Submitted by Ryann Pinter on the 2025 Winter program in Sydney, Australia…
When I first saw my itinerary months ago, I knew the wildlife sanctuary visit was what I was most excited about. The thought of seeing kangaroos, koalas, and wallabies in their natural habitat fascinated me. Once we arrived, the experience exceeded all my expectations. Kangaroos were hopping all around us, and we even got to pet them! To my surprise, they were very friendly… as long as you touched only their lower backs. The surprises didn’t end there. I had the chance to hold a python, which turned out to be the second-largest snake in Australia! While holding the snake was thrilling, the highlight of the day came when they introduced us to an 11-month-old wombat. He was so sweet and trusting that he fell asleep in my arms.
We later went on a tour of the bush, where we not only met Arnold the koala but learned about the Aboriginal population that once inhabited the area. The insights into their culture and connection with the land were truly enlightening. My favorite part of the entire day was seeing all the animals happy and roaming freely in their natural environment. At this sanctuary, we were the ones in cages, which was such a refreshing experience. It left me with a deeper appreciation for wildlife and conservation efforts. (Submitted on January 15, 2025)