3:00 snapshot #768

[urbpan]

Some horticultural specimens in storage behind the Australian Outback exhibit. The ones under cloth are purple loosestrife, and the cloth keeps in the beetles we're breeding.



Inside butterfly landing.


Also inside butterfly landing, a large turtle (river cooter?) basks pondside.


The newest non-animal attraction at the zoo: Eurobungy.

Comments

[arjuna-lj.livejournal.com]

Oo, what beetles? :) and will there be lots of our lovely snakes & lizards in the Outback? (sooo much cooler than *&@*&^% koalas)

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

The beetles are being raised to control purple loosestrife, which is invasive here.

Alas, our "outback" has only cuddly Australian fauna, no herps: Red Kangaroos and Emus, Tree Kangaroos (not really Australian), and a bunch of Cockatoos (some of which are Australian and some which are from north of there). Nearby we have Kookaburras and (talk about not really Australian) Keas. The long term plan is to redesign the whole Outback/Bird's World area to be our "Australasia" exhibits.

[calypso72]

Purple loosestrife? You have a way of keeping it from escaping?

[calypso72]

Oh never mind, I see it's only there as food for the beetles which I assume will be released into areas in need of loosestrife control.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

It's potted!