Taronga Zoo Future of Taronga Zoo (Speculation / Fantasy)
- Thread starter Zoofan15
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Osedax
Well-Known Member
As @marmolady said, they have now done this.
Can't imagine what it would've been like if this was still present!
A five minute long experience would've been such a hassle, and would've surely been taken out to avoid long lines that would've been created to enter Tiger Trek.
I would've preferred if the plane was somehow incorporated into one of the tiger exhibits. Perhaps something like a crashed plane in the jungle that you could walk through with the tigers allowed around it. Could've been an interesting concept.
loganjmuir
Well-Known Member
I agree in that the plane ride at the beginning is unnecessary and time consuming, but as of lately they have opened the gates to the side of it to allow visitors to bypass it. If they were to remove it(which I don’t see happening), I don’t see what Taronga would be able to do with the additional space. As for the supermarket and small village going in and out of Tiger Trek, while unnecessary it provides education and information about how we can help protect tigers in the wild whilst at home. The village could potentially be renovated to include other facilities like a veterinarian facility with open viewing for educational purposes or an open aviary housing wildlife found amongst Sumatran tigers.
The idea behind the village/supermarket is good in theory, but I’m sceptical how much value it adds to the visitor experience in practice i.e. how many visitors come away better educated and inspired to make changes in their day to day lives. When kids visit a zoo, they’re way too hyped up to do anything beyond run through a display like this and on to the next thing.
Virtual media is a more space efficient alternative; and I also like your idea of a veterinary facility or aviary.
The plane, village and shop would have been better utilised incorporating exhibit space. The tiger exhibits are great and every time I have been I have seen the tigers in at least one exhibit. So as far as visibility they work great for being able to see the tigers. It would have been nice to see them incorporate the sun bears, which of memory are next door into the area. Having two of Asias high profile animal species in immersive exhibits at the level the tigers are, would be a great drawcard and would have much higher levels of engagement than what they have.
The last time I was at Taronga, it was a busy Saturday. And 99% of people bypassed the plane, rushed through the village, then completely ignored the shop as just an obstacle in the way on their way to see the next animal win their lists. In theory it was probably a good idea in practicality people go to look at the tigers then leave. without spending the time they would if they had added smaller species or incorporated sunbears into the area.
Even creating an exhibit for white checked gibbons would have been a go. Their is probably 2 or 3 times the space their old exhibit takes up their. And people will engage more with animals and the education around their exhibits. Then large chunks of static non exhibit area.
The last time I was at Taronga, it was a busy Saturday. And 99% of people bypassed the plane, rushed through the village, then completely ignored the shop as just an obstacle in the way on their way to see the next animal win their lists. In theory it was probably a good idea in practicality people go to look at the tigers then leave. without spending the time they would if they had added smaller species or incorporated sunbears into the area.
Even creating an exhibit for white checked gibbons would have been a go. Their is probably 2 or 3 times the space their old exhibit takes up their. And people will engage more with animals and the education around their exhibits. Then large chunks of static non exhibit area.
I remember visiting the tigers when they had the plane as the only entry way in. The zoo wasn't even that busy and it was still over an hour wait in line to get in to see the tigers. Now the bypass is their I can't see many if any people still going in the plane. Not that its a bad experience. It's just not what people are their to see.
loganjmuir
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know how long it will take to permanently integrate the giraffe, zebra and ostrich in the one combined yard? I was at the zoo today and the ostriches had moved out of their quarantine shelter and out into a sectioned off part of the zebra area. The zebras were not out with the giraffe, but they were not in with the ostriches either. It has been now over 3 years since the opening of the savanna and I am yet to see the zebras out with the giraffes so if anyone has any info about this please let me know.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
The zebras are often in with the giraffes, you just have to be there at the right time. As for the ostriches, introductions will probably happen slowly, as zebras can be quite aggressive.
There’s been some turn over within the zebra herd. The stallion (Bwana) died last year and was replaced by a 22 month old colt named Obi, who is now approaching his third birthday (maturity).
It’s the males that are the issue so the changeover of males would have set them back. As mentioned, Obi is maturing, so issues may have arisen in recent months.
Tbh I don’t know why Taronga don’t just cut their losses and run an all female herd of zebra. It’s what Auckland Zoo have resorted to doing and it works well for them - with giraffes (including a juvenile) and ostrich sharing the exhibit without issue.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
The new zebra/giraffe barn was specifically built so that there could be a breeding herd of zebras. There are 5 zebra stalls, and currently only 2 zebras. My impression has always been that they wish to acquire more zebras and start breeding as soon as they can.
I suppose tbf Taronga has a non breeding herd of giraffe, so that will eliminate the issues that come with housing juvenile giraffes and zebra stallions in one exhibit. Hamilton and Werribee both hold bachelor herds of giraffe with zebra and have for the most part have had no issues.
I assume Taronga plan to castrate the youngest bull giraffe (if they haven’t already) as one of the females is elderly and the other, his mother. Either way, the giraffe herd will be non breeding.
The zebras have always been separated from the giraffes. Apparently some of the giraffes are quite intolerant of them so they are rarely kept together.
Taronga do have 5 zebra stalls, but aren't planning to breed them. The original intention was to hold a small non breeding group (hence the 5 stalls), but this hasn't eventuated, potentially due to Dubbo having a lack of surplus.
Additionally, the Ostrich's (which weren't originally planned), will be living in the remaining empty stalls, so no additional zebra.
The plan was to castrate Ebo. Considering he's now three, this would've likely been done already.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
Really? Most of the time when I've seen them recently they've been together.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
Originally, before the Savannah opened, they said explicitly that they were planning to have a breeding herd of zebras.
Ostriches actually were in the original plans, but (originally because of COVID travel restrictions and the fact that TWPZ didn't have any surplus, and later just because they were doing other things) it has taken quite a while for them to arrive.
The giraffe and zebra have certainly had times of sharing the exhibit. There’s a few photos online of them in together and the video below outlines their introduction. I don’t know whether this has been a continuous arrangement.
Zebra Keeper Talk | Zebras are BACK at Taronga Zoo in an incredible new multi-species exhibit known as The Waterhole! Meet Zebras Kaya and Bwana and hear from Hayden and... | By Taronga Zoo Sydney | Facebook
This might be a new arrangement then finally which would be good. Keepers have been trying to get them introduced for a while now.
The space is designed for that whole enclosure to be as one; the current barriers separating the giraffe and zebra enclosures were always temporary so it'll be good if they're finally getting rid of them.
Yes, that was prior to the opening, plans have since changed to my knowledge. I would be surprised if they ended up obtaining more zebras.
Re. the Ostrich, it does seem your right. I had forgotten they were ever mentioned in plans. It's good to see they have arrived now. TWPZ dosen't breed them, so I imagine these Ostrich's probably came from another location that has been.
I believe the original intention was to breed with Bwana and Kaya. Bwana was well represented, but his transfer to Taronga with one of his mares meant his breeding options were reduced to a single mare mare; which combined with his age, at least limited their long term output.
Contraception of zebra mares doesn’t appear to be readily used within the region. Fillies transfer out of their natal herd as well as colts, so it stands to reason there’s a regional surplus of females (considering placing them all in breeding herds would generate more zebra). Some zoos like Auckland hold all female herds, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see Taronga castrate their colt and receive at least one or two additional mares. Even with the ostrich, there’s room to accomodate this.
On a side note, it’d be nice to see a phase out of generic zebra long term. Two facilities are breeding Grant’s zebra, so the other breeding holders should be subbing surplus purebred colts and fillies into their herd where they can.
Bwana and Kaya were sent to Taronga to retire as both had previously breed quite a lot and were therefore well represented. If I'm right, Kaya's the daughter of Kijani (Werribee born), who's the mother of multiple of the current Dubbo breeding girls. If so, this would make Obi her nephew.
Potentially they could receive some zebras from other facilities within the region; but the regional population is quite inbred as it is. New genetics are needed at the present.
I would also like to see the regions zoos take up purebred Grants zebra. Taronga could easily swap out Obi and Kaya and acquire some Grants from DDZ and Zoodoo to start a small group there (leaving Dubbo to focus on generics).
Obi is the son of Bwana, but is likely related to Kaya via his mother Kioni. If Kaya’s mother is indeed Kioni that makes sense as the K initial may indicate a shared lineage. This tradition was used at Auckland and Hamilton for many years. Makes a change from giving them Z names because they’re zebras.
It’s a real shame to see how the efforts of Auckland (Grant’s) and Werribee (Chapman’s) have gone to waste in the last decade or so due to the region being content to hybridise. I think priority should be either establishing small breeding herds as you suggest; or replacing all generic breeding stallions of large herds with purebreds. These stallions are typically in place for a decade or more and purebred mares (the scarcer commodity) can be added as and when they become available.