Visit to Franklin Zoo

The title says it all. That's where we went today. On the way in, we each got a bag of food that we could feed to the ducks/hens/peacocks/peahens/goats/deer/zebra. The Youngest was mugged by this zebra who was after the whole bag, rather than just the snaffly bits out of her little hand.

Franklin zoo specialises in rescued/retired animals. They have the most beautiful elephant called Mila. Mila was in a circus for 30 years, tethered in her dark trailer for up to 20 hours a day. She is 39. She came to Franklin Zoo a couple of years ago, and they have turned her from a rocking, super anxious, indecisive, not quite elephant into a mud bathing, proud animal. Her skin looks so much better than what the photos documented from when she arrived. She still has anxiety issues, and the keepers visit her up to 3 times in a night to make sure she is OK. They are about to start fundraising for her to move to an Elephant sanctuary in Los Angeles, where she can join a family group.

We had a marvellous day. One of my other favourites was Molly, the ex-feral goat, who had been found with most of her neck chewed out by dogs. She is the most bizarre looking animal, as her head looks like it is on sideways, but she is an absolute dote. Very gentle.

If you are ever around the Bombay area of Auckland/Waikato, go for a visit. They deserve every cent they can get for the work they do. The enclosures may not yet be the most amazing, but they are getting there, and working darned hard for it. Here's a link for this wonderful place