Athletes Meet Australian Wildlife
Today the ENP athletes took the time to see the sites and to meet some of Australia's favourite faces - our native animals.
The athletes spent the morning at Caversham Wildlife Park, located in Whiteman Park.
Being able to pat the docile kangaroos at the kangaroo sanctuary was a highlight for the group.
"I can't believe how soft their fur is," said Prakash Alexander, an RS:X sailor from India.
"Will they bite?" asked Alex Jones, from Bermuda, who later explained that the only native animals in Bermuda were lizards and birds.
Anna Aile, of Latvia, explained that bears were more likely to be roaming in the forests back home.
This is the second training session Aile has participated in and when asked whether she enjoyed it, she said: "I have enjoyed it so much, even more than the first one."
"I am sad because I have to go home tomorrow and I don't want to leave. I love Australia," she said.
The hit of the day had to be "Big Bubs" an aptly named hairy-nosed wombat that made a special appearance to meet the Perth 2011 ENP sailors. Big Bubs spent the whole time snuggling up like a baby on her keeper's lap, although still allowing the young sailors to pat her.
Perth 2011 would like to thank Caversham Wildlife Park for their hospitality.
Even though the ENP will soon finish, several of the athletes will soon fly east to compete at Sail Melbourne.
Tonight, Perth 2011 Event Director John Longley spoke with the athletes and wished them well for Melbourne.
