Okay so I haven’t talked about a very troublesome a part of shifting to Australia. No no it’s not the cultural adjustment, getting used to issues being costlier, nor determining when to say “mate”.
It’s being on the other facet of the world from puffins.
Puffins are positioned all through the northern Atlantic Ocean. A fast perusal of antipodesmap.com will present that Australia is principally on the opposite facet of the world from the northern Atlantic.
So what would occur, would my love of puffins diminish? I don’t actually assume that’s attainable. However is there an animal that’s as cute and cantankerous because the puffin in my new homeland?
It was time to begin discovering out.
Kangaroo Valley
I made a decision to go to a small city known as Kangaroo Valley, about two hours south of Sydney. The journey concerned renting a automobile and driving on the left facet of the street, which I’m first rate sufficient at doing. Fortunately I used to be capable of safe a Tesla for my rental so the driving was a lot simpler. A mix of me and the automobile drove right down to Kangaroo Valley, an lovable little hamlet with retailers and eateries nestled in a valley between two high-ish hills.
Positive it was an lovable city, however I used to be going to Kangaroo Valley to see a really particular animal, and it wasn’t the kangaroo (though I did see MANY of them). It was to see the wombats.
Seeing my first wombat
The wombat space can also be a well-liked campground known as Bendeela. Amongst the tents and campfires had been roving photographers, able to see the lovable little wombats.
Round nightfall, I noticed my first. It was in some thick brush, munching on a few of the greenery.
WHAT?! HOW CUTE IS THAT?!
Okay why was I concerned with seeing wombats? What makes them distinctive?
Okay so wombats are smallish, dense marsupials which might be crepuscular in nature and love consuming roots and stems. They’re a few meter lengthy and weigh upwards of 30kg (75ish kilos). These wombats are docile in nature, although I attempted to maintain a respectful distance (I used to be utilizing my Sony a7rV and 400mm f2.8 lens so I wasn’t frightened about having to crop in). The wombats are recognized for having the hardest butt within the animal kingdom. It’s really their protection mechanism, and it’s hypothesized that their primary technique of defending themselves is, and I’m not making this up, twerking. (notice: that hyperlink is SFW).
The wombats appeared distinctive and lovable sufficient to probably be my religious land puffin whereas I’m in Australia. I needed to see extra.
Extra wombats
As I walked across the campground I began to see an increasing number of of the wombats, which largely resemble boulders greater than anything.
It was humorous, I’d be sitting there taking photos of certainly one of them after which flip barely to comprehend that certainly one of them was nearly proper subsequent to me, not caring about something however its meals.
They’re probably not quick movers, extra plodding alongside as they ate. Identical, actually.
I captured some good consuming footage on Instagram, with a lot extra to return.
The wombats appeared to solely cease consuming to do certainly one of three issues: paw on the filth to reveal the roots, scratch their necks with their hind legs, and attain again like individuals to SCRATCH THEIR BUTTS LOL
They had been simply so lovable.
There have been kangaroos too
I noticed a kangaroo with a bit of joey in its pouch.
Again to wombats
I imply are they not probably the most photogenic little issues ever?!
Now now I do know what you’re pondering: “Andy, did they actually simply have their face stuffed into the bottom the complete time?” Effectively, yeah. They’re type of singularly targeted in that regard. However that’s a part of what made them so cute! And apparently fairly horrible to camp round, when you’re tenting on the website.
So, did the wombat develop into my Australian Land Puffin?
It made a reasonably robust case. Ease of seeing them, adorableness, type of missing on the persona facet however I might sense some cantankerousness, they made a compelling case for positive.
I can’t say they received the battle fairly but although. There may be one other animal that’s recognized the world over for its cuteness. I have to go to it.
Keep tuned for extra adventures of me discovering lovable animals.
Associated