Taronga Western Plains Zoo Taronga Western Plains Zoo history

[Jambo]

Yeah true. Just found on Zootierliste that Dubbo had 9 (4.5) Sierra Negra Galapagos tortoises in June 1984 and June 1985. And this map map leaflet donated and archived by Sydney Powerhouse Museum from c1985 has them listed too. Maybe were at Taronga briefly in 1981 perhaps. (CITES mentions 4 were imported in 1978..oddly from Seychelles apparently, Aldabra tortoises home, but not sure if that import ever went through, and perhaps mixing up with Aldabra tortoises. But 10 (6 or possibly 10 were imported in 1982 from the US, am guessing these are the ones who went to Dubbo, probably via Taronga).

Great find Steve! It's really cool to see a map from that time, and even more so, to see the Geographical zones that the zoo had the time. They look well organised and it's obvious this was probably an intention during the zoo's initial planning in the 70's. It's a real shame the zoo has reverted back to a generic themed site overall.

It's also surprising to see an open range zoo with little African species - you could almost count them on one hand! Obviously at the time, Taronga still had a lot of the African species you'd expect to see at an open range site. Dubbo didn't really begin to 'fill up' species wise until the 90's, when the large phase outs at Taronga began.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Yeah true. Just found on Zootierliste that Dubbo had 9 (4.5) Sierra Negra Galapagos tortoises in June 1984 and June 1985. And this map map leaflet donated and archived by Sydney Powerhouse Museum from c1985 has them listed too. Maybe were at Taronga briefly in 1981 perhaps. (CITES mentions 4 were imported in 1978..oddly from Seychelles apparently, Aldabra tortoises home, but not sure if that import ever went through, and perhaps mixing up with Aldabra tortoises. But 10 (6 or possibly 10 were imported in 1982 from the US, am guessing these are the ones who went to Dubbo, probably via Taronga).

@steveroberts, I am afraid the Zootierliste.de information is most definitely incorrect on purported Sierra Negra Galapagos tortoise Chelonoidis viking. First of all: the data on species and sometimes their numbers assigned to species-level are inaccurate. Secondly: Not too long ago the site had undergone a complete overhaul and quite a bit of the historical information just vanished and Thirdly: Some of the contributors have updated listings with species/data/informations that are incomplete or even faulty...

NOTA BENE: Don't get me wrong ... I do think Zootierliste.de is a great resource ... lacking our access to ZIMS ..., but at times now I have for the above reasons a LOVE/HATE relationship with Zootierliste.de.


Having said that here I present some of the fullest historical data available:
Originally, the Sydney Zoo received 0.0.6 Galapagos giant tortoise in 1928/29. These were youngsters/larger hatchlings and a long way off from becoming mature individuals. At the time, and given the difficulty with sexing tortoises at an early stage their sex / age ratio remained a complete unknown.

In 1971 the Sydney Zoo acquired a male Galapagos tortoise hatched at San Diego Zoo - named Tommy - who was reported to be a Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise Chelonoidis porteri and has since passed away (edit: in 2002).

In 1974 the then Sydney-Taronga Zoo maintained 2.2 Villamil Mountain Galapagos tortoise Chelonoidis guentheri ..., while a few years later in 1981 the zoo just 1.2 remained ..., so 1.0 individual must have passed away in the timeframe in-between. No mention of any other Galapagos tortoises...at this time!

The next import of Galapagos tortoises in 1991 was the larger shipment of 3.3 hybrid Galapagos tortoise from the Honolulu Zoo. These were born between 1967-1970 and constituted the F1 offspring from a mix of several species of Galapagos tortoise also originally imported from the islands themselves.

Effectively, in 1991 Dubbo WPZ had 3.3 hybrids and 0.2 Chelonoidis guentheri as well as 1.0 Chelonoidis porteri (M Tommy). Over the subsequent years 0.2 hybrid tortoises died (1997; 2005) plus 0.1 Chelonoidis guentheri (deceased in 2002) and the 1.0 Chelonoidis porteri (also deceased in 2002).

By 2003 Dubbo WPZ maintained 0.1 Chelonoidis guentheri and 3.1 hybrids.

Conclusion: While Zootierliste.de numbers may have been accurate, their life histories nor their correct species assignments have/had been applied in revision. My take on it ... if you do not do your research properly ... you end up with another Wikipedia hoax ....! So, be careful what you eventually put to paper (and I admit ... I have made mistakes ..., yet I do try and learn from each one of them or excuse myself ... with the audience / forum).

 

[steveroberts]

 

[Zorro]

That video certainly brought back a lot of memories, I believe the Tiger moat was much better with all the reeds that was growing in the shallow parts next to the bank in which the Tigers use to hunt ducks on the water.I was loving seeing the 4 pure bred Grants zebra before they lost them due to their cross breeding in later years. I thought it was a poor show that the dude in the video scared the zebra and even the rhino a bit with his loud shouting/screaming!

 

[Zoofan15]

Thanks for sharing @steveroberts.

Some interesting shots of the African/Asian hybrid lions too. It’s a shame that none of the Asian lions imported into Australia bar Simba at Taronga were purbereds. Who knows what population could have been built up had they been purebreds and breeding been permitted.

 

[Jambo]

Cool find!

It's cool to see the trio of White rhino here. They were;
1.0 Thomas (00/00/1968 - 23/12/2003)
0.1 Nicole (00/00/1968 - 13/09/2000)
0.1 Alexandra (06/11/1980 - 25/12/2004)

It's also interesting to see the Bengal Tigers. Any info on them? I presume they came from Taronga - perhaps purebreds from there?

 

[steveroberts]

That video certainly brought back a lot of memories, I believe the Tiger moat was much better with all the reeds that was growing in the shallow parts next to the bank in which the Tigers use to hunt ducks on the water.I was loving seeing the 4 pure bred Grants zebra before they lost them due to their cross breeding in later years. I thought it was a poor show that the dude in the video scared the zebra and even the rhino a bit with his loud shouting/screaming!

Oh I'm so glad it brought back great memories for you. I was lucky enought to visit in July 1998 and saw all the animals in the video too (pretty sure was same hybrid Asian x African lion pair too in the video (saw their names from memory on here think you found them Zoofan', they passed away circa late 2002). The zoo guide and signage calling them Asian/Asiatic lions still lol (in the video above they make no mention of specifics of the lions, just had some exciting talking over the lions footage so thought better to mute).

Yeah I thought it was poor form too of the host Marc to shout and alarm the rhinos and zebras (especially the latter), was gimicky and should of been avoided for animal wellbeing and peace of mind. Jeniene and Lisa were great hosts though.

Thanks for sharing @steveroberts.

Some interesting shots of the African/Asian hybrid lions too. It’s a shame that none of the Asian lions imported into Australia bar Simba at Taronga were purbereds. Who knows what population could have been built up had they been purebreds and breeding been permitted.

Yeah it really is a shame they never did and only 1.0 Simba in the 1960s and 1970s was the only full pedigree Asian lion to be in Australia (and they never found him a girlfriend, surely there were other options besides India even though they said that India being guarded about their remaining Asian lions in the '70s and '80s was the catalyst for; surely some of the lions in Israel and Malaysia they said were full pedigree might of actually been; believe a zoo in Switzerland still managed to get two in the '80s from India which was a rare blessing still in early '80s, but once the program kicked off in the 1990s the Tarongas could of asked for some after the pair they had at Dubbo plus Kutch at Taronga had passed away (their might of been a second female at Dubbo, only saw the one lioness when went in mid '98).

thanks too for your post in December 2020 that details believe possibly the two lions in the video, more confident about specific male in the vid' (wanna see if can find out their names)

...Asiatic Lions:
Eight Asiatic lions have been held in Australian zoos. These included three males and five females. The age at death (and cause) of four of the Asian lions were listed as:

Male - died September 2002 aged 20.9 years (CKD)
...
Female - died August 2002 aged 19.1 years (CKD)

Cool find!

It's cool to see the trio of White rhino here. They were;
1.0 Thomas (00/00/1968 - 23/12/2003)
0.1 Nicole (00/00/1968 - 13/09/2000)
0.1 Alexandra (06/11/1980 - 25/12/2004)

It's also interesting to see the Bengal Tigers. Any info on them? I presume they came from Taronga - perhaps purebreds from there?

Oh cheers Jambo thats great knowing their names. Rest in peace though for the three of them, sorry they didn't achieve the same life 'innings' that Memphis for example at Perth is still accumulating (although not bad for Nicole & Thomas).

 

[Zorro]

Oh I'm so glad it brought back great memories for you. I was lucky enought to visit in July 1998 and saw all the animals in the video too (pretty sure was same hybrid Asian x African lion pair too in the video (saw their names from memory on here think you found them Zoofan', they passed away circa late 2002). The zoo guide and signage calling them Asian/Asiatic lions still lol (in the video above they make no mention of specifics of the lions, just had some exciting talking over the lions footage so thought better to mute).

Yeah I thought it was poor form too of the host Marc to shout and alarm the rhinos and zebras (especially the latter), was gimicky and should of been avoided for animal wellbeing and peace of mind.



Yeah it really is a shame they never did and only 1.0 Simba in the 1960s and 1970s was the only full pedigree Asian lion to be in Australia (and they never found him a girlfriend, there were other options besides India even though they said that India being guarded about their remaining Asian lions in the '70s and '80s was the catalyst for, believe a zoo in Switzerland still managed to get two in the '80s, and once the program kicked off in the 1990s the Tarongas could of asked for some after the pair they had at Dubbo plus Kutch at Taronga had passed away (their might of been a second female at Dubbo, only saw the one lioness when went in mid '98).

Thank you for posting this video @steveroberts

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

@steveroberts, I am afraid the Zootierliste.de information is most definitely incorrect on purported Sierra Negra Galapagos tortoise Chelonoidis viking. First of all: the data on species and sometimes their numbers assigned to species-level are inaccurate. Secondly: Not too long ago the site had undergone a complete overhaul and quite a bit of the historical information just vanished and Thirdly: Some of the contributors have updated listings with species/data/informations that are incomplete or even faulty...

NOTA BENE: Don't get me wrong ... I do think Zootierliste.de is a great resource ... lacking our access to ZIMS ..., but at times now I have for the above reasons a LOVE/HATE relationship with Zootierliste.de.


Having said that here I present some of the fullest historical data available:
Originally, the Sydney Zoo received 0.0.6 Galapagos giant tortoise in 1928/29. These were youngsters/larger hatchlings and a long way off from becoming mature individuals. At the time, and given the difficulty with sexing tortoises at an early stage their sex / age ratio remained a complete unknown.

In 1971 the Sydney Zoo acquired a male Galapagos tortoise hatched at San Diego Zoo - named Tommy - who was reported to be a Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise Chelonoidis porteri and has since passed away (edit: in 2002).

In 1974 the then Sydney-Taronga Zoo maintained 2.2 Villamil Mountain Galapagos tortoise Chelonoidis guentheri ..., while a few years later in 1981 the zoo just 1.2 remained ..., so 1.0 individual must have passed away in the timeframe in-between. No mention of any other Galapagos tortoises...at this time!

The next import of Galapagos tortoises in 1991 was the larger shipment of 3.3 hybrid Galapagos tortoise from the Honolulu Zoo. These were born between 1967-1970 and constituted the F1 offspring from a mix of several species of Galapagos tortoise also originally imported from the islands themselves.

Effectively, in 1991 Dubbo WPZ had 3.3 hybrids and 0.2 Chelonoidis guentheri as well as 1.0 Chelonoidis porteri (M Tommy). Over the subsequent years 0.2 hybrid tortoises died (1997; 2005) plus 0.1 Chelonoidis guentheri (deceased in 2002) and the 1.0 Chelonoidis porteri (also deceased in 2002).

By 2003 Dubbo WPZ maintained 0.1 Chelonoidis guentheri and 3.1 hybrids.

Conclusion: While Zootierliste.de numbers may have been accurate, their life histories nor their correct species assignments have/had been applied in revision. My take on it ... if you do not do your research properly ... you end up with another Wikipedia hoax ....! So, be careful what you eventually put to paper (and I admit ... I have made mistakes ..., yet I do try and learn from each one of them or excuse myself ... with the audience / forum).

Autocorrect sort of 'screwed over" the taxonomy/familia,genus,species on Sierra Negra Galapagos tortoise. This often happens since for some reason my PC is geared to translating everything English or other to Dutch ..., and it does so after you finished your writing.

Of course, it really should read: Sierra Negra Galapagos tortoise Chelonoidis vicina.

NOTA BENE: Not taking away from the very fact that only one old female is a pure-bred Galapagos tortoise of any description.


POST SCRIPTUM: I would hope curatorial staff, collection managers and species in situ managers take note and that further the Galapagos Conservancy gets on board and start truly working together in the interest of global species management of Galapagos tortoise in situ as well as outside Ecuador and enable less restrictive trade and thus import/export under CITES allowances for the purposes of species conservation in situ and ex situ.

 

[Zoofan15]

It's also interesting to see the Bengal Tigers. Any info on them? I presume they came from Taronga - perhaps purebreds from there?

The tigers definitely wouldn’t be purebred Bengal tigers. By the 1990’s, the vast majority of ‘Bengal’ tigers held in zoos outside India were generics, despite zoos labelling them as Bengals. This continued into the 2000’s with Dreamworld, Australia Zoo etc. promoting themselves as holding Bengal tigers. I can see little Sumatran influence on these tigers, so my guess would be a Bengal/Siberian hybrids (with either none or minimal Sumatran heritage).

Taronga had a wealth of generic tigers that they bred right up until the import of Nico and Meta (I think the last litter of hybrids was born circa 1980). They’d be in their mid-teens by 1994 and these tigers look younger, so I too would be interested to know their origins!

 

[steveroberts]

The tigers definitely wouldn’t be purebred Bengal tigers. By the 1990’s, the vast majority of ‘Bengal’ tigers held in zoos outside India were generics, despite zoos labelling them as Bengals. This continued into the 2000’s with Dreamworld, Australia Zoo etc. promoting themselves as holding Bengal tigers. I can see little Sumatran influence on these tigers, so my guess would be a Bengal/Siberian hybrids (with either none or minimal Sumatran heritage).

Taronga had a wealth of generic tigers that they bred right up until the import of Nico and Meta (I think the last litter of hybrids was born circa 1980). They’d be in their mid-teens by 1994 and these tigers look younger, so I too would be interested to know their origins!

Great post info. I wonder if Bullens was ever asked by the Taronga board if they could have a pair of their tigers (their last public {open for daily visitor business} park the -Warragamba African Lion Safari closing in '91 and they had tigers there too apparently, and they kept them at their Wallacia site too for years believe right up until Zambi took over the site).

 

[Zorro]

Thanks for sharing @steveroberts.

Some interesting shots of the African/Asian hybrid lions too. It’s a shame that none of the Asian lions imported into Australia bar Simba at Taronga were purbereds. Who knows what population could have been built up had they been purebreds and breeding been permitted.

I recall that the Asian lion cub that Taronga had was apparently confiscated and later exported to a breeding situation in Israel.

 

[Zoofan15]

Great post info. I wonder if Bullens was ever asked by the Taronga board if they could have a pair of their tigers (their last public {open for daily visitor business} park the Warragamba African Lion Safari closing in '91 and they had tigers there too apparently).

That would seem a reasonable likelihood. Melbourne Zoo acquired African lions from one of their facilities in 1988, so zoos certainly weren’t against exchanging with them.

Nico and Meta’s last litter yielded a single son, giving them two young males following the passing of Nico and Meta. With no female acquired to breed with them until 1992, it was likely acknowledged there’d be no further Sumatran tiger cubs for a while (indeed there was a six year gap) and they needed something to fill one of their Dubbo exhibits in the meantime (in addition to Chester the white tiger who came and went throughout the 90’s).

 

[Zorro]

The tigers definitely wouldn’t be purebred Bengal tigers. By the 1990’s, the vast majority of ‘Bengal’ tigers held in zoos outside India were generics, despite zoos labelling them as Bengals. This continued into the 2000’s with Dreamworld, Australia Zoo etc. promoting themselves as holding Bengal tigers. I can see little Sumatran influence on these tigers, so my guess would be a Bengal/Siberian hybrids (with either none or minimal Sumatran heritage).

Taronga had a wealth of generic tigers that they bred right up until the import of Nico and Meta (I think the last litter of hybrids was born circa 1980). They’d be in their mid-teens by 1994 and these tigers look younger, so I too would be interested to know their origins!

The Tigers were signed Bengal Tigers on a wooden sign outside of the moated enclosure right from when it first opened also I noticed on the reverse side of the sign the words "Black rhino" were curved into the timber!, From memory the zoo was going to display a pair of Black rhino but chose to do something bolder and import White rhinos which was big news in the day!

 

[Zoofan15]

I recall that the Asian lion cub that Taronga had was apparently confiscated and later exported to a breeding situation in Israel.

Simba was imported in 1959 and in 1971, I too read that consideration was given to returning him to India (I don’t believe he actually went in the end, but could be mistaken). He was reportedly the only member of his species held outside India; with two Indian zoos housing 1.2 and 1.3 respectively in 1971 (with only a single cub born between the two zoos).

By 1971, there was an export ban on Asiatic lions out of India; but an exemption was made to the export ban, with the international studbook formed in 1977. Zoos such as London Zoo sourced a pair; and today, they’re held at a several European zoos.

 

[Zorro]

Simba was imported in 1959 and in 1971, I too read that consideration was given to returning him to India (I don’t believe he actually went in the end, but could be mistaken). He was reportedly the only member of his species held outside India; with two Indian zoos housing 1.2 and 1.3 respectively in 1971 (with only a single cub born between the two zoos).

By 1971, there was an export ban on Asiatic lions out of India; but an exemption was made to the export ban, with the international studbook formed in 1977. Zoos such as London Zoo sourced a pair; and today, they’re held at a several European zoos.

I believe there are a number of UK zoos that do hold them not to mention those in European zoos. I believe that London were expecting two pairs of Lions direct from India for its newly opened "Land of the Lions" exhibit but were only sent the one pair unfortunately

 

[Zoofan15]

The Tigers were signed Bengal Tigers on a wooden sign outside of the moated enclosure right from when it first opened also I noticed on the reverse side of the sign the words "Black rhino" were curved into the timber!, From memory the zoo was going to display a pair of Black rhino but chose to do something bolder and import White rhinos which was big news in the day!

That’s interesting to know Dubbo planned to acquire black rhinoceros as early as the 1970’s, presumably from Taronga, where they had been bred. Dubbo’s first black rhinoceros arrived in 1991 (two females from Taronga).

In November 1992 Dubbo received 1.7 black rhinoceros from Zimbabwe. 1.1 died shortly after arriving (following the death of 1.0 on route). This left Dubbo with 0.6:

0.1 Musina Pongo (1983)
0.1 Chitundumusere (1986)
0.1 Kalungwizi (1987)
0.1 Dongajumu (1989)
0.1 Pepe Kalle (1989)
0.1 Utahwedande (1989)

In 1994 Dubbo imported 4.0 black rhinoceros from the US:

1.0 Mwaniki (1980)
1.0 Siabuwa (1988)
1.0 Kwanzaa (1992)
1.0 Ibala (1993)

The first calf was born 1996.

 

[Zorro]

That’s interesting to know Dubbo planned to acquire black rhinoceros as early as the 1970’s, presumably from Taronga, where they had been bred. Dubbo’s first black rhinoceros arrived in 1991 (two females from Taronga).

In November 1992 Dubbo received 1.7 black rhinoceros from Zimbabwe. 1.1 died shortly after arriving (following the death of 1.0 on route). This left Dubbo with 0.6:

0.1 Musina Pongo (1983)
0.1 Chitundumusere (1986)
0.1 Kalungwizi (1987)
0.1 Dongajumu (1989)
0.1 Pepe Kalle (1989)
0.1 Utahwedande (1989)

In 1994 Dubbo imported 4.0 black rhinoceros from the US:

1.0 Mwaniki (1980)
1.0 Siabuwa (1988)
1.0 Kwanzaa (1992)
1.0 Ibala (1993)

The first calf was born 1996.

The very first proposed Black rhino would have most certainly come from Taronga Zoo where they had quite a good breeding record.
I understand some of the (male) rhino got sick via eating "treated" wood from an enclosure before reaching Australian soil.

 

[steveroberts]

Thanks for helping date this video above (source Merv Thomas on Internet Archive) too in December @Zoofan15 based on when young male lion Jasiri arrived.

Bona here possibly the only full pedigree Bengal tiger the zoo ever had (if he actually was; he was claimed to be).

1.0 Bona
Born: Ragunan Zoo, Indonesia 18 May 1994 (today 31 years ago, happy heavenly birthday Bona)
Arrived: WPZ Dubbo 28 March 1996
Died: WPZ Dubbo 20 December 2002

(photo of Bona here c.late 2000 source same as above)

-----

{*Chester the white Bengal x Siberian tiger (18 June 1983 - 16 November 2000) was first at WPZ 31 August 1993 a year after he arrived at Taronga in Aug' 1992 (his move also meant Selatan & Shiva the Sumatran tigers could occupy seperate public exhibits when both revamped pit exhibits were reopened, albeit Selatan had occupancy of the just renovated tiger pit exhibit which reopened to public 18 months before old lion pit did, from her arrival in Jan' 1992 until Chester's arrival from Nebraska in Aug' '92 but digress). He was back at Taronga in July 1994 (imagine still there in August '94 when Saturday Disney filmed episode of imagine would of wanted to get footage of him too), believe he returned to WPZ around the time Selatan & Shiva's daughter Kemiri was born. Then back at Taronga 5 Sep 1995 (brief stint at Perth Zoo Dec '95-Feb '96, then back to Taronga for rest of his life}.

----

Thanks too @Zoofan15 for the info about Bakkar the 'Bengal' tiger at WPZ from 2003

..
1.0 Bakkar (30/12/1994) Orange (dark stripes)
..

.. Bakkar was transferred to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in 2003. Their transfers left Dreamworld with just two of the original six founders, Mohan and Rakhan.

----

Thanks Osedax for your post in Jan, had almost forgotten

In 1982? they were gifted a pair of "Bengal tigers" from a couple who had imported them privately for their property. I'll see if I can find the full story again.

 

[Zoofan15]

The very first proposed Black rhino would have most certainly come from Taronga Zoo where they had quite a good breeding record.
I understand some of the (male) rhino got sick via eating "treated" wood from an enclosure before reaching Australian soil.

I had a look and according to Flight of the Rhino (1993), there were three male black rhinoceros deaths:

Kalungwizi (the first female to give birth to a calf at Dubbo), was captured along with her unnamed infant male calf in 1992. The calf died prior to export of a twisted intestine.

Tamana (an adult bull) died on Day 42 of the 60 day quarantine at Cocos Island of Haemolytic anaemia.

A young bull named Chamupupuri died at Dubbo from severe head injuries caused by running into a fence.