Wednesday, December 28, 2016 | Language: English | Currency: Australian Dollar | Population = 4,246,375

Today’s excursion was titled, Kangaroos and Koalas in the Bush. It should have been called a Kangaroo Bonanza, Mate.

We started at the Serendip Sanctuary in search of pandas, specifically mom Misty and her baby Cuddles. The sanctuary was prepared for our arrival and already knew which eucalyptus tree the pair was hanging out in.

We continued to You Yangs Regional Park in search of our kangaroos. Taken to a protected area we found a mob of roo set against the backdrop of the You Yangs Mountain Range, the savannah grasslands and billabongs (waterways, but better known as a clothing stores in US) of the Western Plains.

In the midst of it, a lone emu came strolling along.

Our parting shot was this beautiful bird. Judi, I’m counting on you to tell me it’s name.

A charming legend has been making the rounds for many years that the word “kangaroo” derives from an aboriginal expression meaning “I don’t understand you.” Seems the English explorer Captain James Cook was exploring around Australia with naturalist Sir Joseph Banks, when he happened to espy a funny-looking critter with a pouch. Inquiring of a nearby local as to the name of the animal, he received the reply “kangaroo,” which was intended to signify “say what?” Cook thought that was the name of the animal and the rest is history.

Call out and thank you to Mike F. for helping with the kangaroos close ups. Someone forgot to bring her long lens today.