Taronga Western Plains Zoo Taronga Western Plains Zoo News 2024

Kiamba the African lion has died:

Some sad news from Dubbo:

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is deeply saddened by the loss of elderly lioness Kiamba.

Kiamba turned 20 last month and had lived at the Zoo with fellow senior lionesses, 19-year-old sisters Tiombe and Zalika. The trio came to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in July 2019, from Monarto Safari Park in South Australia.

Keepers had noticed Kiamba slowing down over recent months, and in the past couple of weeks she experienced a sudden decline in her health.

Given Kiamba’s reduced quality of life and her advanced age, the decision was made to humanely euthanise her.

Kiamba was born at Adelaide Zoo in 2004, before moving to Monarto Safari Park in 2005. It was here she would meet sisters Tiombe and Zalika, and form what would become a lifelong friendship.

Kiamba was an amazing mother to three cubs, making an invaluable contribution to the regional breeding program for this vulnerable species. She was also a wonderful ambassador animal for her species.

With a name meaning ‘courageous’, Kiamba will be remembered fondly by her keepers as a feisty character with a lot of spunk.

Farewell Kiamba.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Kiamba the African lion has died:

Some sad news from Dubbo:

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is deeply saddened by the loss of elderly lioness Kiamba.

Kiamba turned 20 last month and had lived at the Zoo with fellow senior lionesses, 19-year-old sisters Tiombe and Zalika. The trio came to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in July 2019, from Monarto Safari Park in South Australia.

Keepers had noticed Kiamba slowing down over recent months, and in the past couple of weeks she experienced a sudden decline in her health.

Given Kiamba’s reduced quality of life and her advanced age, the decision was made to humanely euthanise her.

Kiamba was born at Adelaide Zoo in 2004, before moving to Monarto Safari Park in 2005. It was here she would meet sisters Tiombe and Zalika, and form what would become a lifelong friendship.

Kiamba was an amazing mother to three cubs, making an invaluable contribution to the regional breeding program for this vulnerable species. She was also a wonderful ambassador animal for her species.

With a name meaning ‘courageous’, Kiamba will be remembered fondly by her keepers as a feisty character with a lot of spunk.

Farewell Kiamba.
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So sad, though she was 20 years old.
 
Success for the Regent honeyeater programme:

From socials:

Last November, Taronga staff headed to the Capertee Valley in NSW to release 14 zoo-bred Regent Honeyeaters during the spring breeding season. We excitingly shared the successful pairing of zoo-bred females with wild males, which resulted in the first confirmed zoowild offspring; a huge success for the breed for release program.

Many articles shared the stories of tagged regent honeyeaters ‘RMPP’ and ‘RMBO’, and we’d like to share more about how Taronga and BirdLife Australia #tarongawesternplainszoo Conservation Keeper, Kara Stevens, and Taronga Zoo Sydney species co-ordinator, Emily Schmelitschek on how it all went on the morning of the release.

The program so far has seen the release of 140 zoo-bred birds in New South Wales.

Last November, Taronga staff headed to the Capertee Valley in NSW to release 14 zoo-bred Regent Honeyeaters during the spring breeding season. We... | By Taronga Western Plains ZooFacebook
 
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On February 12th, the zoo announced they rehabilitated and released a (0.0.1) Macquarie River turtle? back into the wild.

Turt-ally good news! This little turtle was happy to be returned to its home in the Macquarie River recently. It was brought to the Wildlife... | By Taronga Western Plains ZooFacebook

On February 24th, the zoo announced they rehabilitated and released another (0.0.1) Macquarie River turtle back into the wild.

Rescued turtle goes home | Back in November 2023, our veterinary team operated on a Macquarie River turtle to remove not one but two fishing hooks that were embedded in the... | By Taronga Western Plains ZooFacebook

On March 22nd, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) black-handed spider monkey was born and is on exhibit*.

Have you seen our four boisterous Spider Monkey babies on the Primate Islands? Come and see them playing over a cuppa ☕️ at Cafe Wild, or better yet... | By Taronga Western Plains ZooFacebook

*3 births were reported in 2023 and I'm using that as a reference.
 
Smaggledagle said:
On February 12th, the zoo announced they rehabilitated and released a (0.0.1) Macquarie River turtle? back into the wild.

Turt-ally good news! This little turtle was happy to be returned to its home in the Macquarie River recently. It was brought to the Wildlife... | By Taronga Western Plains ZooFacebook

On February 24th, the zoo announced they rehabilitated and released another (0.0.1) Macquarie River turtle back into the wild.

Rescued turtle goes home | Back in November 2023, our veterinary team operated on a Macquarie River turtle to remove not one but two fishing hooks that were embedded in the... | By Taronga Western Plains ZooFacebook

On March 22nd, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) black-handed spider monkey was born and is on exhibit*.

Have you seen our four boisterous Spider Monkey babies on the Primate Islands? Come and see them playing over a cuppa ☕️ at Cafe Wild, or better yet... | By Taronga Western Plains ZooFacebook

*3 births were reported in 2023 and I'm using that as a reference.
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Yes, that would be the fourth spider monkey birth as part of the latest cohort.

The infant joins:

0.1 born November 2022 to Rosa
0.1 born January 2023 to Hiccups
0.1 born February/March 2023 to Jai
 
I went yesterday. Only had one day unfortunately.

- Did the Early Morning Walk and had Bob again! Not as many wild birds around this time, but I still got two lifers (Striped Honeyeater and Purple-backed Fairy Wren).
- Some numbers of individual animals on display have increased - 5 camels rather than 4, 4 Tassie devils rather than 3, 4 Quokkas rather than 2.
- The new Platypus Rescue HQ is outstanding and certainly state-of-the-art. The main platypus exhibit with Mackenzie is the largest indoor exhibit I have seen for this species! Also, and I was not expecting this, there is a viewing window into the main rescue centre, which is incredible. When they do rescue platypus, they should be visible in the front tubs!
- There are now White-browed Woodswallows in the off display Regent Honeyeater Flocking Aviary visible on the Early Morning Walk.
- The smaller black rhino exhibits are still off display as the rhinos are still incredibly stressed after the loud music event last year.
- Found out from a keeper that they currently have 20 meerkats across 3 groups: 1.2 near the black rhinos, the breeding group of 14 in the Waterhole and 3 off display.
- A wild Black Swan has moved back onto Savannah Lake.
- I didn’t see any Red-necked Wallabies, although they were still signed. I fear that the zoo may be down to 2 macropod species (Swamp Wallaby and Quokka - 3 if you count the escaped Eastern Grey Kangaroos that are basically wild). That would be a great shame seeing as they had 11 macropod species in the early 2000s (Eastern Greys, Red Kangaroo, Eastern Wallaroo, Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby, Red-necked Pademelon, Western Grey, Agile Wallaby, Red-necked Wallaby, Swamp Wallaby, Quokka and Whiptail Wallaby).
- It appears the zoo no longer has free ranging peafowl.
- The Galapagos tortoise hatchling exhibit has been renovated, and the two halves joined up. The two younger hatchlings are now the only individuals in this exhibit, which makes me wonder whether the older hatchling has moved outside with the adults.
 
Osedax said:
Found out from a keeper that they currently have 20 meerkats across 3 groups: 1.2 near the black rhinos, the breeding group of 14 in the Waterhole and 3 off display.
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This is a great way to operate a meerkat colony. I know many people on here find them boring, but I personally love seeing a large breeding colony. In the wild, females (and some males) disperse from 2-3 years, so having multiple exhibits will allow them to manage this; with the option to transfer out same sex sibling groups to non-breeding zoos.
Osedax said:
The Galapagos tortoise hatchling exhibit has been renovated, and the two halves joined up. The two younger hatchlings are now the only individuals in this exhibit, which makes me wonder whether the older hatchling has moved outside with the adults.
Click to expand...

That sounds likely. The eldest hatchling is 15 years this year, so would be approaching a reasonable size by now!
Osedax said:
The smaller black rhino exhibits are still off display as the rhinos are still incredibly stressed after the loud music event last year.
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Hopefully lessons have been learnt from this. Namely that zoo animals and loud music aren’t a good mix. :rolleyes:
 
Osedax said:
I went yesterday. Only had one day unfortunately.

- Did the Early Morning Walk and had Bob again! Not as many wild birds around this time, but I still got two lifers (Striped Honeyeater and Purple-backed Fairy Wren).
- Some numbers of individual animals on display have increased - 5 camels rather than 4, 4 Tassie devils rather than 3, 4 Quokkas rather than 2.
- The new Platypus Rescue HQ is outstanding and certainly state-of-the-art. The main platypus exhibit with Mackenzie is the largest indoor exhibit I have seen for this species! Also, and I was not expecting this, there is a viewing window into the main rescue centre, which is incredible. When they do rescue platypus, they should be visible in the front tubs!
- There are now White-browed Woodswallows in the off display Regent Honeyeater Flocking Aviary visible on the Early Morning Walk.
- The smaller black rhino exhibits are still off display as the rhinos are still incredibly stressed after the loud music event last year.
- Found out from a keeper that they currently have 20 meerkats across 3 groups: 1.2 near the black rhinos, the breeding group of 14 in the Waterhole and 3 off display.
- A wild Black Swan has moved back onto Savannah Lake.
- I didn’t see any Red-necked Wallabies, although they were still signed. I fear that the zoo may be down to 2 macropod species (Swamp Wallaby and Quokka - 3 if you count the escaped Eastern Grey Kangaroos that are basically wild). That would be a great shame seeing as they had 11 macropod species in the early 2000s (Eastern Greys, Red Kangaroo, Eastern Wallaroo, Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby, Red-necked Pademelon, Western Grey, Agile Wallaby, Red-necked Wallaby, Swamp Wallaby, Quokka and Whiptail Wallaby).
- It appears the zoo no longer has free ranging peafowl.
- The Galapagos tortoise hatchling exhibit has been renovated, and the two halves joined up. The two younger hatchlings are now the only individuals in this exhibit, which makes me wonder whether the older hatchling has moved outside with the adults.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your updates. Are the smaller black rhino exhibits, the original ones with the shelter in the middle? I remember them from my 2010 visit, but the black rhino exhibit was a more open paddock when I visited in January this year, and that's where I saw Kufara and Matobo. It's very unfortunate that the animals have been so stressed.
 
Abbey said:
Thanks for your updates. Are the smaller black rhino exhibits, the original ones with the shelter in the middle? I remember them from my 2010 visit, but the black rhino exhibit was a more open paddock when I visited in January this year, and that's where I saw Kufara and Matobo. It's very unfortunate that the animals have been so stressed.
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Yes, those are the smaller black rhino exhibits I am talking about. The large paddock I believe would have held camels, Barbary sheep and scimitar oryx in 2010.
 
Osedax said:
Yes, those are the smaller black rhino exhibits I am talking about. The large paddock I believe would have held camels, Barbary sheep and scimitar oryx in 2010.
Click to expand...

That makes sense. When I visited, I thought the old black rhino exhibits had been replaced, so this clarifies that. I remember seeing Bakhita with Kufara as a calf in 2010 in the original exhibits
 
Abbey said:
Thanks for your updates. Are the smaller black rhino exhibits, the original ones with the shelter in the middle? I remember them from my 2010 visit, but the black rhino exhibit was a more open paddock when I visited in January this year, and that's where I saw Kufara and Matobo. It's very unfortunate that the animals have been so stressed.
Click to expand...
It is reflective how species management and husbandry and animal welfare/well-being take a back seat with PR / Communication / Senior Management staff. It should never have happened in the first place ...!!!! Black rhinos are known to be highly strung and sensitive to all kinds of environmental cues and disturbance ..., so any event should be rigidly evaluated before it comes to organising it on site or close by.
 
Osedax said:
I went yesterday. Only had one day unfortunately.

- Did the Early Morning Walk and had Bob again! Not as many wild birds around this time, but I still got two lifers (Striped Honeyeater and Purple-backed Fairy Wren).
- Some numbers of individual animals on display have increased - 5 camels rather than 4, 4 Tassie devils rather than 3, 4 Quokkas rather than 2.
- The new Platypus Rescue HQ is outstanding and certainly state-of-the-art. The main platypus exhibit with Mackenzie is the largest indoor exhibit I have seen for this species! Also, and I was not expecting this, there is a viewing window into the main rescue centre, which is incredible. When they do rescue platypus, they should be visible in the front tubs!
- There are now White-browed Woodswallows in the off display Regent Honeyeater Flocking Aviary visible on the Early Morning Walk.
- The smaller black rhino exhibits are still off display as the rhinos are still incredibly stressed after the loud music event last year.
- Found out from a keeper that they currently have 20 meerkats across 3 groups: 1.2 near the black rhinos, the breeding group of 14 in the Waterhole and 3 off display.
- A wild Black Swan has moved back onto Savannah Lake.
- I didn’t see any Red-necked Wallabies, although they were still signed. I fear that the zoo may be down to 2 macropod species (Swamp Wallaby and Quokka - 3 if you count the escaped Eastern Grey Kangaroos that are basically wild). That would be a great shame seeing as they had 11 macropod species in the early 2000s (Eastern Greys, Red Kangaroo, Eastern Wallaroo, Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby, Red-necked Pademelon, Western Grey, Agile Wallaby, Red-necked Wallaby, Swamp Wallaby, Quokka and Whiptail Wallaby).
- It appears the zoo no longer has free ranging peafowl.
- The Galapagos tortoise hatchling exhibit has been renovated, and the two halves joined up. The two younger hatchlings are now the only individuals in this exhibit, which makes me wonder whether the older hatchling has moved outside with the adults.
Click to expand...
I forgot to mention:

- On National Threatened Species Day (7th of September) last year,the zoo planted a group of Allocasuarinas which will hopefully be a food source for wild endangered Glossy Black Cockatoos.
 
Osedax said:
I forgot to mention:

- On National Threatened Species Day (7th of September) last year,the zoo planted a group of Allocasuarinas which will hopefully be a food source for wild endangered Glossy Black Cockatoos.
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Welcome development!

What is the repertoire in nutrition for glossy black cockatoo like and what requirements for them to flourish in the wilds? Nesting and feeding trees and other items?
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Welcome development!

What is the repertoire in nutrition for glossy black cockatoo like and what requirements for them to flourish in the wilds? Nesting and feeding trees and other items?
Click to expand...
They are extremely picky and will eat from I believe only 1 in 10 individual Allocasuarina trees, and even then not all the seeds on that particular tree. There seems to be no visible connection between the trees that they will eat from. There is a program in place selectively breeding the trees they have eaten from with others that they have also eaten from, hopefully creating a breed of Allocasuarina that they will all eat. I reckon the 28 newly planted trees at Dubbo are from this selectively bred group.
 
Osedax said:
They are extremely picky and will eat from I believe only 1 in 10 individual Allocasuarina trees, and even then not all the seeds on that particular tree. There seems to be no visible connection between the trees that they will eat from. There is a program in place selectively breeding the trees they have eaten from with others that they have also eaten from, hopefully creating a breed of Allocasuarina that they will all eat. I reckon the 28 newly planted trees at Dubbo are from this selectively bred group.
Click to expand...

Or is it just different species of casuarina that they like? That's an interesting program. Im not sure I agree with hybridising species tho, if that's what they are doing. They are one of my favourite species of birds. We get them here on the central coast at times which is nice.
Koalas are very similar, they will only eat I think its 10ish types of eucalypt.
 
Tiger91 said:
Or is it just different species of casuarina that they like? That's an interesting program. Im not sure I agree with hybridising species tho, if that's what they are doing. They are one of my favourite species of birds. We get them here on the central coast at times which is nice.
Koalas are very similar, they will only eat I think its 10ish types of eucalypt.
Click to expand...
They are not hybridising species I don't think, it's individual trees of I believe only one species of Allocasuarina.
 
Double black rhinoceros pregnancy due later this year!!!!

Two female Southern black rhinos are pregnant at Taronga Western Plains Zoo the interview mentions the dad is Mpenzi (2005) and that these are his first offspring no mention on who the mums to be are though I'd suspect it to be Kufara (2010) and Mesi (2017) as Bahkita (2002) is Mpenzi's half sister still Kufara and Mesi are still related to Mpenzi through Bahkita. both cows are due sometime before the end of the year.

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Patrick Keegan said:
Double black rhinoceros pregnancy due later this year!!!!

Two female Southern black rhinos are pregnant at Taronga Western Plains Zoo the interview mentions the dad is Mpenzi (2005) and that these are his first offspring no mention on who the mums to be are though I'd suspect it to be Kufara (2010) and Mesi (2017) as Bahkita (2002) is Mpenzi's half sister still Kufara and Mesi are still related to Mpenzi through Bahkita. both cows are due sometime before the end of the year.

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Click to expand...
Wonderful news indeed. @Kifaru Bwana
 
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