At the caravan park in Huonville there are a few cows in the paddock adjacent to it.
The children wanted to see the cows close up - young Z aged 6 whispered in my ear, "Nanny I've never seen a cow close up and I'm frightened". I had a nice chat with him and all was ok. His sister E aged 8 blurted out, "Nanny, I'm frightened of cows and I've never seen one up close before", so I had a talk to her too and all was well.
It's amazing when you come to think of it that children have only seen pictures of cows or seen them in a movie or from a distance.
I recall when I lived in Queenstown, Tasmania for 4 years when a child there were so many people that hadn't seen a live animal at all other than a dog or cat.
Cows love to eat Willow leaves.
The above two photos are of a platypus, the first one is borrowed and second one is mine, the platypus is hard to see. There are a few of them in the river in the early evening .
A little about the platypus - sometimes referred to as the duck-billed platypus, in a semiaquatic, egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. The platypus is the sole living representative of it's family and genus, though a number of related species appear in the fossil record.
Many people especially visitors are intrigued by the platypus.
Buenas tomas, Margaret. Curioso animal!
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
Thank you...indeed they are curious and elusive.
DeleteBel post complimenti e belle foto. Ciao Margaret e buona serata, Angelo.
ReplyDeleteThanks Angelo - take care.
DeleteAll those creatures look very relaxed... : )
ReplyDeleteThey were enjoying themselves feeding :)
DeleteAs a very young child (two or three?) I am told that I had to be forcibly discouraged from going into a bull's pen to comfort him. He was bellowing at the cows in the next paddock which he could see/hear/smell but couldn't reach.
ReplyDeleteI adore platypus and don't see them often enough. All of the photos I have taken are like the second one (if that clear).
Gee bulls are a different kettle of fish sometimes :)
DeleteHard to get a good photo of a platypus, I couldn't not this time when down south but I do have a photo of one just under the water someone.
Wow, I've never seen a platypus before, thanks for sharing. Impressive looking creature.
ReplyDeleteThey are interesting, many people love to seek them out here in Tasmania.
DeleteIt must have been very exciting to see a platypus. I have never seen one in the wild.
ReplyDeleteWe would some evenings go looking for them, often they were straight opposite the caravan in the water, the water of course goes in a circle at the surface so you know one is near.
DeleteLovely photographs of the cows and platypus ... I've never seen a platypus before.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thanks Jan.
DeleteInteresting creatures are platypus's and many people love to see them if possible.
Very upsetting that young kids aren't seeing cattle these days.
ReplyDeleteMust be a mixed cattle farm - the one lying down certainly doesn't look
from its face to be a dairy cows.........more like a beef breed.
I'd be wary of the platypus.........the spur part is dangerous and not
good if you happen to be stabbed.
Colin
Back when I was a child many hadn't seen cows and not only children either..
DeleteFortunately both my grandparents had farms along with serval of my Uncles etc so was able to visit and stay with them when a child.
I always like seeing cows on the side of the road when travelling
ReplyDeleteOh yes Jo-Anne, I presume you mean the 'long paddock'.
DeleteLas vacas se ven bonitas, el ornitorrinco me encantaría verlo. Besos.
ReplyDeleteYou might get a chance to see one one day :)
DeleteLovely looking cows, they do look healthy.
Wow, you are very lucky to have the experience of seeing platypuses in their habitat.
ReplyDeleteI've only seen him in zoos.
Well at least you have seen one as many haven't.
DeleteThey are an interesting creature.
They are remarkable--- Very clean cows, and a fantastic borrowed picture of the platypus. I didn't know about their spurs.
ReplyDeleteThey do look exceptionally clean. I've seen a platypus up close but it waded away, and yes their spurs are of course their protection.
DeletePlatypus is a target for me if ever I am able to return to Australia. I have tried to see it on my last two visits but without success. I think it could lay claim to being the most enigmatic creature in earth - at the very least one of the strangest.
ReplyDeleteElusive sometimes they are as you have found out. Often see one near Latrobe on the North West Coast at a place called 'Bells Parade'.
DeleteNice to see the cows. Platypus is a rare sight.
ReplyDeleteThey are sometimes a rare sight but several places here in Tasmania where one can see a platypus.
DeleteInteresting to read that the children were expressing fear at seeing the cows, when the platypus could seem far more dangerous. I have seen cows up-close, but a platypus only in photos and videos.
ReplyDeleteThe children knew that the platyus wouldn't come near them but they thought the cows might and cows are so much larger.
DeleteEstuve en una ocasión, muy cerca de un grupo de vacas. Había una cría pequeña y al ver acercarme detrás de una valla que había de cercado, se fue corriendo a donde yo estaba porque pensaba que podía ser una amenaza para la cría. Por suerte estaba la cerca, que me preservaba de un posible peligro.
ReplyDeleteBesos
Sometimes the cows and their calf's can become very friendly to we humans.
DeleteI love your blog and your Pict
ReplyDeletehugs from Miami
Thanks :)
DeleteNice photos, good close-up of the cows, our area, specifically my wife's, are the sheep that predominate, it is very curious at least for me to see those herds of more than a thousand sheep and especially the work of the dogs that guide them and protect, I love when I have the opportunity to accompany a pastor and enjoy the situation
ReplyDeleteFunny about the onitorrinco, I didn't know much about it.
Happy weekend.
Greetings.
So more sheep over your way then. Working dogs are clever with sheep but then they are trained so well to do their job.
DeleteWe have many sheep here in Tasmania too...take care.
thank you for lovely photos of cows dear and platypus dear Margaret ,i really enjoyed looking at them
ReplyDeletethis is nice you convince your grandchildren to see cows from close :)
i miss village life and free wanders of ,goats ,buffaloes and cows ,city life is unnatural and boring for me
blessings!
You are welcome Baili.
DeleteTo me it's important that the children are not to be frightened of cows.
Nearby, where I live, there is a small educational farm with some animals, such as cows, horses, chickens ... it is always a way for children in the city to have contact with animals.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a platypus, they are so lovely.
Beautiful photos
Hugs
Interesting creature is the platypus.
DeleteThat's good to have a mini farm there for the children as there are so many children that have never seen an animals at all and probably never would expect for that educational farm - a great idea.
Cute photos of the cows among the grasses, and how wonderful it would be to see a platypus. Thanks for sharing Margaret!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Denise.
DeleteMuchos niños de ciudades no está habituados a ver animales nada más que en los libros amiga. Preciosas fotos
ReplyDeleteBuen fin de semana Margaret. Cuídate.
Un abrazo.
You are correct Laura, a great opportunity for the children to get closer to the cows.
DeleteBellas imagenes de naturaleza, amiga
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteLovely shots of the Platypus, haven't seen one on any blogs.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bob. If I see any other platypus's in my travels will take a photo if I can and post on here.
Delete