Friday, August 28, 2009

Andu - The Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby

One of the most captivating characters of the Flinders Ranges is the Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby or as us local Adnyamathanha know it by... the Andu.
This mum had a young joey in her pouch. Watching them for about 1/2 hr, you got a sense that life was pretty good for the joey. Not only was the joey safe in mum's pouch, but from time to time, the koey even got to have a nibble on the grasses as mum bent down for a feed.
What a life!!!


When you get the urge to see for yourself... drop me a line...
Enjoy, have a great day.
Cheers
Haydyn Bromley
Bookabee Australia

Bookabee Travels Australia: Now this is a pin cushion... Echidna at large!!!

Bookabee Travels Australia: Now this is a pin cushion... Echidna at large!!!

Now this is a pin cushion... Echidna at large!!!

Walking along in the Flinders Ranges, it's easy to get a little blase as you admire the rolling hills, the magnificent scenery and the spectacular wildlife. But, you can't help but count your lucky stars when you look down and spy an echidna ambling along the side of the walking track. This one caught the sharp eye of Iteka, one of the children who was on the bushwalk.
Gently picking up the echidna (having had extensive experience in doing this, definitely not something I would recommend to a novice, attempting to pick up an echidna could result in injury to the animal or yourself), I pointed out its unique features to my tour guests such as its back feet and the way the tail is hidden cleverly within the array of quils that protrude from its body.
Seeing echidnas isn't an every-day event especially here in the Flinders Ranges. Despite having lived in and around the Flinders Ranges for most of my life, i still get excited when my path convergeses with such special animals. Echidnas are monotremes (egg laying mammals), the only other being the Platypus. It is important that we do as much as we can to assist in preserving the environment of the Echidna. Eradication of predators that threaten them such as feral cats and dogs, and stopping the destruction of their natural environment are crucial to their existance. we all have a roll to play for these uniquely Australian animals, you are wither part of the solution or part of the cause. Be the former....
cheers to all :-)
Haydyn Bromley
Bookabee Australia

Bookabee Tours Australia

Escape to the spectacular Flinders Ranges for a relaxing weekend or short holiday with a unique Aboriginal cultural experience. Join Haydyn on a trip into his traditional homeland area of the Flinders Ranges and share a cultural experience 40,000 years in the making. Listen to Adnyamathanha Creation stories at traditional significant sites and see ancient paintings and engravings. Learn about the history of the area in the beautiful Ranges landscape with rugged mountains, scenic gorges, ruins of early settlement and abundant wildlife.

Your chauffeured 4WD tour is an all inclusive package with everything catered for - deluxe accommodation, meals, entry fees, tours to significant sites and the sharing of extensive knowledge, interpretations of the land and Aboriginal cultural stories from your Aboriginal tour guide.