Zoo Walk 2023

Taronga Zoo

Thursday 23rd February 2023

After a forced hiatus in 2021 & 2022 due to the Covid pandemic, the Sydney Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were back this year to host their twenty eighth Zoo Walk.

This year it was a modest, though enthusiastic, group of around twenty Gathered Faithful from around Australia and other parts of the globe who braved the unpredictably inclement weather and joined the Sisters, zoo keepers and volunteers at Taronga Zoo in Mosman. The Sisters were also delighted to welcome fellow Sister, Mother Greta, from the Abbey of the Black Swan in Perth.

There was a special treat in store for the Sisters and Gathered Faithful alike. After an absence of about fifteen years the zoo once again is proud to have in its care a pair of Australian Dingos.

The Sisters and their group of Gathered Faithful were able to join other Zoo goers to see the dingos and listen to a talk given by one of the handlers. The two Dingoes, one male and one female, have both been given Indigenous names from the region where they were born. The male has been named ‘Kep Kep’ which means ‘sweet’, or ‘sugar’ in the Wathawurrung language of Victoria, and the female has been named ‘Warada’ which means ‘beautiful’ in the Dharug language.

Sister Rowena, The Rotten Roadside Root, spoke of the significance of the Dingo to the Sisters of the Sydney House to everyone gathered around the temporary enclosure.

Following the talk the Sisters were given a very special treat in the form of an opportunity to get up close and meet the two dingos with the pups brought out to meet the Sisters. Warada, the more timid kept her distance behind her keeper’s legs, but Kep Kep, was more than happy to get up close and personal.

A short downpour did little to dampen the enthusiasm of attendees who took refuge until it passed over before making their way to the amphitheatre for the climax of the tour, the free flight bird show which always thrills the audience. That was followed by lunch, libation and merriment at one of the zoo's restaurants.

As Always, the Sisters humbly extend a very big thank you to Leanne and every one of the keepers and volunteers who helped make this visit such a memorable one.

We hope to see you all back next year.

Click on image to open larger in new tab