WHY WOULD A LIZARD GO GROCERY SHOPPING?

 I guess with lockdown and partial lock down, we all need to stock up. This monitor lizard in Thailand decided it has had enough of catching prey for food.What can be easier than getting meals in a supermarket? Or dropping into homes for comfort food?Now this is one animal that knew what to do during lockdown - eat and slumber along.Sighted at Raymond Island, Victoria, Australia.

Coco lives in an animal rescue sanctuary for lost, unwanted or abandoned animals. It was  apprehensive when the Wees went for their monthly visits. Coco came out quickly from its cubby hole when it saw the sweet corn and sunflower seed treats. Coco stayed with the Wees for 10 years enjoying eggs and bread with peanut butter. But Coco was a real diva with its repertoire of screeches and screams for attention. 

Sharon now runs Animal Rescue.

A thirsty macaw gets his own drink of coconut water. Macaws have walnut-size brains but they are the second most intelligent parrots. 

So here is a clever macaw taking its bath in the kitchen sink. My my, why do I still have to yell at Savvy K to take her bath? A macaw's intelligence has been reported to be  comparable to primates. Absolutely true!

My neighbourhood receives plenty of visitors who do not believe in social distancing. 

Baby monkeys saying "Hello" just outside window.

This frog came and stuck itself right on the glass door. 

Snakes are very popular where I live. 

We get about one catch of snakes every month.  But the monitor lizards really love it here. These bulky creatures can actually scale walls and fences. This one gave me a good scare when I came face-to-face with it during my morning walk. I screamed,

  it scrambled over the fence. Another one climbed into my garden. Thory went ballistic, I think I almost "pengsan" (fainted)! I had to handle a monster lizard and a rabid dog that was going for a KILL. The monster would have killed Thory instead, so I had no alternative but used a bamboo pole and push it back into my neighbour's yard. 

Sorry Neighbour!!

But, scientists in Mahidol University, Thailand are investigating the medicinal properties in the blood of these monitor lizards. They reckon that their immune system which allows them to inhabit in polluted waters and devour rotted meat (Yikes!, in the wild)  holds a key to tackle cancer, bacteria and viruses.  

Amazingly, preliminary results showed proteins in their blood samples stop cancer cell growth. Ah ha, their future research concentrates on these proteins against Covid-19.  Monitor lizards may be the key to unlock this pandemic. 

Sorry my friends, I treated you so unwelcomingly. Next time I will let you roam freely but, please don't eat my Thory. 

IN MEMORY OF FAITHFUL COMPANIONS

 

     Companions and friends need not just be HUMANS. I have never quite fathom the PERISTEROPHILE (people who adore birds, Google teaches me a lot of new words!) as oppose to ORNITHOPHILE (people who study birds) until I visited Melbourne. I was introduced to an aviary of feathered frens sixteen years ago. Surprisingly, me a dog person found the birds very responsive and charming companions. These birds could carry out, not a a decent conversation, but a babbling on with their songs and repetitive sentences.  Unconditional LOVE, very soothing for the soul. Since then, I have followed their progress through Whats app photos. The owners, the Wees care so much and bond with these babies,  Sadly, only two feathered friends are now alive. So here is a memory post to:

Paco: Alexandrine parakeet named after who else but Alexander the Great. Paco was Jan’s favourite, smart and gentle. Sadly Paco passed away just yesterday.

Yindi: Rainbow lorikeet. Yindi is aboriginal for colourful. This one whistles and  loves her many toys but was very possessive and bit the other birds.

Joey (13.5 years) – Green budgie, a feisty escapee who flew in for a visit and never left. Babbled a lot and no body understood him.

Kirri (11 years): Lutino cockatiel, quite amusing with orange patch on cheek. Kirri is aboriginal for smart. Kirri was their very first bird.

Georgie (16 years): Grey cockatiel, another escapee which stayed on. This wonder boy can amazingly sing “London bridge is falling down” and he has been singing non-stop since Paco passed on. Hope Georgie will keep you both company at home now.

The Wees had a Yellow-crested cockatoo who stayed with them for 10 years. Coco when we visited in 2004

Coco is now happily staying in an Australian animal rescue home run by

Nigel and Kegan 

Tony (bird on shoulder) used to wake up at dawn to care for COCO before work. With temperatures below 0 degrees, he would be in his gloves and hoodie pacifying Coco. Coco learnt to dominate, knowing his screams will get Tony's attention. Hmm, there's a lesson to be learnt from Coco here, wonder if it'll work with Gizmo Man? I think Tony loves the birds more than his wife (Jan is his first LOVE but the BIRDS are catching up) cos' i caught him many times with his deck chair and portable TV resting next to his birds, having lunch at the aviary and just chilling with them in WINTER too. LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDS!!

Sharon in her paradise for cockatoos unwanted by the councils due to insufficient funding, and other animals.

The animals roam free, except for the birds and these are released when they are ready.

Coco loves it there. Look at him up front with fluffed-up feathers to show off who's the BOZZ. 

Cockatoos screech very loudly and it is for this reason that Coco could not live at home as he riled up the neighbours.  Coco sees Tony, who brings all his treats when visiting every month without fail.

 

A HAPPY COCO.

The Birds Place of Rest in Tony and Jan's garden., the most recent being Paco.Australia has colourful birds dropping in for visits in the Wee's garden. 

EASTER ROSELLA

KING PARROT