Monarto Zoo trip - from good to bad, in a matter of minutes...

I mentioned in a previous post that we were heading to Monarto Zoo on the 27th.. 

For those who are not familiar, Monarto Zoo is an open range zoo situated about 45mins drive from Adelaide.. It first opened to the public in 1993, and I remember going there in high school to plant trees.. It has changed and improved so much since then, and definitely a worth while experience if you have never been before..

Anyway, once you arrive at the gate and pay your entrance fee (or in our case, flash our cards as we had previously purchased a yearly zoo membership), you drive towards the visitors centre.. Here you are able to chat to the friendly staff, grab a bite to eat, check out the gift shop and also feel and touch some animal bones and skins..

Since we had been before in October, we didn't bother too much about that and headed quickly to the Zu-loop shuttle stop as we wanted to try and catch the giraffe keeper talk at 11am.. Unfortunately we missed the 1st bus, so had to wait another 15 minutes for the next one.. By the time this one came, it was too late for the keeper talk, but we did manage to see the black rhino, and zebras while on the bus and the giraffes up fairly close eating the last of the leaves on the big branch the keeper had put up... Lucas was totally fascinated with all the animals and couldn't stop staring. 

Afterwards, we headed back on the next bus towards the white rhino and cheetah enclosures.. My sister and her family were waiting for us here as they missed the 1st bus we were on and headed straight to the rhino talk, skipping the giraffes..

So we caught up quickly, then took Lucas to see the rhino up close as well as the cheetahs before deciding to stop for lunch.. Our day took a turn for the worse here as Lucas was accidentally given a sakata which contained milk protein - Lucas is allergic to dairy..

That ended up with his face swelling up really quickly and him getting really distressed.. Luckily I had packed the Claratyne syrup and gave him a dose of it.. It seemed like it was getting worse after about 5 minutes, so we gave him another dose and quickly headed back to the shuttle stop.. We didn't have to wait long for the next bus, but when it came, I quickly asked the bus driver if he could call for some assistance, so we could get taken back to the Visitors Centre, in case it got even worse..

A zoo guide was passing by a minute later, and took us back in his 4wd, calling ahead for an ambulance.. However, by the time the ambulance got to the zoo, the antihistamine had kicked in and Lucas' swelling had subsided somewhat and he was definitely looking and feeling much better.. Still, the paramedics wanted to take him to the Murray Bridge Hospital for a quick check-up and observation, so I went with Lucas in the ambulance while Brian followed us in the car..

The nurse and doctor checked him over and everything was fine - the swelling had subsided by that time anyway and Lucas was happily looking around and playing with some toys.. 

These photos were taken with my iPhone, so aren't that great..

 

Looking much better after we left the hospital.. he's eating some oranges..

Definitely a scary experience and one which I do not hope to repeat ever again..