Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Patting a Lion in Paradise!

This week Mum and I had a wonderful day at Paradise Valley Springs Wildlife Park.
The park is a beautifully presented New Zealand trout, bird and wild life park, along with a pride of African lions.  While walking through the beautiful forrest you can feed the trout, take a tree top walk a pick out the native plants.  You can get up close to Kea for a little chat (but watch your hand bag around these clever parrots) and pat a possum.  



The animals are all very friendly, especially if you have something yummy for them to eat.
Mum feeding the trout. 

Then came the very exciting experience of going into the cage with a lion cub.  Thankfully they both had full tummies so it was nap time shortly after we arrived.


Starting to drop off to sleep this 6 month old boy still gets to feed from his mummy (thank goodness she was in another area).


These great big paws are surprisingly soft.

Mum and I spent quite a bit of time talking to the keeper.

Unlike the babies these adult lions were much more imposing.  It was hot so they were all just having a rest until the keeper arrived with lunch.