Taronga Zoo Recent history of Taronga and developments etc

Abbey said:
View attachment 602599

This is the oldest map in my own collection - from May 2001.

The construction site near the tortoises in the 2000 map is now the condor aviary (where the birds are still housed to this day). Their previous exhibit is on this map still, but without an animal symbol on it (opposite the gorillas). The Creatures of the Wollemi exhibit (now Blue Mountains Bushwalk) has likewise been completed and opened.

Please excuse the blue circle to the left of the gibbon and the brown path around the Australian section - I believe they were my own childhood additions to the original. :p
Click to expand...

That’s interesting. I didn’t realise they had two Sumatran tiger exhibits in 2001 with 1.2 African lions in the middle.

The Sumatran tigers were Shiva (1985) and Selatan (1990) and they had a litter of cubs in September 2001 - conceived the month this map is dated, which is interesting. Perhaps they thought having her own exhibit would help Selatan conceive. She had fertility issues and following the births of her two litters in 1994 and 1995, I believe the zoo had been trying to breed her and Shiva for a while prior to the birth of her last litter.
 
Zoofan15 said:
That’s interesting. I didn’t realise they had two Sumatran tiger exhibits in 2001 with 1.2 African lions in the middle.

The Sumatran tigers were Shiva (1985) and Selatan (1990) and they had a litter of cubs in September 2001 - conceived the month this map is dated, which is interesting. Perhaps they thought having her own exhibit would help Selatan conceive. She had fertility issues and following the births of her two litters in 1994 and 1995, I believe the zoo had been trying to breed her and Shiva for a while prior to the birth of her last litter.
Click to expand...

Off the top of my head, Shiva was indeed housed in the exhibit which went onto become the sun bear exhibit - but happy to be corrected if that's not a correct recollection.
 
Abbey said:
Off the top of my head, Shiva was indeed housed in the exhibit which went onto become the sun bear exhibit - but happy to be corrected if that's not a correct recollection.
Click to expand...

That makes sense, with Selatan remaining in their familiar exhibit. Photos from 1997 show them together on exhibit. It was mentioned in a 1995 article that she’d only tolerate him if she was on heat, so not sure whether she mellowed in the two years that followed - or whether that 1997 photo was taken during an (unsuccessful) breeding attempt. Either way, it’d be another four years before they conceived another litter.
 
@Abbey @Zoofan15

Awesome map Abbey. Thanks heaps for sharing.

It was perhaps after Shiva's passing in March 2002 that Mr Hobbs & Victoria moved from their Sun Bear canyon exhibit on the southernmost visitor path to take up residence in that exhibit at the bottom of the AW trail. At times I think when that exhibit was occupied by the (hybrid) Asian Lions or Chester and the other renovated big cat pit exhibit was occupied was when Selatan and Shiva may of had a time share setup with use of the former pit exhibit they had tenure of for the longest. With Chester's passing in Nov 2000 meant the availability for the bottom of waterhole path exhibit was then available for Shiva.

Sadly had a 2 year gap of visiting Taronga between April 2000 and didn't get to return until May 2002.
 
Last edited:
steveroberts said:
@Abbey @Zoofan15

Awesome map Abbey. Thanks heaps for sharing.

It was perhaps after Shiva's passing in March 2002 that Mr Hobbs & Victoria moved from their Sun Bear canyon exhibit on the southernmost visitor path to take up residence in that exhibit at the bottom of the AW trail. At times I think when that exhibit was occupied by the (hybrid) Asian Lions or Chester and the other renovated big cat pit exhibit was occupied was when Selatan and Shiva may of had a time share setup with use of the former pit exhibit they had tenure of for the longest. With Chester's passing in Nov 2000 meant the availability for the bottom of waterhole path exhibit was then available for Shiva.
Click to expand...

Yes that sounds likely. Shiva and Selatan would have rotated use of the former pit exhibit. Shiva was apparently a very docile male and had Selatan been less volatile in her youth, it may have otherwise been possible for them to cohabit once their triplets were born in 1995 (Shiva was kept seperate).

A tigress can conceive a new litter the same month she loses/rejects a litter, but Selatan didn’t give birth to her second litter until 11 months after the birth of her first litter (stillborn male; handraised female) - suggesting her fertility issues played a part. She similarly took a while to conceive her first litter, with both her and Shiva assessed for fertility (Shiva’s results came back good).
 
@Zoofan15

Appreciate the info, is really interesting to learn.

Wow Meta & Nico truly were a prime example of a well formed pair then, with Nico remaining around when their cubs were born from what can tell.

More remarkable still they had to live in a small ~72 sq m outdoor yard (~6m x ~12m) for their lives at Taronga, so considering the tiny yard they occupied together they must of had relatively docile personalities, which Shiva seemingly inherited.

No disrespect intended to (the memory of) Victoria Scrivener or her family and friends, she lost her life to this pair displaying parental protection instincts (even though their cubs were never in any danger), is a very tragic example of when this pair were not docile (to others), but to one another as a pair they just seemed to 'gel' perfectly almost.

Wonder if they were introduced at Rotterdam Zoo first before being shipped to Sydney? Imagine was likely the case.
 
Last edited:
steveroberts said:
@Zoofan15

Appreciate the info, is really interesting to learn.

Wow Meta & Nico truly were a prime example of a well formed pair then, with Nico remaining around when their cubs were born from what can tell.

More remarkable still they had to live in a small ~72 sq m outdoor yard (~6m x ~12m) for their lives at Taronga, so considering the tiny yard they occupied together they must of had relatively docile personalities, which Shiva seemingly inherited.

No disrespect intended to (the memory of) Victoria Scrivener or her family and friends, she lost her life to this pair displaying parental protection instincts (even though their cubs were never in any danger), is a very tragic example of when this pair were not docile (to others), but to one another as a pair they just seemed to 'gel' perfectly almost.

Wonder if they were introduced at Rotterdam Zoo first before being shipped to Sydney? Imagine was likely the case.
Click to expand...

I think to a point there was a degree of needs must in that era. Zoos were limited in space, so many felids shared out of necessity rather than preference. It’s possible that compatible pairs existed (were seen) in zoos during that era because incompatible pairings would have resulted in the death of one of those involved (so wouldn’t have existed).

Nico and Meta were both bred at the same zoo, so were likely already a bonded pair by the time they were shipped to Taronga together in 1979. They were aged three and four upon arrival, so were fully mature and would have been receptive to each other.

While compatible, I note Meta rejected some of her earlier litters. This can sometimes occur when the new mother is in held in close proximity (or the same exhibit) as the male. It makes me wonder if Nico and Meta were separated for their final litters (September 1985 and November 1988), which to my knowledge, she reared well.
 
@Abbey @Zoofan15

Was the times too of course when Chester was away at Dubbo and Perth where Shiva had reign over the western former-pit exhibit.

He may very well of been the first occupant of this exhibit when it was opened to public viewing in February 1992. Almost certain with Selatan's arrival from Melbourne a few months later was she who likely was occupying the exhibit during daytime hours.

Do wonder perhaps if Jambi was ever given a chance to occupy this exhibit at any time that year or if he simply remained in one of the rectangular yards until his export to Wellington Zoo in Dec '92? (his departure coincided with the architectural plans to renovate three of those yards into the 'Jungle Cats' complex; and also same month of Hari & Nugi the Golden Cats arriving from Melbourne).

Though from August/September 1992 it was Chester who occupied the renovated Tiger pit exhibit for a year so wonder where Selatan & Shiva were housed during this time?

The former Lion pit renovation being completed by at least August '93 and Chester then going to Western Plains I take it when the 'Cats of Asia' exhibit opened in September '93 it was Selatan in the renovated Lion pit enclosure and Shiva in the renovated Tiger pit enclosure (and Nonah & Samar the Clouded Leoparda arriving in Jan '94 if not mistaken for the darkened corridor exhibit on a rotation-share, few months after the renovated complex reopened to the public).
 
steveroberts said:
@Abbey @Zoofan15

Was the times too of course when Chester was away at Dubbo and Perth where Shiva had reign over the western former-pit exhibit.

He may very well of been the first occupant of this exhibit when it was opened to public viewing in February 1992. Almost certain with Selatan's arrival from Melbourne a few months later was she who likely was occupying the exhibit during daytime hours.

Do wonder perhaps if Jambi was ever given a chance to occupy this exhibit at any time that year or if he simply remained in one of the rectangular yards until his export to Wellington Zoo in Dec '92? (his departure coincided with the architectural plans to renovate three of those yards into the 'Jungle Cats' complex; and also same month of Hari & Nugi the Golden Cats arriving from Melbourne).

Though from August/September 1992 it was Chester who occupied the renovated Tiger pit exhibit for a year so wonder where Selatan & Shiva were housed during this time?

The former Lion pit renovation being completed by at least August '93 and Chester then going to Western Plains I take it when the 'Cats of Asia' exhibit opened in September '93 it was Selatan in the renovated Lion pit enclosure and Shiva in the renovated Tiger pit enclosure (and Nonah & Samar the Clouded Leoparda arriving in Jan '94 if not mistaken for the darkened corridor exhibit on a rotation-share, few months after the renovated complex reopened to the public).
Click to expand...

It’s hard to say. Nico and Meta died in May 1990 and August 1990 respectively. Jambi would have been 21 months old upon Meta’s death, so could have still been living with her at this point. Female Sumatran tigers become hostile to their cubs around 12 months of age unless placed on contraception, which she presumably was to avoid breeding with Nico again.

Chester was imported a few months after Selatan arrived from Melbourne, which is curious timing.

He was sent to Perth Zoo in December 1995, which is the month Selatan’s triplets went on display. They were a huge attraction for the zoo and both Taronga and Perth no doubt benefited from this arrangement.

Jambi remained at the zoo for half a year or so after Selatan arrived, but this would have been more around waiting for Wellington to receive him. Selatan was 18 months upon arrival and not old enough to be introduced to either brother until late 1993.
 
@Zoofan15

Cheers man for the info. Wonder when contraceptives for captive felids became available for zoos to use?

According to an email from Taronga it was actually August '91 that Meta died, but they confirmed Nico was May 1990.

Because the recount of the tragic day in December '88 seems to imply Nico was in the same yard during the fatal attack of Victoria Scrivener leads me to believe he was still housed with Meta and baby Jambi and Jambi's littermate sister during this time (unless it turns out he in fact was not in the yard, though personal approach is to trust the account that was written down in Darrill Clement's book and Terry Boylan's book of course), though am curious how Jambi's littermate sister met her infant death and if perhaps Jambi was separated from Meta within a few months of being born and perhaps was reunited with Meta in May 1990 upon Nico's death, or perhaps he simply remained solitary in one of the yards until his departure to Wellington?
 
steveroberts said:
@Zoofan15

Cheers man for the info. Wonder when contraceptives for captive felids became available for zoos to use?

According to an email from Taronga it was actually August '91 that Meta died, but they confirmed Nico was May 1990.

Because the recount of the tragic day in December '88 seems to imply Nico was in the same yard during the fatal attack of Victoria Scrivener leads me to believe he was still housed with Meta and baby Jambi and Jambi's littermate sister during this time (unless it turns out he in fact was not in the yard, though personal approach is to trust the account that was written down in Darrill Clement's book and Terry Boylan's book of course), though am curious how Jambi's littermate sister met her infant death and if perhaps Jambi was separated from Meta within a few months of being born and perhaps was reunited with Meta in May 1990 upon Nico's death, or perhaps he simply remained solitary in one of the yards until his departure to Wellington?
Click to expand...

You’re welcome. I believe around the late 1980’s are when contraceptives in big cats were first used in the region. Auckland Zoo were using contraceptives on their lionesses by 1989 and this is also around the time Taronga Zoo placed their female Snow leopard on contraception. She arrived as a 14 month old cub in September 1990 and was put on contraception to avoid her breeding with the male while she was still young - with it mentioned chemical contraceptives were novel with regards to their husbandry.

You’re correct that Nico and Meta shared an exhibit in December 1988 as it was unknown which of them (or both) were involved in the fatal attack. Perhaps Jambi was separated around 12-18 months and was reintroduced to Meta in 1990 or 1991?

I’m also not sure why Jambi’s twin died. Deaths are common at the neonate stage, but she’d survived to almost three months. I believe they were both in Meta’s care. It’s common for a tigress’ milk to dry up if deaths reduce a litter to a single cub at the neonate stage, but apparently this didn’t occur with these slightly older cubs.
 
Chester’s Cubs

Not sure if anyone was aware, but Chester was the sire of triplets born April 27, 1990 at the Henry Doorly Zoo. They were the first tiger cubs born as a result of in-vitro fertilisation.

The litter consisted of a male white cub that died at birth; and a male and female orange cub of which only the female survived to adulthood. She was called Mary Alice.

The three cubs were sired by Chester to two different “Bengal” mothers and then transferred as embryos to a Siberian tigress, who acted as surrogate.

Test-Tube Tigers Born in Zoo (Published 1990)
 
@JpY

Hey welcome to ZC amigo, awesome to meet you.

Omg had forgotten all about that Hornbill statue, it was cool hey. Only remembered the giant painted replica of a giant Rafflesia flower nearby and thinking if it was a real one there'd be issues with the natural odour it apparently produces.
 
Found out a few dates from Taronga to do with some former species passing away over twenty years ago (apologies if these dates have already been mentioned on here).

Ali the (melanistic) Jaguar died on 18 July 1996.

Toby the Brazilian Tapir died 11 May 1998 (as his exhibit was used as part of the Gorillas exhibit before he died am assuming he was either sent to Dubbo or kept for last couple of years off-display in say the former Black Rhino yards where the bush area of the 'Backyard to Bush' precinct is now).

The last three Dholes who descended from the 1.1 pair imported from China in 1983 passed away 20 October 2000, 8 March 2001 and the last individual 27 November 2002. Did not get names or genders, or d.o.bs but was specified they were descended from the China imported pair, so bred from this pair or possibly inbred this pairs litter(s), but personally think the generational time frame suggests the former.
 
Last edited:
steveroberts said:
Found out a few dates from Taronga to do with some former species passing away over twenty years ago (apologies if these dates have already been mentioned on here).

Ali the (melanistic) Jaguar died on 18 July 1996.

Toby the Brazilian Tapir died 11 May 1998 (as his exhibit was used as part of the Gorillas exhibit before he died am assuming he was either sent to Dubbo or kept for last couple of years off-display in say the former Black Rhino yards where the bush area of the 'Backyard to Bush' precinct is now).

*the last three Dholes who descended from the 1.1 pair imported from China in 1983 passed away 20 October 2000, 8 March 2001 and the last individual 27 November 2002 (did not get names or genders, or d.o.bs but was specified they were bred from the China imported pair).
Click to expand...

Thanks. I didn’t have the exact date of death for Ali.

Here’s some additional information on Taronga’s last Jaguar:

Taronga Zoo’s last breeding pair were:

1.0 Ali (born 1978 at Rotterdam Zoo; arrived January 1979)
0.1 Wendy (born 1975 at Auckland Zoo; arrived June 1975)

Ali and Wendy had two litters:

Litter One:

1.0 Quito
Born at Taronga Zoo 24/05/1984
Sent to Ponderosa Fauna Park 23/09/1985 (fate unknown)

Note: Quito was the first surviving Jaguar cub born at Taronga Zoo since 1958.

Litter Two:

1.0 Maya
Born at Taronga Zoo 28/09/1987
Sent to Melbourne Zoo 01/03/1989 (died 2008)

After Wendy died in 1988, a new female was received from Melbourne Zoo:

0.1 Jacunda
Born at Melbourne Zoo 24/01/1981
Arrived at Taronga Zoo 01/12/1988
Sent to Adelaide Zoo 11/11/1992 (died 2003)

Jacunda never bred at Taronga Zoo.

Ali was the last Jaguar at Taronga Zoo and died in 1996.

Photos:

Wendy and Quito: The Taronga Zoo News Release read ... Announcing the birth of a... News Photo - Getty Images

Wendy and Maya: The new baby Jaguar at Taronga Zoo Maya., Mother Wendy. December 9,... News Photo - Getty Images
 
steveroberts said:
Click to expand...

It was interesting to be reminded Taronga Zoo, like many city zoos in the region, once held Indian antelope.

What a shame this family missed out the big cats and the three great ape species Taronga held in 1972.

It would have been nice to have seen the chimpanzees especially, though comments from people of this era describe the cages as dark and gloomy, so tbf there might not have been much to see.
 
@Zoofan15 Yeah was waiting to see other footage too, but great footage that was there. The Koalas Walkabout would of been brand new at the time and looked identical to how it still is hey. The Seals looked like the pool they had was perhaps deeper and bigger than had expected it to be back then, though perhaps simply a camera footage illusion. Was cool to see like @Steve Robinson mentioned that they had Anoa too back then, pretty awesome. From memory the surplus Indian Antelope in the Hallstrom era daya just prioe were fed to the carnivores after being put down (if recall Terry Boylan's book correctly). Was interesting to see the Sun Bears in one of the old pits thar from what can deduce was one of the ones now under Great Southern Oceans and not the Canyon exhibit they would be in soon after (ie Red Pandas home now). Was that a brown coated American Black Bear in the footage too??

Found that clip accidentally while searching foe recent visit footage to see if someone had filmed the Squirrel Monkeys in Nelly & Kayak's old exhibit (there is fleeting footage of one of the Squirrel Monkeys running along a branch or rope for a nanosecond in one of the visit vids from last few days..couldnt find anything yet on the Lions back in their exhibit taken).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top