Taronga Zoo Spider Monkeys
- Thread starter NZ Jeremy
- Start date
thats right about the spider monkeys. eventually, the spider monkeys will be headed to the south american precinct, slated for development in the next few years in the area of the current orangutan exhibit and bushland bird aviaries.
the old spider monkey enclosure, floral clock and seal pools and elephant temple are all in the same area and represent some of the oldest exhibits in the zoo. however, in the future the eastern side of taronga will be redeveloped to reflect the different Australian biomes and a temperate eucalpypt woodland will be constructed in the area of the spider monkey pen. it will create a link between the rainforest areas and wetland zone with the more arid habitats which will be between wollemi and B2B.
possible species for the spider monkey enclosure are tasmanian devils or koalas, ive heard both species mentioned, with smaller exhibits of quolls, aviaires and macropids surrounding. the floral clock is being relocated and seal pools converted into waterfalls-restoring the original creek which once ran through the central spine of the zoo.
hope this helps....bear in mind though that the master plan is constantly changing to reflect changing priorities-ie Gung's paddock, babirusa and philipine spotted deer, asiatic golden cat etc.
the old spider monkey enclosure, floral clock and seal pools and elephant temple are all in the same area and represent some of the oldest exhibits in the zoo. however, in the future the eastern side of taronga will be redeveloped to reflect the different Australian biomes and a temperate eucalpypt woodland will be constructed in the area of the spider monkey pen. it will create a link between the rainforest areas and wetland zone with the more arid habitats which will be between wollemi and B2B.
possible species for the spider monkey enclosure are tasmanian devils or koalas, ive heard both species mentioned, with smaller exhibits of quolls, aviaires and macropids surrounding. the floral clock is being relocated and seal pools converted into waterfalls-restoring the original creek which once ran through the central spine of the zoo.
hope this helps....bear in mind though that the master plan is constantly changing to reflect changing priorities-ie Gung's paddock, babirusa and philipine spotted deer, asiatic golden cat etc.
the above questions are all valid ones for which i dont really have the answers too...
though certainly demloshing the spider monkey exhibit isnt an option because of its history.
whether the seal pools are to be removed completely or not depends on if any forum members can establish if they are heritage listed? ive heard so many contradictory 'facts' ive forgotten what i was told.
and as far as im aware Taronga intends to maintain orangutans long term as part of the strategy for this species BUT the masterplan ZOOO as in (zoo 2000) does not indicate an exhibit space for them. more mysteries
though certainly demloshing the spider monkey exhibit isnt an option because of its history.
whether the seal pools are to be removed completely or not depends on if any forum members can establish if they are heritage listed? ive heard so many contradictory 'facts' ive forgotten what i was told.
and as far as im aware Taronga intends to maintain orangutans long term as part of the strategy for this species BUT the masterplan ZOOO as in (zoo 2000) does not indicate an exhibit space for them. more mysteries
the spider monkey exhibit is one of earliest exhibits at Taronga Zoo though it started out as an open pit and was remodelled with the roof later on.
im not sure exactly how the zoo got around the wollemi development and heritage issues but the staircase and rock fascade in the monkey pit exhibits were in a pretty bad state of disrepair by the late 1990s and so despite their old age may not have been granted heritage status, allowing the development to proceed.
dont go off the map too much. its designed by a communications dept (bless em), not by zoo historians. theres alot of features missing off that map
im not sure exactly how the zoo got around the wollemi development and heritage issues but the staircase and rock fascade in the monkey pit exhibits were in a pretty bad state of disrepair by the late 1990s and so despite their old age may not have been granted heritage status, allowing the development to proceed.
dont go off the map too much. its designed by a communications dept (bless em), not by zoo historians. theres alot of features missing off that map
torie
Well-Known Member
the most recent issue of the zoo map (which is the one currently on the net) does not even show seals living in the old pools any more and already displays them as being filled in with a pretty garden and water fall.... little bit confusing when your trying to give directions to someone to and they ask do i go past the garden and you have to tell them that there is no garden....
but that doesnt really answer the spider monkeys question which is kinda the whole point of htis thread..sorry, im going to the zoo tomorrow so ill see what i can find out for you guys
but that doesnt really answer the spider monkeys question which is kinda the whole point of htis thread..sorry, im going to the zoo tomorrow so ill see what i can find out for you guys
That section of Taronga Zoo is archaic and should be turned into something useful sooner rather than later. The spider monkey "pit" is nothing but a rusty old jungle gym, and the small cat section must have been built 60 years ago. One of my biggest pet peeves with all zoos attempting to modernize their enclosures is that they will usually spend millions on new exhibits long before any refurbishment of the older ones.
The Seattle Zoo is the exact same, as they open a brand-new exhibit just about every single year. But at the same time they have (like all good zoos) a handful of antiquated, fifty-year old cages that should be torn down FIRST. Why not improve the existing conditions before expanding with new, shiny exhibits?
The Seattle Zoo is the exact same, as they open a brand-new exhibit just about every single year. But at the same time they have (like all good zoos) a handful of antiquated, fifty-year old cages that should be torn down FIRST. Why not improve the existing conditions before expanding with new, shiny exhibits?
snow leopard...what are you going on about? when Taronga Zoo develops its 'shiny' new exhibits, they arent for new species. 9 times out of ten they are built to rehouse species already in the zoo.
the spider monkeys will be relocated into a new South American precinct in the future, but until then their present enclosure suits these individuals very well-theyre an old, non breeding group of females who do well in the exhibit.
as for the small cat exhibit it is old, but as far as Im concerned it works quite well for the species it contains. this is where the zoo has been most succesful breeding fishing cats, although once again this species now has another new enclosure in Wild Asia. in the mean time, the Jungle Cats remains a practical and flexible facility which increases Taronga's capacity to hold small carnivore species.
the central area of Taronga is now over 90 years old, but most of the old strucutres there are empty. personally I would like to see these exhibits restored and tied together to link the zoos heritage with the future. for example, renovating the old aviaries and using them to house Golden Lion Tamarins and the zoo recovery program for them.
in the mean time though, upgrading the exhibit precincts is the main priority,and rightly so. after all thats where the animals live.
the spider monkeys will be relocated into a new South American precinct in the future, but until then their present enclosure suits these individuals very well-theyre an old, non breeding group of females who do well in the exhibit.
as for the small cat exhibit it is old, but as far as Im concerned it works quite well for the species it contains. this is where the zoo has been most succesful breeding fishing cats, although once again this species now has another new enclosure in Wild Asia. in the mean time, the Jungle Cats remains a practical and flexible facility which increases Taronga's capacity to hold small carnivore species.
the central area of Taronga is now over 90 years old, but most of the old strucutres there are empty. personally I would like to see these exhibits restored and tied together to link the zoos heritage with the future. for example, renovating the old aviaries and using them to house Golden Lion Tamarins and the zoo recovery program for them.
in the mean time though, upgrading the exhibit precincts is the main priority,and rightly so. after all thats where the animals live.
@glyn: my reference was to all zoos in general, but specifically concerning Taronga was my disappointment with the section of the zoo with the jungle cats and spider monkeys. The small cat display might be practical, but the enclosures should have been torn down by now. And it is enlightening to realize that the spider monkeys do well in their exhibit, but I stand by my initial description and it is a horrible little enclosure.
You bring up some good points on the heritage aspect of the zoo, and converting the old aviaries and seal pools would be a fantastic step for the collection. Any word on when construction on the South American section will begin? It's amazing how much money Taronga has already spent in the past decade...and is the South American section going to cost an astronomical amount?
You bring up some good points on the heritage aspect of the zoo, and converting the old aviaries and seal pools would be a fantastic step for the collection. Any word on when construction on the South American section will begin? It's amazing how much money Taronga has already spent in the past decade...and is the South American section going to cost an astronomical amount?
torie
Well-Known Member
yer sorry i was looking at a more recent one at the ed center!!!! but i dont have a copy of it... but you will notice that they have taken off the symbol that used to be there that had a picture of a seal
umm updates from my vist today, the head of primates says that yes the spider monkeys is heritage listed but they havnt decided what to put there yet and she didnt sould like they were in any hurry
also on a side note the male tiger is arriving next week to hopefully start breeding with tarongas female
torie
Well-Known Member
i dont know where the mum has gone sorry!
umm the map dosnt but it does have a bit that says Gungs new home or something to that effect written over the area of the construction site.
i didnt go through but they have opened up the little beach and the shops and there is water in the pool that you can see from the bottom entrence although it is very very murky and you cant see through it at all.
umm the map dosnt but it does have a bit that says Gungs new home or something to that effect written over the area of the construction site.
i didnt go through but they have opened up the little beach and the shops and there is water in the pool that you can see from the bottom entrence although it is very very murky and you cant see through it at all.
Snow leopard, Taronga is my home zoo and I have been visiting it for years. I agree 100 percent with your comments about the spider monkeys. For years and years this was a barren concrete disgrace. A few years back the exhibit received a coat of paint and they planted some shrubs under the "monkey bars".
In my opinion it was like putting a ribbon on a turd. It might have made it look nice but it is still ****. I reckon it should be torn down and replaced with something new.
if it is heritage you cannot 'tear it down'. the spider monkey exhibit might not be the best in the zoo but the individuals in it do well and the changes a few years ago to the enclosure, in particular the vegetation is a small short-term improvement.
the south american precinct is due for starting in a few years, after Africa. species slated for the development are both spider and squirrel monkeys, tamarins and marmosets, macaws and poison arrow frogs and turtles. it probably wont be on the same scale as other developments and will be amongst the smaller of the new precincts. will be nice to see it finished, one of the last projects.
the south american precinct is due for starting in a few years, after Africa. species slated for the development are both spider and squirrel monkeys, tamarins and marmosets, macaws and poison arrow frogs and turtles. it probably wont be on the same scale as other developments and will be amongst the smaller of the new precincts. will be nice to see it finished, one of the last projects.
on the Sumatran tigers-the breeding female at Taronga, Assiqua who arrived from France a few years ago and produced the three tiger cubs in 2004 is off to Adelaide to breed there with a German? male???
the offspring of this animal, a mlae is heading to Taronga via WPZ to breed with the female cub from the 2004 Sydney litter. slightly complicated.
the offspring of this animal, a mlae is heading to Taronga via WPZ to breed with the female cub from the 2004 Sydney litter. slightly complicated.