Other Mammals & Monotremes

The meerkats at Taronga are some of the most entertaining inmates. They always look like they're enjoying themselves digging holes and keeping watch. Or maybe they're trying to dig their way out of the zoo and the watchmen are keeping an eye out for the keepers. In fact, maybe Taronga zoo is the meerkat equivalent of Colditz. Or a furry version of Hogan's Heroes if you prefer a humourous prisoner of war analogy. Taronga Zoo, Sydney, April 2006

A Red Panda. Look, I know it's not a great photo but it's in focus and the colours are nice. Which is a vast improvement over some of the other stuff I took at the same time. In fact, this gallery is pretty weak at the moment and I need to get my act together. Or I'll have to have a sit down and have a quiet word with myself.

It's probably wrong to ascribe human emotions to this magnificent ape but she just doesn't look like she's having a good time. The gorilla enclosure at Taronga Zoo is OK as fake habitats go but natural it ain't. But out in the wild, she'd be taking her chances against the poachers and farmers so, as a species, we've pretty much screwed up her future. Damned if she does, damned if she doesn't.

The more I shoot them, the more I like great apes. This cutie and his mum were at Singapore Zoo.

A ring-tailed lemur. Who appears to be mostly unimpressed about having his photo taken. I wonder what 'bloody tourists' translates to in lemur language.