#flathal #flatstanleyproject #townsville #australia
We had a lot of choices for how we could spend our day in Townsville, but once the Flat Friends heard about Billabong Sanctuary their decision was made. Could anything be more fun, and interesting than seeing the animals that call this land home?
First up was making sure we understood what a Billabong is— Oxbow Lake sounds nice, but doesn’t really explain itself. Flat Hal thought it sounded like water a river abandoned when its course changed, and suddenly instead of being part of the river that water is a lake. Flat Halena started doodling pictures of a bend in a river, then tried imagining the river cutting the corner, and not traveling as far around the bend… maybe that’s why they call it an oxbow lake?
Whatever the reason for the name (we couldn’t even guess where billabong comes from!) these lakes create a wonderful watering hole for all kinds of animals. Just as early human communities were built by rivers and fresh water sources, animals want to live near water too.
Billabong Sanctuary is an interesting mixture of cozy enclosures and wide-open spaces where animals roam freely. Within moments of entering, Plumed Whistling Ducks and Muscovy Ducks were right ‘underfoot!’ It was immediately clear that we were visitors in their home. They expected us to respect their right to go where they wanted and do what they wanted in their own domain.
It was a beautiful thing to see animals that didn’t fear humans; they weren’t begging for food, they simply accepted us as part of their world for the day.
Flat Hal is used to watching for other people who might accidentally step on him! It felt funny to be making sure he wasn’t the one who accidentally stepped on someone else. It also meant he and Flat Halena started watching where they were walking more carefully than usual.
The Flat Friends were amazed how many unique, and new-to-us animals we saw at Billabong Sanctuary— including the Dingo and Australian Ibis.
Billabong Sanctuary is in Nome, outside Townsville, Queensland, Australia
For many on our tour, the crocodile was a highlight. A skilled trainer worked with the crocodile, coaxing him up out of the water, and getting him to show off his teeth and strength.
The Flat Friends were more interested in seeing the emus, the cassowary, and other animals that they’d either never heard of before or only read about.
Somehow, compared to the cassowary for instance, the crocodile seemed rather ordinary. It was almost tempting to say, “we can see that back home, where are the koalas?” (Answer: other end of the sanctuary, but we got to see them too!)
