28 amazing wildlife encounters
Our readers have had some pretty incredible run-ins with members of the animal kingdom. From dodging dingoes and falling frogs to witnessing spectacular whale breaches, nursing native critters back to health and many more, each of these encounters is more memorable and rewarding than the last. Enjoy.
Whale breach
“My most memorable wildlife encounter was holidaying in Albany, Western Australia. We were out in the bay in a small tinny when a whale and her calf began to get close to our boat. We moved away, and just a moment later the whale breached completely out of the water in the wake of our boat. It was one of the best things I have ever had the privilege to see.” – Amy Motherwell
A most welcome guest
“I was going out to my car one night when I found the strangest moth moving on the ground. It was flapping about strangely so I bent down and, when I picked it up, I found it was a tiny micro bat. Its mother must have dropped him when catching bugs around the light. I then spent the whole night researching about bats and food and whatever else I could. Seeing as I live in the middle of nowhere, there aren’t a lot of people about that can help – but I had spoken to wildlife groups and had formula ordered and was already madly in love with my guest. He was fed from the tip of a super-fine paintbrush and washed and toileted with cotton balls. To help keep him warm he spent much time down my top next to my skin. He grew bigger and stronger and would respond to my little chitter calls to him.
Sadly, not long before I was due to release him back to the wild, he passed away. But he taught me and so many people in my small town about just how important his kind are in this world. We never knew how many insects they ate helping to keep the bugs down, and where so many hated the bats, they now enjoy them and take a moment to stop and watch them fluttering in and out of the streetlights as they hunt. For such a tiny bit of my life, he left a big mark on my heart.” – Rosie Rose