On 21 July, author Bronwyn Saunders led 20 Field Naturalists on a walk through the Australasian National Botanic Gardens that passed by many displays of extinct Australian megafauna. It was a brisk, but pleasant, winter morning and it was brightened by Bronwyn’s passion for conveying information about the megafauna. We stopped frequently while Bronwyn enthusiastically told us about each exhibit, explaining morphological discoveries and ecological relevance, drawing from her knowledge of the latest research.
Near the Visitor Centre we were greeted by a giant kangaroo. It was a 3m high Procoptodon that used to shuffle instead of hop. We next came across a small marsupial lion, then in the rainforest the large species of marsupial lion and many more exhibits, including bats, a large flightless bird and a giant eagle. Near the rock-garden pool was a giant platypus and a giant turtle. Then by the lawns we found the massive Diprotodon, a particular favourite of Bronwyn’s, about whom she based a children’s book. Finally, we saw a giant goanna and a giant crocodile.
Thank you, Bronwyn, for a very informative and entertaining morning.
– John Stein
