Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2023

A

Abbey

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
I visited Taronga for the final time in 2022 on December 30, and for the first time in 2023 today (Test cricket followed by Taronga - my ideal day, one which I remember doing in reverse on another occasion when South Africa toured, in 2006).

Anyway, onto the zoo:
  • The zoo was very busy on Friday, with upwards of 15,000 visitors. I ran into three different people I knew, who just so happened to also be visiting the zoo.
  • Between 10:30 and 2:30, part of the lion exhibit has been opened to the public, staffed by volunteers. I felt a chill over my body as I walked through into the exhibit, it was strange but really interesting. I took a few photos, including of the trunk of a tree, featuring claw marks from where the lions have climbed it - I will upload that into the gallery.
  • Signage indicating the exhibit's temporary closure has been removed from the figtree tiger exhibit, although I didn't see a tiger.
 
Abbey said:
Between 10:30 and 2:30, part of the lion exhibit has been opened to the public, staffed by volunteers. I felt a chill over my body as I walked through into the exhibit, it was strange but really interesting. I took a few photos, including of the trunk of a tree, featuring claw marks from where the lions have climbed it - I will upload that into the gallery.
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Ato would be the tree climber! Werribee have a tree that was ‘renovated’ in a way to allow their lions to climb, so a lot of the Werribee born cubs enjoy doing this. I assume the cubs may have picked up on this behaviour off Ato and will do this too. I was told Ato climbs the tree often to have a ‘break from the kids’, so the volunteers say. :p
 
Abbey said:
(Test cricket followed by Taronga - my ideal day, one which I remember doing in reverse on another occasion when South Africa toured, in 2006).
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We did exactly the same thing when the recent Adelaide Day-Night Test was on: Werribee Zoo in the morning then the cricket in the afternoon, and the next day Melbourne Zoo in the morning and then back home for the cricket!

We even had a chat during the match that next summer we will go to Adelaide for the match and do Adelaide Zoo, Monarto Zoo, Gorge Wildlife Park and Clealand Wildlife Park in the mornings before actually going to the match in the afternoon! The zoo is a few minutes away from Adelaide Oval.
 
It's official. Taronga's new Australian precinct- Nura Diya Australia - will be opening in April 2023. The headliners are the two new Dingo pups, koalas and kangaroos. Species in nocturnal house will include platypus, feathertail gliders, bilby and a new species for Taronga - Chuditch/Western Quoll will be on show in the house when it opens as well representing an exciting addition: Nura Diya Australia
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
It's official. Taronga's new Australian prencint - Nura Diya Australia - will be opening in April 2023. The headliners are the two new Dingo pups, koalas and kangaroos. Species in nocturnal house will include platypus, feathertail gliders, bilby and a new species for Taronga - Chuditch/Western Quoll will be on show in the house when it opens as well representing an exciting addition: Nura Diya Australia
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Great news! A lot of the buildings have looked like buildings rather than construction sites for a little while now, although I'm not particularly tall so I don't have the best view over the construction fence. There was a crowd at the dingo pup talk, so that will be a popular exhibit - no doubt opening for the school holidays.

I visited Taronga today and, of the new squirrel monkeys births:
0.1 Lina gave birth on 02/01/2023
0.1 Nia gave birth on 12/12/2022
There may have been other recent births also, but they were the two confirmed by a keeper.

The seal show line-up was Bondi (NZFS), Tarni (ASL), Moby (ASL), Diego and Pepper (both Californians). Nala wasn't in the show as she had been in early 2022 and I believe she was with Amalie and Kiki in the former leopard seal exhibit. Moby walked around the crowd at one point during the show which was a first for me.

Also, when the Sky Safari is redeveloped, the poles which hold us the cables and mark the route are being moved. The new locations are marked with white spray paint on the bitumen, although as I was with a friend, I didn't go around looking for them to determine what the new route will be.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
It's official. Taronga's new Australian precinct- Nura Diya Australia - will be opening in April 2023. The headliners are the two new Dingo pups, koalas and kangaroos. Species in nocturnal house will include platypus, feathertail gliders, bilby and a new species for Taronga - Chuditch/Western Quoll will be on show in the house when it opens as well representing an exciting addition: Nura Diya Australia
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Great news! With the opening of the Australia precinct in April and the Reptile and Amphibian Centre underway, it brings the zoo ever closer to the highly anticipated Congo precinct.
Abbey said:
Also, when the Sky Safari is redeveloped, the poles which hold us the cables and mark the route are being moved. The new locations are marked with white spray paint on the bitumen, although as I was with a friend, I didn't go around looking for them to determine what the new route will be.
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That’s interesting news. I had wondered if they’d take the opportunity to re-route the Sky Safari as part of the redevelopment.

The significance of this news is that the Sky Safari currently passes over the elephant exhibit. When the elephants transfer to Dubbo, this would have otherwise limited options for repurposing their exhibit; but now there’s the potential they could renovate this exhibit for a range of species.

Orangutans were originally in the masterplan, which would be exciting to see return to Taronga - with an aerial pathway or something similar.
 
Retirement of the Sky Safari:

From socials:

After 35 wonderful years, our current Sky Safari is set for retirement and will take its last ride on the 31 January 2023.

First installed to its iconic position in 1987 and then upgraded in 2000, the Sky Safari is one of our most loved experiences. Over its lifetime, it has transported more than 20 million passengers, including a royal or two, and even carried the Olympic torch.

The current Sky Safari is an ageing asset, and has sadly reached the end of its workable life with significant upgrades needed for it to continue to operate.

It’s retirement paves the way for a proposed upgrade which would see the Sky Safari transformed into an unforgettable and fully accessible family experience. Pending planning approval, the upgraded Sky Safari is scheduled to open in 2025.

Find out more about our Sky Safari and how best to plan your next visit to Taronga Zoo here: The Sky Safari is retiring
 
Zoofan15 said:
Retirement of the Sky Safari:

From socials:

After 35 wonderful years, our current Sky Safari is set for retirement and will take its last ride on the 31 January 2023.

First installed to its iconic position in 1987 and then upgraded in 2000, the Sky Safari is one of our most loved experiences. Over its lifetime, it has transported more than 20 million passengers, including a royal or two, and even carried the Olympic torch.

The current Sky Safari is an ageing asset, and has sadly reached the end of its workable life with significant upgrades needed for it to continue to operate.

It’s retirement paves the way for a proposed upgrade which would see the Sky Safari transformed into an unforgettable and fully accessible family experience. Pending planning approval, the upgraded Sky Safari is scheduled to open in 2025.

Find out more about our Sky Safari and how best to plan your next visit to Taronga Zoo here: The Sky Safari is retiring
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Disappointing to see it go; I've ridden it many times during my many visits and it's a wonderful ride; making the zoo's incredibly hilly terrain accessible to all.

I would love to see a monorail as a potential replacement; but if they do want to stick with a new Skyfari as planned, it'll be interesting to see how it's designed. I'm assuming it will take the same route, but may also take people to other parts of the zoo as well.
 
@Abbey @Jambo @WhistlingKite24 @Zoofan15

Great reading your posts guys. Will say that if the Sky Safari is a 'done-deal' with being closed then @Zoofan15 think a setup similar to Auckland Zoo and Perth Zoo could be a possibility for the return of Orangutans to Taronga.

Exciting too about Nura Diya Australia (including the upgraded Noc' House, Western Quolls/Chuditches will be exciting new addition), the new Herptile building and the underway of the Congo precinct. Can't wait to see.
 
steveroberts said:
@Abbey @Jambo @WhistlingKite24 @Zoofan15

Great reading your posts guys. Will say that if the Sky Safari is a 'done-deal' with being closed then @Zoofan15 think a setup similar to Auckland Zoo and Perth Zoo could be a possibility for the return of Orangutans to Taronga.

Exciting too about Nura Diya Australia (including the upgraded Noc' House, Western Quolls/Chuditches will be exciting new addition), the new Herptile building and the underway of the Congo precinct. Can't wait to see.
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Taronga certainly has some exciting things in store for the coming years.:)
 
Jambo said:
Disappointing to see it go; I've ridden it many times during my many visits and it's a wonderful ride; making the zoo's incredibly hilly terrain accessible to all.

I would love to see a monorail as a potential replacement; but if they do want to stick with a new Skyfari as planned, it'll be interesting to see how it's designed. I'm assuming it will take the same route, but may also take people to other parts of the zoo as well.
Click to expand...

steveroberts said:
@Abbey @Jambo @WhistlingKite24 @Zoofan15

Great reading your posts guys. Will say that if the Sky Safari is a 'done-deal' with being closed then @Zoofan15 think a setup similar to Auckland Zoo and Perth Zoo could be a possibility for the return of Orangutans to Taronga.

Exciting too about Nura Diya Australia (including the upgraded Noc' House, Western Quolls/Chuditches will be exciting new addition), the new Herptile building and the underway of the Congo precinct. Can't wait to see.
Click to expand...

The closure of the SkySafari presents an opportunity to re-route it.
The biggest question is how the current elephant exhibit will fit into this, with replacements for the elephants previously limited to what could work with the SkySafari in place. I won’t speculate further in the news thread, but there’s potentially many possiblities.
 
@Zoofan15

Really think your idea about re-routing it is the perfect approach (obviously costly..but Taronga has made it clear they are willing to request funds for big projects which is great, and as a NSW resident for nearly 29 years, want to see the state government keep making sure TZ has the funds to work on/restructure the best long term options). The Sky Safari will be very missed by visitors the moment it is gone so would be a wise move to reroute and keep it.

The possibilities for decision with the future use of the site where the current female Elephant exhibit is, are exciting in possibility indeed (though now fear some potential ideas might be quickly 'shot down').
 
New Zealand fur seal birth:

A male New Zealand fur seal pup was born to Keke 15/12/2022 - reported on socials.

This is Keke’s second pup, following the birth of Birubi 21/12/2020, who was transferred to SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium last year.

Since the female, Birubi, was the first New Zealand fur seal born at Taronga Zoo in over 20 years; this pup would be the first male of his species born at Taronga Zoo in over 20 years - an exciting achievement for the zoo.
 
Zoofan15 said:
New Zealand fur seal birth:

A male New Zealand fur seal pup was born to Keke 15/12/2022 - reported on socials.

This is Keke’s second pup, following the birth of Birubi 21/12/2020, who was transferred to SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium last year.

Since the female, Birubi, was the first New Zealand fur seal born at Taronga Zoo in over 20 years; this pup would be the first male of his species born at Taronga Zoo in over 20 years - an exciting achievement for the zoo.
Click to expand...

Great news! The video on social media is indeed very cute. I was at the zoo today and didn't see the pup (although it is noted in the post that the pup isn't currently on display), although I did see a New Zealand fur seal in the Seal Bay exhibit - which I'd presumed was Keke, although may have very well been another animal.
 
Abbey said:
Great news! The video on social media is indeed very cute. I was at the zoo today and didn't see the pup (although it is noted in the post that the pup isn't currently on display), although I did see a New Zealand fur seal in the Seal Bay exhibit - which I'd presumed was Keke, although may have very well been another animal.
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This was noted in March 2021 following the birth of the previous pup:

Seals can’t swim immediately after being born so the three-month-old has been getting some practice away from the main pool.

Now that she’s getting bigger and more confident, Birubi will soon be moved to the main pool. This means that in April, visitors can see Birubi take her first swim.

https://metro.co.uk/2021/03/31/sydney-zoo-has-its-first-fur-seal-pup-born-after-20-years-14333754/

Since this pup was also born in December, we can assume a similar timeframe for him going on display (April 2023).
 
Zoofan15 said:
New Zealand fur seal birth:

A male New Zealand fur seal pup was born to Keke 15/12/2022 - reported on socials.

This is Keke’s second pup, following the birth of Birubi 21/12/2020, who was transferred to SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium last year.

Since the female, Birubi, was the first New Zealand fur seal born at Taronga Zoo in over 20 years; this pup would be the first male of his species born at Taronga Zoo in over 20 years - an exciting achievement for the zoo.
Click to expand...

Voting open on male New Zealand fur seal pup’s name:

Help Name our Fur Seal Pup!

The options are:

- Kobe
- Clifton
- Watson

Kobe will be the favourite of the general public imo, though I personally prefer Clifton.
 
@Zoofan15

Thanks for sharing, 35 years is an impressive time span for those gondolas.

Entered Taronga for the first time aged 5 in mid 1994 in one of them, memory going over, first animal ever saw entering the zoo, a Dromedary in one of the paddocks that was at the back of 'Friendship Farm' (roughly where the eastmost side of the Francois' Langur exhibit meets the viewing into the westmost Pygmy Hippo exhibit these days) believe there was a Deer species in there too just remembered the Dromedary wasnt alone, had other hoofstock with it (also passed over the top of where the Binturongs were and are now albeit scrapped for new exhibit but did not see them..or even know they existed at the time), remember my Mum pointing out the Flamingos on one side of the viewing window, saw the top of the climbing frames of the then recently opened Orangutan exhibit but didn't see any Orangs or CE Macaques from the gondola and last remember passing over the Alligator lake, can still visualise it 28 & half years later.

*Sorry news thread not nostalgia thread, my bad
 
Zoofan15 said:
New Zealand fur seal birth:

A male New Zealand fur seal pup was born to Keke 15/12/2022 - reported on socials.

This is Keke’s second pup, following the birth of Birubi 21/12/2020, who was transferred to SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium last year.

Since the female, Birubi, was the first New Zealand fur seal born at Taronga Zoo in over 20 years; this pup would be the first male of his species born at Taronga Zoo in over 20 years - an exciting achievement for the zoo.
Click to expand...

The male New Zealand fur seal pup has been named Kobe:

1.0 Kobe (15/12/2022)

Reported on socials following a public vote.
 
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