Before my first week of being a Sydney resident and student, I was confident that most of my learning would be retained within the classrooms of UTS, specifically in my Financial Decision Modeling and Australian Life and Culture classes. Though I have learned much about different excel systems and functions, as well as the early British colonization of Australia, the most impactful learning experience I have had was at the Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary we attended on January 19th. When we arrived, we were met with an overwhelmingly welcoming staff, one of which was the owner and head of staff, Tessa. Upon taking us to our home base for the entirety of the day, Tessa began to tell us about her professional and personal background, telling us how she had a long history of being an underwriter, childhood aspirations of being a nurse, and how she has found the most meaning and happiness in her current position at the wildlife park. She then began to explain the philosophy behind the wildlife park, illuminating the staff’s approach of providing constant care for each individual animal’s needs while never violating an animal’s comfort for the appeal of humans. Furthermore, Tessa continued to emphasize the importance of maintaining relationships with animals, as those relationships are foundational in preserving the animals’ well-being and understanding their behaviors in a natural, stress-free environment. Tessa’s words resonated with me deeply, as I had never considered the depth of thought and care involved in making and fostering such a healthy environment. Throughout the day after hearing this, I began to be particularly observant to the way in which the animals acted and interacted with humans. Specifically, I noticed how all the kangaroos and emus were surrounding the welcome center through the entirety of the day, which is where most of the human crowd is, thus making it evident that the animals at the wildlife park have been able to grow trust with humans due to the way in which the staff treats their animals. Overall, my day at the wildlife park not only gave me exposure to animals I would have never have dreamed about hanging out with, but it also opened my eyes to the profound bond between humans and animals.
