Taronga Zoo Recent history of Taronga and developments etc

[Zoofan15]

@Zoofan15

Actually something I do remember from mid 1994 first visit is (now know that had to be) Nella resting her big beautiful face on the ledge of the land portion of their exhibit while the other Elephant Seal (now know that had to of been Macquarie) never stopped swimming while was viewing. I remember at first being taken aback that the face of the Elephant Seal resting on the edge of land area (nki Nella) did not have the same face had seen in the pictured animal book had read, wish the book had shown a picture of a female Sth Elephant Seal also, to highlight the diversity of gender variation in thei species, as Nella was equally as striking imo, was 5 at the time but did assume was seeing a female and filled in the gaps myself about the aesthetic difference. With the mid-late 1995 memory though have a clear memory of looking at both Sth Elephant Seals as they swam close to the public viewing barrier side looking down into their pool (in hindsight so impressed remembering how 'showy' they were), whats interesting is now I think perhaps Macquarie had been moved to the pool just to the left/west of Ellie & Nella (the one designated for Leopard Seals from the beginning of the 'Macquarie Island' plan) but perhaps my family and friend who remember being with us might of decided to rush past the first pool (we came from the west direction past Raya & Shar the Sun Bears exhibit from memory) so perhaps that's why don't have any clear memory of Macquarie's impressive budding snout, because for whatever reason we didn't stop at that first exhibit..or perhaps we did stop fleetingly but perhaps Macquarie was resting on the land portion of his exhibit..but at an angle that didnt show his face to the public and just did not commit it to memory..but Ellie & Nella put on a very memorable swimming show (remember even back then wishing there were way more underwater viewing areas for more of the pools, especially for the Elephant Seals at the time..but credit where credit is very due, Taronga saw to that a little over a decade later with the Great Southern Oceans complex construction).

The sexual dimorphism in Elephant species is indeed very pronounced. Assuming Macquarie was at least a year old upon capture in late 1988, he would have been approaching seven years old when you saw him in mid 1994. His proboscis wouldn’t have been fully developed, but would have been distinguishable from the female. Completely understandable if you have little recollection of this given your age however!

I remember as a child being surprised by a photo of an intact male California sea lion. I’d seen the castrated male (Scuttle) at Auckland Zoo and therefore assumed males of this species looked like large females. It was interesting to come across this fridge magnet of his sire:



Souvenir Fridge Magnets

 

[steveroberts]

@Zoofan15

What a beautiful photo and fantastic fridge magnet man. Definitely the sort of photo would want to keep a copy of to admire forever. Thanks heaps too for reminding me of the term proboscis (should of remembered as Proboscis monkeys are named because of same feature). Tbh have no memory of a Leopard seal in that part of Taronga from that period at all, which am disappointed about in hindsight to say the very least, (though would really not be surprised if the last Leopard seal at Taronga in that era was gone by April 1995 and as mentioned perhaps Macquarie took over the exhibit). First time remember clearly seeing (or recognising) a Leopard seal at Taronga was in 1999 (sharing a pool with the male Australian fur seal, though perhaps he joined her later than '99) and she was at the time living in one of the original Pinniped pools in the centre of the zoo. I feel bad because unless that Leopard seal was Brooke then forget her name; I don't know if Brooke arrived at Taronga at a similar time to Casey (2007/2008)?

 

[Zoofan15]

First time remember clearly seeing (or recognising) a Leopard seal at Taronga was in 1999 (sharing a pool with the male Australian fur seal, though perhaps he joined her later than '99) and she was at the time living in one of the original Pinniped pools in the centre of the zoo. I feel bad because unless that Leopard seal was Brooke then forget her name; I don't know if Brooke arrived at Taronga at a similar time to Casey (2007/2008)?

Brooke (female) arrived in 1999; while Casey (male) and Sabine (female) arrived in 2006. They were rescued a week apart and named after beaches and research stations in Antarctica.

Brooke died in 2008; Sabine died in 2012; and Casey died in 2014.

 

[steveroberts]

@Zoofan15

Thanks bro, that's why remember another too because of Sabine; right so her time at Taronga fell between Brooke's arrival in '99 and Casey's passing in '14 (they are all very very missed).

 

[steveroberts]

Taronga Zoo Map (from year 2000) from GML Heritage Report 2002 (link: https://heritagensw.intersearch.com.au/heritagenswjspui/retrieve/9aea7765-416e-4499-a6de-3d85c046bb62/H06764 - TARO.pdf)

 

[Zoofan15]

Taronga Zoo Map (from year 2000) from GML Heritage Report 2002 (link: https://heritagensw.intersearch.com.au/heritagenswjspui/retrieve/9aea7765-416e-4499-a6de-3d85c046bb62/H06764 - TARO.pdf)

It’s amazing how much Taronga has changed in 22 years. The lion and tiger exhibits have been demolished and both have new exhibits within the Sumatran tiger and African precincts; Snow leopards and Temminck’s golden cat have been phased out; elephants no longer inhabit the historic elephant temple and a thriving breeding herd has came and went; and the giraffes have moved out of their iconic exhibit after several decades.

I’m also laughing that they couldn’t think of anything more imaginative for construction works on the key than a dead Playtypus.

Live Platypus = Platypus
Dead Platypus = Construction works???

I mean I know it’s their logo, but there’s a spade, a digger, a workman…

 

[Abbey]

It’s amazing how much Taronga has changed in 22 years. The lion and tiger exhibits have been demolished and both have new exhibits within the Sumatran tiger and African precincts; Snow leopards and Temminck’s golden cat have been phased out; elephants no longer inhabit the historic elephant temple and a thriving breeding herd has came and went; and the giraffes have moved out of their iconic exhibit after several decades.

I’m also laughing that they couldn’t think of anything more imaginative for construction works on the key than a dead Playtypus.

Live Platypus = Platypus
Dead Platypus = Construction works???

I mean I know it’s their logo, but there’s a spade, a digger, a workman…

Lol. There did seem to be a fair bit of minor construction work going on at the time, as the Zoo 2000 Masterplan was just getting underway with the Creatures of the Wollemi development, which opened in 2000.

Thanks for the share @steveroberts. I hadn't seen this version of the map before, so it's a nice addition to the 1999 edition which is in the gallery, and the 2001 edition I have a copy of. This would have been the first version of Taronga I visited, not that I remember it like this. I look forward to having a look through the report as well.

I note that the echidna, platypus and kookaburra exhibits are highlighted, being the mascots for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

 

[Zoofan15]

I note that the echidna, platypus and kookaburra exhibits are highlighted, being the mascots for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

The Year 2000 would have been an exciting year for the zoo. They brought in 1.2 African lion cubs in 1999 and there were attempts to breed from their gorilla troop. Had Frala’s infant survived, she would have been 15 months old when the Olympics began and a huge attraction for the zoo.

 

[steveroberts]

@Zoofan15

I noticed that the Chilean Flamingos were no longer marked on the above map, which leads me to wonder if perhaps was around this time they were moved to the exhibit that previously held the Dholes from that era, the one between the Fennec Foxes and Berani & Denise the Malayan Tapirs (also not symboled on the map, neither were the Binturong pair at the time Mr & Mrs B in the circular exhibit just to the left of the Red Pandas exhibits on the map (in fact the same tree is used in their current exhibit they've just expanded the Binturong's exhibit space slightly larger with the mid 2005 completed current one). Also notice that Chester's last exhibit doesn't have another Tiger symbol over it, he would pass aged 17, very soon after this in Nov '000 and Mr Hobbs & Victoria the Sun Bears would move out of the canyon exhibit at the bottom of the zoo (much more suited size wise for the current Red Pandas) into that exhibit they'd have as a home for the next eleven years bare minimum.

Btw with the mentions about all the construction I actually heard for once a negative toned comment about it which never expected to hear the other day, this guy was saying ''whenever I go there, there's always some big construction happening blocking off some area'', wasn't expecting to hear that from someone cos construction is something always assumed pretty much everyone saw as progress.

 

[Zoofan15]

Btw with the mentions about all the construction I actually heard for once a negative toned comment about it which never expected to hear the other day, this guy was saying ''whenever I go there, there's always some big construction happening blocking off some area'', wasn't expecting to hear that from someone cos construction is something always assumed pretty much everyone saw as progress.

In my experience, the general public are resentful of any disruption to their visit. Their expectation is to see everything they’ve paid to see - with animals not visible/off exhibit being the number one complaint.

To compensate for the inconvenience of closing a significant part of the zoo to build their South East Asia precinct, Auckland Zoo lowered admission prices; while Hamilton Zoo has been heavily criticised for it’s lack of planning in blocking off areas and creating dead ends when alternative routes easily could have been implemented.

 

[steveroberts]

Hey this is a map from (https://heritagensw.intersearch.com.au/heritagenswjspui/retrieve/ad79a852-3cef-4760-8f75-d7ac9f31ccca/H09935 - HERI.pdf) heritage report of Taronga in 1996 apparently:

 

[Abbey]

Hey this is a map from (https://heritagensw.intersearch.com.au/heritagenswjspui/retrieve/ad79a852-3cef-4760-8f75-d7ac9f31ccca/H09935 - HERI.pdf) heritage report of Taronga in 1996 apparently:

Great find. This is pretty much the zoo right before the Zoo 2000 Masterplan. The African Tropical Forest (Gorilla and De Brazza's Guenon exhibits, both of which are still there today - albeit with no DBGs anymore) ended up opening in January 1997, ahead of the schedule forecast by this map.

Other notable additions are the tamarin house near the Orangutan Rainforest (the latter of which had only been open for a couple of years at this point), condors in an aviary where the Seal Theatre is now, monkey pits still in the area which became Wollemi, and what looks like an Australian tropical north display near Sarina's cafe.

 

[Zoofan15]

Hey this is a map from (https://heritagensw.intersearch.com.au/heritagenswjspui/retrieve/ad79a852-3cef-4760-8f75-d7ac9f31ccca/H09935 - HERI.pdf) heritage report of Taronga in 1996 apparently:

Thanks for sharing.

Serpentaria would have been the most recently opened complex, followed by the Orangutan Rainforest; with the Gorilla Rainforest being the next upcoming complex. As @Abbey notes, it opened ahead of schedule. The troop were imported in December 1996 and went on display in January 1997.

 

[steveroberts]

@Abbey

Thanks legend, really enjoyed reading your outline of the different exhibits back then that were changed or vacated and demolished in the years that followed. Am having a memory now of an advert that Taronga ran on free air television channels in early '97 of an animation that was a talking banana announcing the exciting new Gorilla family at the zoo before a Gorilla hand pulls the banana away from the screen, hoping someday soon might pop up on YouTube like many old adverts have over the years.

Have a memory of that tropical Australia & Papua NG section of seeing Goodfellows Tree-'roos for the first time, and a DW Cassowary too if remember correct. @Hix gave a really awesome description of this area of the zoo a little while ago (well not to mention many awesome detailed descriptions of what all the areas across the zoo were like before), and also from memory mentioned that Tamarin exhibit Abbey mentioned just now was known sometimes as the 'toilet block' by keepers due to its architecture (1991 built if recall right).

 

[Zoofan15]

@Abbey

Thanks legend, really enjoyed reading your outline of the different exhibits back then that were changed or vacated and demolished in the years that followed. Am having a memory now of an advert that Taronga ran on free air television channels in early '97 of an animation that was a talking banana announcing the exciting new Gorilla family at the zoo before a Gorilla hand pulls the banana away from the screen, hoping someday soon might pop up on YouTube like many old adverts have over the years.

The import of the gorilla family was an exciting event. Not only was it a new/returning species for Taronga Zoo, but it was the first time a family troop had been imported. Even globally, the transfer of an entire family is a rare event and indeed it’s never been repeated within Australasia - which has only imported males in the decades that followed.

Taronga’s troop of 10 included two infants - five month old Safiri and six week old Shabani; and 15 months after their import, the first natural birth of this species in Australasia would take place when Frala delivered her fourth offspring in March 1998.

 

[Zorro]

Thanks for sharing.

Serpentaria would have been the most recently opened complex, followed by the Orangutan Rainforest; with the Gorilla Rainforest being the next upcoming complex. As @Abbey notes, it opened ahead of schedule. The troop were imported in December 1996 and went on display in January 1997.

I believe the Gorilla exhibit was actually built to house the Giant Pandas?

 

[Zorro]

The import of the gorilla family was an exciting event. Not only was it a new/returning species for Taronga Zoo, but it was the first time a family troop had been imported. Even globally, the transfer of an entire family is a rare event and indeed it’s never been repeated within Australasia - which has only imported males in the decades that followed.

Taronga’s troop of 10 included two infants - five month old Safiri and six week old Shabani; and 15 months after their import, the first natural birth of this species in Australasia would take place when Frala delivered her fourth offspring in March 1998.

All thanks to the late and great John Kelly!

 

[steveroberts]

@Zoofan15

Same with you amigo (ie what thanked Abbey for)

Speaking of those big exhibits to have opened around that era, received a very friendly email from the cinematographer from the early 1994 Channel 9 funded 'Orangutans on Stage' doco about the Orang' 'colony's move to that exhibit. He was flattered but surprised as never expected someone to come asking for a copy of that documentary and unfortunately no longer has a copy. He suggested an old colleague in New Zealand but couldn't remember his email so am trying to find.

In addition a photographer friend of my Dad was there the day they walked Tuka down to his exhibit at the front of Serpentaria from his old one with the trail of meat along the path so am going to ask my Dad if he could ask his friend if had permission to upload photo link online here (as someone else has mentioned before there was a tv commercial that ran from about April '95 with filmed footage of Tuka on that walk as the official advert to let viewers know that Serpentaria had just opened).

It might turn out to be easier to track down the late '96 filmed (but '97 released) doco about the Gorillas arriving and the exhibit preparation planning/setup can't remember the official name of that doco currently).

One of the exciting things that remember about 1996 was arrival of Berani the Malayan Tapir (and later Denise in '98), shame their move to Aus like all their fellow conspecifics to arrive around a similar time would lead to blindness for them all eventually due to our intense sun (remember suddenly in about mid '97 there was a green fabric pagola like coverage set up in his exhibit that would not realise what was for until recently, though probably should of been able to work out it was obviously a sunblocker back then).

 

[Zoofan15]

I believe the Gorilla exhibit was actually built to house the Giant Pandas?

That’s right. It was originally built for the Giant panda’s bicentennial visit in 1988. The exhibit was built on the old ratite yards. It was subsequently modified for the gorillas following the decision to acquire them at relatively short notice.

 

[Zoofan15]

@Zoofan15

Same with you amigo (ie what thanked Abbey for)

Speaking of those big exhibits to have opened around that era, received a very friendly email from the cinematographer from the early 1994 Channel 9 funded 'Orangutans on Stage' doco about the Orang' 'colony's move to that exhibit. He was flattered but surprised as never expected someone to come asking for a copy of that documentary and unfortunately no longer has a copy. He suggested an old colleague in New Zealand but couldn't remember his email so am trying to find.

In addition a photographer friend of my Dad was there the day they walked Tuka down to his exhibit at the front of Serpentaria from his old one with the trail of meat along the path so am going to ask my Dad if he could ask his friend if had permission to upload photo link online here (as someone else has mentioned before there was a tv commercial that ran from about April '95 with filmed footage of Tuka on that walk as the official advert to let viewers know that Serpentaria had just opened).

It might turn out to be easier to track down the late '96 filmed (but '97 released) doco about the Gorillas arriving and the exhibit preparation planning/setup can't remember the official name of that doco currently).

One of the exciting things that remember about 1996 was arrival of Berani the Malayan Tapir (and later Denise in '98), shame their move to Aus like all their fellow conspecifics to arrive around a similar time would lead to blindness for them all eventually due to our intense sun (remember suddenly in about mid '97 there was a green fabric pagola like coverage set up in his exhibit that would not realise what was for until recently, though probably should of been able to work out it was obviously a sunblocker back then).

It was truly a golden age for Taronga. It’s a testament to the comprehensive media coverage that not only were the animals of that era household names - Chester, Shiva and Selatan, Tuka etc. but there’s still a handful of articles about them today that can be found online.

Even today in the social media age, it feels like there’s few animals that reach that level of media attention/public engagement.