Taronga Zoo Recent history of Taronga and developments etc

[Zoofan15]

@Zoofan15 From memory @tetrapod mentioned that the Wyndham import was made possible with the help of Perth Zoo in the hopes that a Komodo Dragon would arrive at PZ soon after...well PZ only received their first KD ever Raja in 2013 following his 2012 import from the US with the other KD's from that import.

It appears the 3.2 sent to Australia Zoo were sent with the intention of holding all the dragons on one site to maximise breeding chances. Unfortunately that never paid off. A trio of 1.2 was formed (Ora, Lulu and Alice) and were kept off display. Slim was a display animal and not used for breeding. Fat Boy was the last survivor.

With Australia Zoo’s experience with reptiles, I’d have thought they stood a good chance - but as with many species, it’s a combination of good husbandry, compatible pairings and luck.

Over two decades later, the Australian Reptile Park struck gold!

 

[Jambo]

@Zoofan15 From memory @tetrapod mentioned that the Wyndham import was made possible with the help of Perth Zoo in the hopes that a Komodo Dragon would arrive at PZ soon after...well PZ only received their first KD ever Raja in 2013 following his 2012 import from the US with the other KD's from that import.

Perth were indeed ripped off with this deal. Wyndham imported (6?) Komodo’s I believe, but Perth had hoped for a pair themselves. If I can recall correctly, I think it was also mentioned that another facility was planning to obtain Komodo’s from this import too but can’t remember which.

 

[Zoofan15]

Perth were indeed ripped off with this deal. Wyndham imported (6?) Komodo’s I believe, but Perth had hoped for a pair themselves. If I can recall correctly, I think it was also mentioned that another facility was planning to obtain Komodo’s from this import too but can’t remember which.

Six Komodo dragons were imported in 1996, which would have been the Wyndham imports (see my previous posts). Of these, 3.2 were transferred to Australia Zoo.

Between 1975 and 2000, there were only nine live Komodo dragons imported across three imports - two in 1980; one in 1991; six in 1996.

 

[Zorro]

It appears the 3.2 sent to Australia Zoo were sent with the intention of holding all the dragons on one site to maximise breeding chances. Unfortunately that never paid off. A trio of 1.2 was formed (Ora, Lulu and Alice) and were kept off display. Slim was a display animal and not used for breeding. Fat Boy was the last survivor.

With Australia Zoo’s experience with reptiles, I’d have thought they stood a good chance - but as with many species, it’s a combination of good husbandry, compatible pairings and luck.

Over two decades later, the Australian Reptile Park struck gold!

I remember seeing a handful on the zoos website a few years ago with their names next to each pic of them, I noticed over a time that they started to disappear from the website one by one?.

 

[Zoofan15]

I remember seeing a handful on the zoos website a few years ago with their names next to each pic of them, I noticed over a time that they started to disappear from the website one by one?.

Profiles were written for each of their five Komodo dragons in 2004. They’ve now been archived, but can still be viewed here: Untitled Document

Fat Boy was the last survivor of these dragons and died in the mid-late 2010’s.

 

[Jambo]

I remember seeing a handful on the zoos website a few years ago with their names next to each pic of them, I noticed over a time that they started to disappear from the website one by one?.

Australia used to have the names of most of their animals on their website but unfortunately they don’t anymore which is a big shame. Their website was also quite out of date too, which would explain why you saw multiple Komodo’s a few years ago on there when Fat Boy was the only remaining dragon at the zoo at the time.

 

[steveroberts]

Got an email from Taronga with info on the female Komodo Dragon from the 1980s and 1990s.

Her name was Dina, she arrived at Taronga apparently in 1981 from Ragunan Zoo (like Tuka would 10 years later) Jakarta, (Java) Indonesia aged approximately 3 (wild-born caught, estimated birthyear 1978). She apparently never went to any other zoo or wildlife park in Australia during her 18-17 year time in Australia, and she died in January 1999 as @Zoofan15 filled me in was a result of her injuries from her last ill-fated contact with Tuka aged 21-20 (well you guys can do the maths without my help lmao...but poor Dina on a serious note, wonder what her life 'innings' would have been if she had not had her final encounter with Tuka or she had a different introduction which @Zoofan15 though of that would likely of been more promising).

 

[Zoofan15]

Got an email from Taronga with info on the female Komodo Dragon from the 1980s and 1990s.

Her name was Dina, she arrived at Taronga apparently in 1981 from Ragunan Zoo (like Tuka would 10 years later) Jakarta, (Java) Indonesia aged approximately 3 (wild-born caught, estimated birthyear 1978). She apparently never went to any other zoo or wildlife park in Australia during her 18-17 year time in Australia, and she died in January 1999 as @Zoofan15 filled me in was a result of her injuries from her last ill-fated contact with Tuka aged 21-20 (well you guys can do the maths without my help lmao...but poor Dina on a serious note, wonder what her life 'innings' would have been if she had not had her final encounter with Tuka or she had a different introduction which @Zoofan15 though of that would likely of been more promising).

Thanks again for finding out this info @steveroberts.

Just to elaborate on the alternative to introducing her to Tuka:

I noticed that Dina (born 1978) would have attained sexual maturity around 1986-1988, meaning she was reproductive for the last two to for years of Keith’s life (Keith died 1990).

Males of other species of reptiles have maintained fertility into old age, so I’m not sure we can discount Keith as incapable of breeding due to his advanced age. In any case, his docile nature would have made a potential breeding introduction much less volatile than those Dina experienced with Tuka if one had been undertaken.

 

[steveroberts]

@Zoofan15

I really agree with your idea of perhaps how it could have been with Dina and Keith in the last couple of years of his life.

 

[Abbey]

Scheme to improve zoo
(Sydney Morning Herald, May 21, 1976)

Taronga Zoo may get a train, a chairlift and a new restaurant if its board accepts a research firm's recommendations. The zoo commissioned the communication research and consulting firm of H.C. Mackay Pty Ltd to study community attitudes towards the zoo. The study, conducted last month, found that one of the main complaints about spending a day at the zoo was that it was very tiring, particularly for people with children.

"A motor train which ran a set route around the zoo, picking up and setting down customers along the way, would be a colourful feature of a day at the zoo," the report said.

"The installation of a chairlift would be a tourist attraction in its own right as well as solving the problem of the long walk uphill."

The report found that the strongest criticism of the zoo was that the food was "terrible and expensive." It recommended the introduction of one or more take-away food bars selling hamburgers or chicken pieces. The researchers found that many visitors to the zoo wanted more information about feeding times for the animals.

~

Largely, the recommendations did eventuate, albeit after some time. Times for keeper talks, often including animal feeding, have been included on the map for some time. The Sky Safari was opened in the 1980s, and the Taronga Food Market was built in the early 2000s and opened in 2004 (open to correction on these dates).

The Zoo 2000 masterplan included a tram along the eastern side of the zoo through the 'Heart of the Zoo' precinct, although this never eventuated. I do recall a motor train (a long vehicle styled to look like a train and called the Zoo Train) during my childhood in the 2000s. I'm not sure when it was introduced, nor when it stopped running (if I were to guess, I would say around 2015 when construction started on Sumatran Tiger Adventure/Tiger Trek, which would have significantly shortened the train route).

 

[Zoofan15]

Scheme to improve zoo
(Sydney Morning Herald, May 21, 1976)

Taronga Zoo may get a train, a chairlift and a new restaurant if its board accepts a research firm's recommendations. The zoo commissioned the communication research and consulting firm of H.C. Mackay Pty Ltd to study community attitudes towards the zoo. The study, conducted last month, found that one of the main complaints about spending a day at the zoo was that it was very tiring, particularly for people with children.

"A motor train which ran a set route around the zoo, picking up and setting down customers along the way, would be a colourful feature of a day at the zoo," the report said.

"The installation of a chairlift would be a tourist attraction in its own right as well as solving the problem of the long walk uphill."

The report found that the strongest criticism of the zoo was that the food was "terrible and expensive." It recommended the introduction of one or more take-away food bars selling hamburgers or chicken pieces. The researchers found that many visitors to the zoo wanted more information about feeding times for the animals.

~

Largely, the recommendations did eventuate, albeit after some time. Times for keeper talks, often including animal feeding, have been included on the map for some time. The Sky Safari was opened in the 1980s, and the Taronga Food Market was built in the early 2000s and opened in 2004 (open to correction on these dates).

The Zoo 2000 masterplan included a tram along the eastern side of the zoo through the 'Heart of the Zoo' precinct, although this never eventuated. I do recall a motor train (a long vehicle styled to look like a train and called the Zoo Train) during my childhood in the 2000s. I'm not sure when it was introduced, nor when it stopped running (if I were to guess, I would say around 2015 when construction started on Sumatran Tiger Adventure/Tiger Trek, which would have significantly shortened the train route).

Taronga’s Food Market opened in April 2004. It cost $6 million and can seat up to 600 people.

If recent reviews are anything to go by, overpriced food remains a source of criticism - but this is no surprise given the situation is no different at most, if not all, of the main zoos in the region. The majority seem to roll with it - either accepting the prices; or bringing their own food.

 

[Jambo]

A motor train which ran a set route around the zoo, picking up and setting down customers along the way, would be a colourful feature of a day at the zoo," the report said.

A tram/monorail would’ve been really cool if it eventuates. Especially since the zoo has quite a steep terrain, the handicapped would benefit from such a feature. If I was Taronga I would still consider this. Think of how popular such an attraction would be; even today.

 

[Zoofan15]

Scheme to improve zoo
(Sydney Morning Herald, May 21, 1976)

Taronga Zoo may get a train, a chairlift and a new restaurant if its board accepts a research firm's recommendations. The zoo commissioned the communication research and consulting firm of H.C. Mackay Pty Ltd to study community attitudes towards the zoo. The study, conducted last month, found that one of the main complaints about spending a day at the zoo was that it was very tiring, particularly for people with children.

"A motor train which ran a set route around the zoo, picking up and setting down customers along the way, would be a colourful feature of a day at the zoo," the report said.

"The installation of a chairlift would be a tourist attraction in its own right as well as solving the problem of the long walk uphill."

The report found that the strongest criticism of the zoo was that the food was "terrible and expensive." It recommended the introduction of one or more take-away food bars selling hamburgers or chicken pieces. The researchers found that many visitors to the zoo wanted more information about feeding times for the animals.

~

Largely, the recommendations did eventuate, albeit after some time. Times for keeper talks, often including animal feeding, have been included on the map for some time. The Sky Safari was opened in the 1980s, and the Taronga Food Market was built in the early 2000s and opened in 2004 (open to correction on these dates).

The Zoo 2000 masterplan included a tram along the eastern side of the zoo through the 'Heart of the Zoo' precinct, although this never eventuated. I do recall a motor train (a long vehicle styled to look like a train and called the Zoo Train) during my childhood in the 2000s. I'm not sure when it was introduced, nor when it stopped running (if I were to guess, I would say around 2015 when construction started on Sumatran Tiger Adventure/Tiger Trek, which would have significantly shortened the train route).

A tram/monorail would’ve been really cool if it eventuates. Especially since the zoo has quite a steep terrain, the handicapped would benefit from such a feature. If I was Taronga I would still consider this. Think of how popular such an attraction would be; even today.

The monorail at Chester Zoo was hugely popular, with a public outcry when it closed in 2019. The Bronx Zoo have a monorail which is two miles long and travels past their Wild Asia exhibits and this is similarly popular.

While it’s easy to associate monorails with the large zoos, I have no doubt it would prove popular at city zoos like Taronga - either easing access of the visitors or from the novelty perspective of children.

 

[Zorro]

The monorail at Chester Zoo was hugely popular, with a public outcry when it closed in 2019. The Bronx Zoo have a monorail which is two miles long and travels past their Wild Asia exhibits and this is similarly popular.

While it’s easy to associate monorails with the large zoos, I have no doubt it would prove popular at city zoos like Taronga - either easing access of the visitors or from the novelty perspective of children.

I believe the Toronto zoo use to have a monorail but it had shut down years ago, unless it has been restarted!

 

[Zoofan15]

I believe the Toronto zoo use to have a monorail but it had shut down years ago, unless it has been restarted!

That’s right. Toronto’s monorail opened in 1974 and ran for 20 years until an accident in 1994 prompted its closure. It was three miles long and took visitors on a 30 minute ride: The history of the Toronto Zoo monorail

It’s due to be replaced by a Maglev train operation. It’ll be the first of its kind to operate commercially in a North American zoo and will traverse 5.6km: https://www.magnovate.com/projects-14

 

[Jambo]

The monorail at Chester Zoo was hugely popular, with a public outcry when it closed in 2019. The Bronx Zoo have a monorail which is two miles long and travels past their Wild Asia exhibits and this is similarly popular.

While it’s easy to associate monorails with the large zoos, I have no doubt it would prove popular at city zoos like Taronga - either easing access of the visitors or from the novelty perspective of children.

Such transport are rather essential and also provide something exciting for guests (more like a guided tour in a sense). The views you could get on a monorail too would also be outstanding.

When you add in the fact some parts of Taronga are hard to access for the handicapped, a monorail which circles the zoo will surely be something that would have an additional benefit to it.

San Diego run a bus around the perimeter of their zoo, and Taronga could easily do something similar. Not many key animals will be missed- the monorail would pass the Lions, Giraffes, Tigers, Tortoises, Gibbon, Seals, Camels, Kangaroos ect.

 

[Zoofan15]

Such transport are rather essential and also provide something exciting for guests (more like a guided tour in a sense). The views you could get on a monorail too would also be outstanding.

When you add in the fact some parts of Taronga are hard to access for the handicapped, a monorail which circles the zoo will surely be something that would have an additional benefit to it.

San Diego run a bus around the perimeter of their zoo, and Taronga could easily do something similar. Not many key animals will be missed- the monorail would pass the Lions, Giraffes, Tigers, Tortoises, Gibbon, Seals, Camels, Kangaroos ect.

I guess the thing to consider is what species the guests would be able to get a decent view of from a monorail. They’re perfect for open range zoos, which house many large ungulates. They’re also additionally useful for transporting all guests from multiple stations - so would be ideal for Monarto etc.

Ideally a monorail would pass by a big cat exhibit rather than over it, since these apex predators dislike the sensation of people/moving things overhead.

 

[steveroberts]

a monorail would work really well the open range zoos of course, but like has been pointed out also Taronga and Melbourne are large enough city zoos to incorporate one too albeit expensive and like @Zoofan15 points out, would need to be built a bit of a distance from the apex predator species like the Tigers and Lions to avoid distressing them. @Abbey remember seeing that motor train too about 12-15 years back, great article find btw @Zorro is really interesting hearing about Toronto Zoo and their monorail from the past (at ZooFan thanks for the info about its timeline and the exciting news about the upcoming Maglev rail and being the first in Nth America).

Hey with the discussing about future of Pak Boon and Tang Mo's exhibit when they leave and really liked the concepts already thought of, the mention of the return of Snow Leopards ,something that while would still love to see as personally love SL, am kind of certain we might only be fortunate enough to see Taronga contemplate bringing in one other of the bigger felid species again, thought given that precinct of the zoo has a specific rainforest theme (SE Asian except for the Pygmy Hippos and Bongos) perhaps Taronga could come on board with being a holder of Sri Lankan Leopards alongside DDZ and Canberra? An endangered subspecies so technically fits the same criteria as Sumatran Tigers. Would love to see Snow Leopards equally as much but just thought would suggest possible alternative (btw ZooFan your Bonnet Macaque troop idea for the old Elephant temple exhibit still think is a brilliant idea).

 

[Zoofan15]

Hey with the discussing about future of Pak Boon and Tang Mo's exhibit when they leave and really liked the concepts already thought of, the mention of the return of Snow Leopards ,something that while would still love to see as personally love SL, am kind of certain we might only be fortunate enough to see Taronga contemplate bringing in one other of the bigger felid species again, thought given that precinct of the zoo has a specific rainforest theme (SE Asian except for the Pygmy Hippos and Bongos) perhaps Taronga could come on board with being a holder of Sri Lankan Leopards alongside DDZ and Canberra? An endangered subspecies so technically fits the same criteria as Sumatran Tigers. Would love to see Snow Leopards equally as much but just thought would suggest possible alternative (btw ZooFan your Bonnet Macaque troop idea for the old Elephant temple exhibit still think is a brilliant concept).

I agree Sri Lankan leopard would also be a great fit for the zoo. They’re a better choice for the Australian climate and Taronga would be the only zoo in NSW to exhibit them. I’m hopeful more zoos will acquire them in the future and Taronga has the opportunity to establish themselves as a founding member with a world class exhibit.

Sri Lankan leopard fit the rainforest theme - and being from South Asia, would compliment the African and South East Asian rainforest species that already inhabit that area of the zoo.

I’d love to see a large troop of Bonnet macaque inhabit the temple. They’re relatively limited in what they can hold here as the temple isn’t suitable for felids and any ungulate small enough to not make the exhibit looked cramped would be a low key addition. The best thing about a large troop of macaques is the troop can be decreased over the years as standards around exhibit size evolve.

 

[Zorro]

Another zoo that had a monorail was the San Diego Wild animal park (now San Deigo safari park) which took guess around most of the 100 acre each field exhibits including the African and Asian elephant exhbits