Summer snooze time. #bonorong #TasmanianDevil #TassieDevil #sunning #summer (at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrOrsxVgQpi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=so1plhxbf33c

Having a girlfriend that works at Bonorong isn't so bad I guess #bonorong #wildlife #tasmania #tawnyfrogmouth #kangaroo #koala #cockatoo #emu #tasmaniandevil #echidna #bluetongue #bonorongwildlifesanctuary

So now I can add Wombat Whisperer to my impressive list of animal handler titles. There was a very young wombat snuffling around near one of the water tanks in bright daylight. Using my mad skillz, I enticed him into a fake burrow (aka pet carrier wrapped in a green tablecloth) and now the young wanderer and I are waiting on Bonorong park's specialist wombat carer to come and get him. #wombat #bonorong #wildliferescue #wombatwhisperer

April 13, 2017 - Day 44 My alarm is set for 7:15am and I rise nearly with the sun in order to make the bus journey to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Brighton. It takes two to three buses along a scenic trip up the River Derwent followed by a 24 minute walk to arrive at the park. Through all of it, I'm stunned by the sheer beauty of the landscape. It's utterly incredible here. Bonorong means native companion in the aboriginal language. Almost all of the animals are native to Tasmania and are going to be reintroduced into the wild unless otherwise unable, which was the major charm luring me to visit. I'm the first guest to enter a little before 9am and since it's morning, the animals are out expecting food, so I have some alone time with them. My eyes set down first among the baby wombats, one of whom was aching for cuddles that by sheer power of rule-abiding will I refrained from giving. Next in line were the Tasmanian Devils, which were given that name because they're nocturnal and shriek like banshees to ward off other Tassie Devils from infringing on their carcass, so early Europeans would just hear them screeching at night and find chewed up carcasses in the morning and believed Tasmania to be haunted. Also their ears are bright pink and in the light of fire could easily be mistaken for devil horns. I found a potoroo, a kind of marsupial macropod that looks almost like a bunny, and spotted the beautiful furry koalas lounging in their eucalyptus trees. Then I bee-lined for the free-roaming kangaroos so I could feed them and pat their chests, which some of them really loved. On the daily tour I was allowed to pet the baby wombat and the koala (which I thought for sure was not gonna happen), which was so super adorable and amazing. I saw sleepy spotted quolls, handfuls of really lovely birds (including one eastern rosella who sang for me!! Ahh a total treat!), emus, tawny frogmouth owls, blue-tongued lizards, a tiger snake, and even Randall the echidna came out to pace around, so I walked along with him. (Echidnas are seriously so lovable!) I had a nice vegan yellow curry overlooking the park overlooking the mountains before taking a last look around and heading back to Hobart. I am the most thrilled with today's activity and would do it again in a heartbeat. I practice for MONA in the evening and end up playing a mini house show for Ryan and his friends.

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Tina the Bare-nosed Wombat, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, 2016

I spent the year at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary volunteering and it is the most amazing place. Rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing all wildlife possible with the only inhabitants those that are part of breeding programs or unable to survive in the wild.

Wombat Wuv! [M] #teamrodrigo #wombat #bonorong #bonorongwildlifesanctuary #cute #wildlife #tasmania #thebigdaytour #adorable #nofilter (at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary)