I would say that because the Hippo situation is in such a dire place it would have been likely that the IRA for Giraffe was put behind it especially since there would be 100 plus Giraffe already in the region. I would believe its more than likely that they are to follow the Xenarthra
Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Osedax
- Start date
The question I’ve been asked keepers at New Zealand’s main zoos over the past few years is whether any of them will be importing giraffe. Not only could New Zealand facilities function as a gateway for Australia to import; but importing new founders into New Zealand would enable Australian zoos to import first generation offspring.
The responses have been somewhat underwhelming, with one keeper even stating Australasia’s giraffe population isn’t at the point of needing new genetics. There’s been several generations of inbreeding, so I beg to differ; but acknowledge the regional population is yet to reach the dire straights the two hippopotamus populations have reached.
At the end of the day it all goes back to management I would not take too much on board by what most keepers say in general. There does seem to be a real reluctance on both sides of the Tasman to "import" could it be a "cost thing" or plain bad management or something else?
That Aussie Guy
Well-Known Member
When I spoke to someone out at Monarto, they mentioned that the major zoos really wanted a giraffe IRA, but apparently some smaller zoos voted against it in favour of Xenarthra for the time being on the basis of "we already have some giraffes"
That’s disappointing to hear.
I guess ultimately zoos have bottom lines and the privately owned zoos especially have to consider what will bring in customers. A genetically diverse giraffe is no greater attraction than one descended from generations of inbreeding. Ditto for generic Plains zebra versus purebred Grant’s zebra.
Hopefully the Giraffe IRA is next after Xenarthra.
I believe at the end of the day it should be up to the majority of zoos and not just dominated by a small number of big major zoos to do what suits themselves
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
Is it just that zoos all vote? I think it should be that zoos put in submissions and then an independent body should weigh up the arguments, not just the hands. (Unless, of course, that is what they do already)
I looked back and found an old post where @Steve Robinson advised the ZAA and WEN (Wildlife Exhibitors Network) polled their members regarding the priority family for the next IRA process. A combination of ZAA and WEN members chose Xenarthra.
The majority of zoos, large and small, voted for Xenarthra ahead of Giraffe.
There were a number of reasons for this;
True - the region already has over 100 Giraffe with breeding recommendations still being made.
Pushing a Giraffe IRA back by a couple of years to accommodate Xenarthra was not going to materially affect the region's Giraffe population.
Discussions revealed that, when the Giraffe IRA is developed, there will be one, maybe two, Australian zoos that will import a specimen or two of the species.
IRA development is required not just for conservation reasons.
Commercial imperatives also have to be taken into account. Not surprisingly, even the larger zoos were very well aware of the impact that species such as Sloths will have on visitation figures and retail sales.
A number of previous IRAs have favoured the larger zoos inasmuch as they alone have the capacity to import species such as Hippos. With Xenarthra species many more zoos will have the ability to import, or benefit from imports.
In the past, our government has been quite upset that, after putting a lot of resources into an IRA development, little use was made of it. The Rodent IRA is a good example of this. It took a long while before the zoo world actually started importing rodents following the finalisation of the IRA and, in the meantime, some government staffers wondered why they had bothered Likewise, I would think that they would not be too impressed with the industry's sparse uptake on Bovids at the moment, given the marathon effort it took to finalise that IRA.
A Xenarthra IRA should reassure them that it's all been worthwhile and put a smile on their dial!
You're pretty close!
One zoo can make a submission which then get's assessed by an industry body. If the arguments stack up then it goes out to stakeholders to assess the level of industry demand.
In the past, democratic decisions have not always been made - in many cases the big players' "hands" overruled the hands of the rest of us. That culture is slowly being overcome but we have all had to be very patient.
It took the DDZ well over a decade to get Xenarthra even accepted as a topic for conversation. If patience is a virtue than the DDZ must be very virtuous!
Following the Xenarthra vote it was informally agreed that Giraffe would be next.
Unless the situation changes dramatically in the meantime.
These days it is a huge "cost thing".
However, there is also an attitude by many (including a surprising number of "big" zoos) that they will sit back, wait for the importers to breed from their imported specimens, and then place the progeny. My suggestion that importers should be able to charge cost recovery for the progeny that they transfer to other zoos has been met with complete silence.
Especially since many of the importers are doing all the heavy lifting without the funds of the big players!.
Sky Safari granted consent:
The Sky Safari was granted consent on 19/09/2025:
Taronga Zoo Sky Safari | Planning Portal - Department of Planning and Environment
“A Visual Blight”: New cable car attraction at Taronga Zoo gets government green light. - Mosman Collective
A Notice of Decision issued on September 19 confirms the Minister for Planning has granted consent, stating the development is “in the public interest” and will replace the zoo’s retired Sky Safari which closed in 2023.
Six pylons, the tallest at 36.5 metres, will be built within the zoo grounds as part of a $105 million project connecting visitors arriving from Sydney Harbour to the entrance of the iconic 28 hectare site.
Two new stations – one near the Taronga ferry wharf and another at the main entrance – will form part of a 916-metre aerial route through the zoo.
The Sky Safari was granted consent on 19/09/2025:
Taronga Zoo Sky Safari | Planning Portal - Department of Planning and Environment
“A Visual Blight”: New cable car attraction at Taronga Zoo gets government green light. - Mosman Collective
A Notice of Decision issued on September 19 confirms the Minister for Planning has granted consent, stating the development is “in the public interest” and will replace the zoo’s retired Sky Safari which closed in 2023.
Six pylons, the tallest at 36.5 metres, will be built within the zoo grounds as part of a $105 million project connecting visitors arriving from Sydney Harbour to the entrance of the iconic 28 hectare site.
Two new stations – one near the Taronga ferry wharf and another at the main entrance – will form part of a 916-metre aerial route through the zoo.
WOW $105 Million, Man what they could have used that money for to upgrade other projects like a new cow elephant barn at Dubbo instead of retiring two adult breeding elephant cows or even actually import some new Bongos before they disappear for good, Rides and playgrounds are more important apparently
WOW $105 Million, Man what they could have used that money for to upgrade other projects like a new cow elephant barn at Dubbo instead of retiring two adult breeding elephant cows or even actually import some new Bongos before they disappear for good, Rides and playgrounds are more important apparently
While I understand your point of view, it's not necessarily accurate to say that this funding could have been used for other purposes. Even though you raise pressing needs for the Taronga sites from an animal perspective, the state government also have to consider visitor amenities and their obligations. This upgraded Sky Safari will make the Taronga site much more accessible.
But what other avenues were investigated before they spent this money. 105 million will basically push back many many projects at both sites for a decent amount of time. Im not sure they will get there monies worth out of it, especially if it incures an additional cost, they won't get there revenue back even slightly. Taronga is already astronomically expensive for an essentially a mall with some animal exhibits and nice gardens.
The Sky Safari upgrade has been predominantly funded by a grant from the NSW Government.
The zoo can apply for assistance with multiple projects and from there, a decision is made on whether funding is granted. It’s noted the Sky Safari will complement recent upgrades to the Taronga Zoo Wharf under the NSW Government’s Transport Access Program; and overall, it will increase accessibility for all visitors, which was identified as a priority. These were both contributing factors to funding being approved for this project.
All majour projects are funding grants from the NSW gov. Spending this much money on this project will mean other projects are shelved or stopped completely. If track record is anything to go buy, once it is built you will have to pay to use it. For an already expansive zoo, most people won't use it. Once the novelty of going on it once wears of.
The previous Sky Safari was free with admission both times I visited a few years back.