Day 2: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary . Reflection

All of us, ouside the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

We are members of Group 1 which includes Ong Yong Xin, Tan Zhi Han, Sarah Ng and Vanessa Kerk.

Us!

In the morning, there was confusion about the bus services. It was a case of miscommunication, so we had to rush in 10 minutes to prepare everything and board the bus. We had to work quickly within a short time limit and prioritise well. We also had to split the work up (like making breakfast and preparing for the trip) to ensure that we won't be late. However, through this unexpected event, we learnt that we had to work as a group and to constantly remind each other. We had to sacrifice our shower time and a better breakfast. However, through this unexpected event, we learnt that we have to be more considerate and do things for others. We cannot be calculative because we are living in the same apartment and we're not living alone.

The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is similar to the Singapore Zoo. We saw many types of animals, e.g. Koalas, Kangaroos, nocturnal animals and venomous snakes. We also saw a lot of flora and fauna. There was a very wide variety which cannot be found in Singapore. The animals were not caged, the kangaroos and some lizards and birds were free to roam around and interact with the visitors. We were very close to the lizard and got a big shock when we noticed it was there. It helped make us feel closer to nature. However, in Singapore we are more cautious and do not let the animals roam around. The Wildlife Sanctuary also put up interesting facts, what the animals eat and their habitat to educate the public. We fed the kangaroos and they could really eat a lot, eating cup after cup. Some of them didn't have an ear or the ear had been chipped. Maybe they fought with each other or it was amputated. In the Wildlife Sanctuary, the Kangaroos were able to roam around freely probably because the species are not endangered.

Some of the informative posters put up in the Wildlife Sanctuary

We learned from the visit that the koalas were being endangered, due to loss of their habitat because of human activities. The posters put up were very informative and the information presented was not repeated. They also have a notice board to raise awareness about smuggling endangered birds, with pictures to educate the public. With awareness, the public can report the smugglers and the endangered species would not become extinct. They also educate the visitors for example, by informing them that hollows are disappearing and why. These hollows are very important as they are important for the nesting of native birds and animals. 

Generally we find that the Australians are very mindful of their environment and they educate their public well. The information presented is also succinct and clear. They raise awareness about their native species, how these animals contribute to the delicate balance of the eco-system and why are they important. This is probably why Australia is very strict on their quarantine checks certain products like food, wood and soil as foreign elements may harm their native eco-system and it cannot be controlled.

We also realized that Australians are very conscious of their environment. They will use paper bags and cardboard boxes to contain their products. We should do the same in Singapore. We were encouraged to get our own green bags and be more environmentally friendly. In the Wildlife Sanctuary, visitors were also encouraged to purchase their eco-bag to promote environmental conservation and proceeds from the  sale of the bags go to charity.

We also went for the Green Challenge which include high rope challenges like ropes, planks and the flying fox. We think that it's an eye opener as it challenges us to go beyond our physical limits. Even if we would like to stop in the middle of the course, we still had to press on to complete it so that we can get off. We also learnt how to be patient because there could only be 3 people on one platform and 2 people on the games and 1 person on the flying fox. We had to wait for our turn and encourage the person on the activity by giving support and advice to press on. Encouraging the heart is a very important factor as it is very difficult to help friends that are stuck in the middle of the course. The participant in the course had to try to complete the course with the advice and the encouragement of her peers. Some of us may be afraid of heights, but had managed to overcome their fear and complete the Green course (the simplest course). We think that completing the course can be compared to life. You can't stop halfway, but you must carry on despite difficulties. When you encounter problems, you'll have to solve them yourself with the advice and help from others around.   

On the Green Challenge

We also recalled this incident that happened along the high ropes course. The parents of a young boy were behind Yong Xin. But they asked her to allow them to do the flying fox first so that they can be near their son to help him should he encounter difficulties. Yong Xin found it very heart-warming as the father seemed very strict with the boy when giving him many instructions at the beginning of the course. Howeve through this incident, the love the parent has for his child is apparent. We think that this is the sae for our own parents. Our parents may be strict and naggy but they mean well, and deep down they actually love us. We are always at the forefront of their minds.

In the evening, we went shopping for groceries. We were only allowed to send two members of the group out to shop. We chose Yong Xin, the main 'chef' and Sarah who was the group leader. While Yong Xin and Sarah went out, Vanessa and Zhi Han were left in the apartment. However, they used their time wisely by doing household chores like cleaning up and boiling water. After dinner, we combined the washing of our dishes in the dishwasher with our peers next door to save water and dish washing detergent. It's good because we are being eco-friendly and we are supporting and helping each other.

We also noticed that Sarah and Zhi Han started to diligently account for their expenditures by noting down all their expenses for the day and calculating how much money they had for the rest of the trip. This planning prevented them from overspending as they will be more conscious about how much money they spent.