never see a Koala on the ground in my lifetime, so am glad to have the photos to share.