There are also meerkats, zebras, gorillas and bald eagles, to name a few. Here, you can view some of Africa's most beloved animals – including lions, elephants and cheetahs – roaming free (well, relatively). If you want more of the San Diego Zoo, head about 35 miles north to its Safari Park in Escondido. Witness the animals' activity after dark and roast s'mores around the campfire. ![]() Guests sleep in comfortable tent cabins with cots and heaters. News Insider Tip: Spend the night with the animals on a Roar & Snore Safari. Luis Ochoa is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.U.S. There is sometimes a wait to get in to see them during busy days, but I always remind people that no matter the wait, it’s a lot less time than flying over to Australia! Sometimes I make my way to the guest side of the exhibit during Park hours, and I hear the excitement as visitors get an up-close look at this unique species. ![]() It wasn’t announced until the animals had settled in and the exhibit opened, but now it’s hard to get me to stop talking about these special animals. I’ve had the privilege of working with these platypuses since they arrived in the US in late October. Birra likes to swim, or sometimes even hang out among the fresh eucalyptus branches we regularly provide in the pools. Her favorite spots seem to involve lots of water turbulence. When they aren’t foraging, you might find Eve surface swimming or hanging out below the waterfalls in the deep pool. Platypuses can forage for up to 14 hours a day, and they usually get to work right away. On average, we have about 250 crayfish in holding.īy 9 a.m., the lighting system has gone through its sunset cycle, and the platypuses have usually left their nest boxes to explore the pools. As their food has to be alive for them to find it, becoming a platypus keeper also meant that I became an invertebrate keeper! So after I clean out the pools and replenish our supply of crayfish and other food items, I start the process of feeding and looking after our community of crayfish. In addition to the crayfish, we offer Eve and Birra mealworms (another one of Birra’s favorites), black worms, earthworms, ghost shrimp, and crickets. These receptors can detect minute electrical signals emitted by their prey. To locate prey, they rely completely on sensitive electroreceptors that are spread out over their duck-like bill. When they dive, they close their eyes and ears, and they hold their breath. Platypuses are swift and impressive hunters in the water. Eve enjoys the smaller, brightly colored swamp crayfish, while Birra hunts after their older, larger, mud-colored relatives. At the Safari Park, we have three different varieties to offer our platypuses. ![]() Platypuses are carnivores, and they get most of their calories from small freshwater crustaceans-crayfish. While the platypuses are still sleeping, I put on chest-high waders, grab a floating waste bin, a squeegee, and a few pool nets, and start working. Not only does this help our platypuses keep track of their day, it also supplies the live plants inside the building with the lighting they need to thrive. When our platypuses start to see the lights turn up in the evening, it’s their signal that it’s time to go in and get some rest. At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, we set up our lighting schedule inside the platypus exhibit so that “daytime” starts at around 10 p.m., and “sunset” starts around 8 a.m. In the wild, platypuses sleep during the daytime, and are most active at dawn and dusk. Male Birra (short forīirrarung) sleeps on top of his bedding, and is more of an early riser. Likes a little extra time “in bed” in the morning. Learned that our female Eve likes to curl up underneath all of her bedding, and I carefully poke my head in each nest box until I find them. When IĮnter the keeper area, it’s only a little after 6 a.m., and the platypuses are ![]() Stuff my keys in my back pocket, so they don’t rattle gently close doorsīehind me and lower my radio and cell phone volume all the way down. Exhibit, I step in quietly, so as not to wake our two Australian friends.
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