posted on Oct, 10 2006 @ 05:19 AM
tsk tsk... thankfully the above view isnt shared by the masses
I was fortunate to take my Son to Australia Zoo and go to the memorial. Up until that time, we hadnt been up to see it. It is amazing. The memorial
service was something that will stay with me and my Son forever.
The Zoo is nothing like I have ever seen. The animals were so friendly, the park is huge and you can see where they are further expanding/developing
it. Steve & Terri Irwin invested 40 million dollars into it and everyone who was leaving that day was thanking the staff. It truly is worth going to
see. The amenities are unlike anything I have seen for the public. Nothing has been left out. Whilst we were going from one section to the other, a
animal handler was walking with Leopards on a leash through the park. At every turn we would be met with staff holding snakes, koalas etc and I got
to hold a koala for about 15 minutes for nothing. Didnt have to pay a cent. There is a free courtesy Croc Bus that picks you up from the Sunshine
Coast. WTF do you get for free nowadays??
What got me was the size of the animal enclosures and the 3 elephants actually lived right at the back of his house. No big fancy house, just a
modest abode surrounded by the tiger temple (I have never seen handlers just cruising around whilst tigers x 4 are walking about) and the elephant
enclosure. The animals are so happy, you can feel it. It is the best Zoo I have ever been to in my life. And it reflects his commitment to the
animals.
It is such a terrible loss but I definitely feel his legacy will live on and gather momentum. The other thing I was really impressed with was the
fact that they bought up so much land and revegetated it. Thats a way above in my books.