12 March 2000

Today went to Perth Zoo. Arrived there a bit after 9:00 a.m. and spent most of the day there, leaving around 3:00 this afternoon. The weather was not too good to start off with, being heavily overcast and threatening to downpour. However as the day went on it improved to extended sunny periods. There was hardly anyone there when we arrived and it remained that way for most of the morning. Were fortunate to be able to speak with some of the keepers (one in particular who helped us get some photos from a reluctant civet cat and a couple of shy hyenas). However the light was quite poor and because of the slow film I use, a lot of shots were not available to me.

The zoo itself is somewhat smaller and with considerably less exhibits than Taronga (and perhaps this is only to be expected) but it is quite well laid out and easy to navigate. The animals' compounds and enclosures are large, roomy and appear to be comfortable. There are all the usual hands-on and interactive displays. And yet you become frustrated because contrary to what appears on the maps and in the brochures some areas are closed off, or you have to back-track to go somewhere else, or animals have been removed for inspection or weighing or whatever and despite the surface gloss I'm left with an impression of disorganization. And some of the animals themselves just don't come up to expectation (Asian elephants, for instance, were very small). But OK apart from that.

After leaving zoo, headed for Fremantle. Here became apparent why so few people were at the zoo: because they were all at Fremantle. Drove up, down and all around and it was all wall-to-wall people. And cars. Finally gave up and returned to Perth without exploring Freo. And did not get my swim. Maybe tomorrow. We'll see. Probably head south for Augusta tomorrow (in far SW corner of WA) before starting eastwards across the bottom. Will go through Freo and maybe have a look then.