Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2021

kiwimuzz said:
Taronga and Zoos Victoria both suffer from no one being ultimately responsible and advocating for the zoo collection. With many different departments and income streams (general admissions, friends, memberships, overnight accommodation, food and beverages, retail sales, events, weddings and functions) All will take a lot of management time and energy. 50 years ago most of these operational areas Either didn’t exist or would have been completed by one person. The complexity of the management of these zoos has probably resulted in more board members being selected from the business world and the zoologists around the board table are probably rarer than Bongos on display.
Having a State minister in the mix as well and the poor curatorial team probably have to complete “best practice” business cases just to get preliminary approval to proceed with drawing up plans for a redevelopment.
In short I think the business has become overly complicated and the board has lost focus that it is a zoo they are running.
The benefit of being a smaller private collection allows management to focus on the core business Of running a zoo, and many private zoos in Australia are showing the big boys how it should be done.
Apologies for the random capitals - my phone is misbehaving
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So in a nut shell it sounds like its become a big bumbling Bureaucracy
 
Taronga Zoo has released a video about their good work with the Lord Howe Island rodent eradication project. The rodent-proof aviaries in which the Lord Howe Island Woodhens and Currawongs were housed in for about 10 months are shown around 3:33:

 
Zoofan15 said:
First seal pup in 20 years was born December 21:

No Cookies | Gold Coast Bulletin

It might have been a terrible year for many but 2020 was special for Taronga Zoo in that it welcomed its first seal pup in 20 years.

The yet-to-be-named female arrived on December 21 and joins a happy family of 15 other seals and sea lions, including five-month-old sea lion named Amalie.

The new pup is a long-nosed fur seal, previously known as the New Zealand fur seal, and weighed in at a healthy 3.5kg.
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The female New Zealand Fur Seal pup has now been named Birubi (meaning Southern Cross). She will soon go on display in Taronga’s seal bay exhibit: Log into Facebook | Facebook
 
Taronga Zoo have recently released over 30 Bellinger River Turtles into the wild. The zoo have now released a total of 52 turtles since they commenced releasing them in 2018.

Full article: https://www.miragenews.com/endangered-turtles-troop-back-to-bellinger-522328/
Over 30 critically endangered Bellinger River snapping turtles, bred at Taronga Zoo, have been returned to their Bellinger River habitat and appear to be well after recent floods.

It is the only place in the world where they are found but in 2015 a devastating virus wiped out 90% of the turtles in just six weeks.

After a breeding program was rapidly developed, this release further boosts the population after earlier releases in 2018 and 2019, bringing the total number of turtles now released to 52.

Gerry McGilvray, a Department of Planning Industry and the Environment (DPIE) Threatened Species Officer, said after the Bellinger River Virus hit, a partnership led by the Saving our Species (SoS) program established a captive breeding program to ensure the species’ survival.

Gerry said: “This 3rd release of turtles since 2018 is excellent news for these animals, which are unique to the Bellinger River catchment and were declared Critically Endangered after the virus.”

Soon after the turtles were released, the Bellingen area and other parts of the north coast experienced heavy rain and flash flooding but threatened species experts and monitoring the released turtles have confirmed the turtles are safe.

Taronga Zoo staff used their expert skills to establish an insurance population to breed animals for the releases, with over 100 turtles now at the zoo’s quarantine facility. A second insurance population has also been developed at Symbio Wildlife Park.

Taronga Zoo Chief Executive and Director, Cameron Kerr, said that the release was a humbling moment following years of hard work and dedication by zoo staff.

“Bellinger River snapping turtles are considered one of Australia’s most critically endangered animals, and I am incredibly proud of the work of our dedicated keepers and scientists that has led to the release of these healthy individuals into the wild,” Kerr Mr Kerr said.

Radio transmitters attached to the turtles help locate them for regular monitoring by SoS Threatened Species Officers who also capture the turtles intermittently to measure growth rates, determine body condition, assess general health and look for signs of exposure to the virus.

The Bellinger River snapping turtle is a short-necked freshwater turtle in the family Chelidae first observed by John Cann in 1971.

The release was approved by the DPIE and Environment Animal Ethics Committee and was guided by reptile and translocation experts, wildlife disease experts and zoo professionals.

Major partners include Symbio Wildlife Park, Department of Primary Industries, Bellinger Landcare, OzGREEN, local community members and researchers.
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The new breeding facility for Northern Corroboree Frogs (Pseudophryne pengilleyi) has now been officially opened. The new building has the capacity to house 600 frogs. As I posted last year visitors will now be able to see both species of corroboree frog at the zoo.

Full article: https://www.miragenews.com/easter-surprise-for-endangered-frog-537253/
The Morrison Government and Taronga Zoo have unveiled a new breeding facility to secure the future of one of Australia’s most endangered species.

Once thought to number in the millions, the Northern Corroboree frog has become a symbol of the pressures facing Australia’s alpine environments from bushfires, feral pests and land degradation.

The tiny black and yellow frogs have only a small and highly fragile habitat area across the Fiery and Brindabella Ranges and are now as few as a thousand.

Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley today opened a new home for the Northern Corroboree Frog breeding program at Taronga Zoo, backed by $495,000 of funding as part of the Morrison Government’s bushfire response.

“This is a purpose-built conservation breeding facility that will house up to 600 frogs,” Minister Ley said.

“Our alpine environments are precious and fragile and the impact of fires, disease, land degradation and pests such as pigs, deer and horses are a real concern.

“This facility will ensure that we can captively breed large numbers of frogs to return to their native habitat and help educate visitors about the challenges these animals face.

“It is a lifeline for a species that reminds us that, as well as protecting the iconic furry animals we all know, we need to look at the impacts on all native wildlife.”

As part of its $200 million bushfire response for wildlife and habitat, the Morrison Government has invested $10.3 million for wildlife rescue and care services, working with zoos and establishing insurance populations for at risk species, as well as captive breeding programs and genetic analyses.

Taronga Conservation Society Australia CEO Cameron Kerr said: “Taronga’s experts are routinely called upon to act as the last line of defence, stepping to protect iconic species from the brink of extinction.

“The Black Summer bushfires had a devastating impact on Australia’s wildlife, accelerating what was already a dire situation for so many threatened and endangered species, including the Northern Corroboree Frog.”

The Morrison Government has invested over $11 million in Alpine restoration programs including habitat restoration, pest animal and weed control, erosion control, and Traditional Owner-led land management and actions. Information on Alpine recovery programs funded here.
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Source: Taronga Zoo's Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=359970351922570
 
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WhistlingKite24 said:
Just brilliant news. Taronga Zoo have announced the birth of a male Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo to female Kwikila! This regional population of Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroos is growing steadily due to this recent breeding success (this joey plus the 2020 joeys at Perth and Healesville):

Log into Facebook | Facebook
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The male Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo joey has emerged from the pouch. He has been named Taro:

“Taronga Zoo welcome the arrival of Taro, a baby Goodfellows Tree Kangaroo to mum Kwikila. Taro is approximately 40 weeks old and has just fully emerged from mum's pouch recently.”
No Cookies | Herald Sun
 
Taronga zoo has welcomed the birth of a francois langur Named Manchu.

From their Facebook page

Say hello to Taronga's latest and brightest new addition...Manchu! An adorable François Langur baby!
Despite his clashing colour, he is in fact a chimp off the old block!
Tune in now to find out more about this fascinating and rare species.
Priceless moments like this are brought to you on Taronga TV by Mastercard
#forthewild #tarongatv
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Patrick Keegan said:
Taronga zoo has welcomed the birth of a francois langur Named Manchu.

From their Facebook page

Say hello to Taronga's latest and brightest new addition...Manchu! An adorable François Langur baby!
Despite his clashing colour, he is in fact a chimp off the old block!
Tune in now to find out more about this fascinating and rare species.
Priceless moments like this are brought to you on Taronga TV by Mastercard
#forthewild #tarongatv
Log into Facebook
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This is such fantastic news for Taronga's group of 11 (7.4) langurs! Considering female Noel gave birth in 2019 this must be female Meili's most recent offspring. With six male youngsters currently in the group Taronga will start having to look to move a few of them to other facilities either within Australia or overseas as they are managed under an EEP.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
This is such fantastic news for Taronga's group of 11 (7.4) langurs! Considering female Noel gave birth in 2019 this must be female Meili's most recent offspring. With six male youngsters currently in the group Taronga will start having to look to move a few of them to other facilities either within Australia or overseas as they are managed under an EEP.
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Since this was the chosen Langur species for the regions zoos I had often wondered why only Taronga has had them, Apart from two spare males at Mogo. Other zoos were encouraged to phase out Javans and Duskies ect to make way for them. :confused:
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
This is such fantastic news for Taronga's group of 11 (7.4) langurs! Considering female Noel gave birth in 2019 this must be female Meili's most recent offspring. With six male youngsters currently in the group Taronga will start having to look to move a few of them to other facilities either within Australia or overseas as they are managed under an EEP.
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If you don't mind me asking, what's an EEP?

Taronga is preparing a MOD for its upper Australian precinct, to replace the koala's with a dingo exhibit.
Taronga Zoo - Upper Australia Precinct MOD 1 | Major Projects - Department of Planning and Environment

They have also submitted some concept documentation relating to the new Reptile and Amphibian Conservation Centre.
Taronga Reptile and Amphibian Conservation Centre | Major Projects - Department of Planning and Environment
 
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Zorro said:
Since this was the chosen Langur species for the regions zoos I had often wondered why only Taronga has had them, Apart from two spare males at Mogo. Other zoos were encouraged to phase out Javans and Duskies ect to make way for them. :confused:
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Possibly getting hold of unrelated bloodlines may be difficult. I recall China offering up langurs, at a cost... I'm not sure how diverse the genetics are.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Taronga have released an unusual video. It discusses how they suspect their female pygmy hippo Kambiri is pregnant following a successful mating. The vet conducts an ultrasound but no foetus was detected. They remain hopeful that she is indeed pregnant from her behaviour, but as mentioned, nothing has been really confirmed for sure: Log into Facebook | Facebook
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I am a little surprised they had mentioned about it since its not been confirmed!
 
Shamas now at Taronga:

I recently confirmed with Taronga via email that they received several White-rumped Shamas over the past year! A rather unexpected but fantastic addition considering their rarity in Australian aviculture. There is one male now on display in the palm aviary and they have received several breeding pairs that are currently housed off-display. The email response:

“Yes, we do have White-rumped Shamas now in the collection at Taronga Zoo, Sydney. There is currently one male on display in the Palm Aviary (next to the elephants). We do have a couple of pairs off display in breeding aviaries too. Hopefully with breeding success there’ll be more for you to see in the Asian Walkthrough Aviaries.We brought this species into the collection, and with the help of our interps team, to highlight the illegal songbird trade in Asia.”
 
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