Birthday Cake

After the big day at the zoo we went back to our friends' for a whopping great piece of Birthday Cake - Missippi Baked Cheesecake topped with chocolate cream & cherries, yum!!! They really know how to do puddings down here, although to their credit The Cheesecake Shop is an Aussie venture...good one!

Happy Birthday Emma!

Oz the Tiger

After a welcome break for lunch, the girls were asked to help prepare the Tiger enclosure for the public demonstration in the afternoon. Behind the scenes they were able to get very close to Oz the male Tiger. They prepared meat (chicken and horse), a selection of yummy smells to stimulate his senses, and assemble twigs and things for him to play with. Then in front of a hundred patient spectators, they smeared blood and hid the meat, and got the exhibit ready for Oz's release. Finally, front row places to stand and watch the demonstration. It was altogether an awesome experience....

Lions

Then they had an "up close and personal" encounter with the Lions. Now, imagine this. They're behind the barrier that says "don't go any further or you're in danger of being eaten". The Lion Keeper is telling them all about the Lions and he wants them to get an amazing picture opportunity. How, do you say, can he acheive that? You'll never guess.....

Whiska's Kitten Milk!!! No, seriously, look at the picture!

Hippo

Then they took it in turns to feed the Hippo and to pet the Rhino - well, I say 'pet', they said they had to slap it really hard because it's skin is so thick...

And finally...the birthday arrives!

Hee, at last the weekend has arrived when we start celebrating Emma becoming a teenager! On Saturday, Emma and her friends Sophia and Jessica became Keepers for the Day at Auckland Zoo. Here are some pictures of their day... First they took it in turns to feed the alpha female Giraffe...

Petting Goat

Famous for finding animals to pet wherever she goes (!), here's a picture of Emma petting a goat at Omana Regional Park this week. Lovely walk around the coast, and oddly we were serenaded by someone who'd parked his van in the golf course car park next door to practice his bagpipes during his lunchbreak. Quite surreal!