Start at the Beginning of our Journey

Cuddles - African Elephant

We came about to meet when I was between elephant keeper and vet nurse at the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo  - I can't remember the date or be sure of the year but Ros our record keeper at the time would!  "Bird" was one of 300 sick & injured animals that the then sponsored by NRMA, wildlife clinic treated each year.  A far cry from the 6000 at RSPCA in Brisbane.  It was either Jodie or Fiona with me?

Not endemic (locally native) to the Dubbo region we weren't familiar with the Superb parrot breed.  We had to take to the books for identification.  Not simply a green parrot - look closer... red feathered legs, a flat head, long tail, hues of blue and orange.    

It was also very apparent that she wasn't "wild" either!  She was particularly stressed in a cage and unlike a wild bird trying to get out a back way she showed real signs of distress at not being able to come out the front way & onto any shoulder.  I'm a sucker so I took her home for the night... someone MUST be missing her I thought!   

Zippy - Asiatic Lion in the Veterinary Quarantine Center