Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo 10 Year Development Plan

Our TAFE Cert 3 Captives class recently did an assignment regarding the costs to feed a slew of animals... my assignment included 4 giraffes (among others), and it worked out that just to feed 4 giraffes for 1 year would cost $35k!!

Factor in a few elephants, some big cats (fresh meat ain't cheap!), and countless smaller animals, reptiles, and birds of varying descriptions, and the feed bill alone is astronomical...

Then there are groundkeeping, general maintenance, upgrades, staff salaries, etc... the list really is endless... just to keep the zoo running on a daily basis is gonna cost big.

When you look at all of those costs, the entry price really isn't all that steep... and more luck to them if they can tap into the higher paying customers for extra experiences I say!

T.
 
tdierikx said:
Our TAFE Cert 3 Captives class recently did an assignment regarding the costs to feed a slew of animals... my assignment included 4 giraffes (among others), and it worked out that just to feed 4 giraffes for 1 year would cost $35k!!

Factor in a few elephants, some big cats (fresh meat ain't cheap!), and countless smaller animals, reptiles, and birds of varying descriptions, and the feed bill alone is astronomical...

Then there are groundkeeping, general maintenance, upgrades, staff salaries, etc... the list really is endless... just to keep the zoo running on a daily basis is gonna cost big.

When you look at all of those costs, the entry price really isn't all that steep... and more luck to them if they can tap into the higher paying customers for extra experiences I say!

T.
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Playing devil's advocate, but it isn't really in the interest of the consumer how much it takes to feed the animals and maintenance and staff wages and all the other aspects of running a zoo when it costs nearly an arm and a leg for not only entry, but in addition petrol (if driving)/public transport, food, parking and all the other aspects of actually partaking in the zoo experience (if you know what I mean.....). I think that an equilibrium must be meet between cost of redevelopment and meeting the wants/needs of the paying customer, especially with the 'threat' of the upcoming Blacktown zoo looming in the horizon that might possibly draw away those from western Sydney (because let me tell you, being from Blacktown myself Taronga isn't the cheapest or most accessible zoo to visit from a working class area).
 
Jabiru96 said:
Article on the proposed Taronga Wildlife Retreat: No Cookies | dailytelegraph.com.au
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The local council is opposing the plans:

MOSMAN Council remains strongly opposed to Taronga Zoo’s wildlife retreat proposal, questioning whether the 62-room hotel is an appropriate use of public land, among other concerns.

The project is part of a $114.8 million 10-year masterplan to revitalise the zoo.

Councillors voted 6-1 last week for the council to provide final feedback on the proposal to the Department of Planning and Environment.

The department is the consent authority for the Australia Habitat and Taronga Wildlife Retreat development proposal, which was publicly exhibited earlier this year.

The Mosman Daily first reported in May that the council had problems with parking, traffic, tree loss and the relevance of the plans to the zoo’s aims.

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Cr Simon Menzies even went so far as to claim that Taronga was “turning into a Disney zoo”.

Last week only Deputy Mayor Roy Bendall, who represents council on the Taronga board, spoke against the council’s negative report on the zoo’s plans.

“It seems we have learnt nothing from what the good people of Taronga said when they came to speak to us,” he said.

Cr Bendall said the project aimed to create an immersive experience to inspire visitors to support wildlife conservation.


But Cr Menzies said planning rules applied to all.

“There should be no exceptions just because you’re a big employer in the area and you do great conservation work, which no one is trying to take away from,” he said.

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The Wildlife Retreat is the centrepiece of the zoo’s 10-year masterplan.
ZOO HOTEL PLANS

● 62 rooms across five two to four-storey accommodation “pods”

● Four-storey addition to existing Taronga Centre

● One-storey guest lodge

● Native wildlife exhibition and landscaping works
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http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...d/news-story/68825ad3c4896b309f1614b636647a17
 
One can only imagine what new animals and bloodlines could be imported into the region with the many Millions being spent on this Hotel and cimema many would know Taronga has been phasing out species for some time to bad they are so worried by the animal rights lobby!
 
Hello, when will the australia exhibit open? in the project says 2018, but on the map it does not bring anything.
 
According to a recent podcast released by Taronga Zoo with the Zoo's CEO the African Savannah Precint is ready for opening. The lions are mentioned to be arriving "a little bit later on"
 
zooboy28 said:
Today, Taronga Zoo announced a 10 year, almost $115 million, development programme., including a range of new exhibits.

Taronga Zoo, $114.8 million development program:

1. Sumatran Tiger Adventure

An Indonesian-themed exhibit where visitors can get close to the mysterious Sumatran Tigers, and learn why choosing sustainable palm oil products can help preserve their native habitat.

2. Australia

An up-close animal habitat experience including a walk-through exhibit where visitors can interact with and explore iconic and unknown Australian fauna.

3. Wildlife Hospital

State-of-the-art upgrades to the Taronga Wildlife Hospital and wildlife clinic to continue the excellence of zoo animal care and wildlife rehabilitation.

4. African Savannah

A multi-species habitat including a lion breeding facility, expanded savannah for giraffes, zebras and Fennec Foxes, and a specialised meerkat exhibit and encounter space.

5. Welcome to the Wild

A unique multi-media experience that will engage and inspire visitors for a shared future for wildlife and people.

6. Congo Forest

A lush forest exhibit for the growing gorilla family, adjoining Pygmy Hippo pools and a tree-filled landscape for the rare Bongo antelope.

7. Elephant Trail

A scenic path traversing the zoo where Elephants will walk.

8. Serpentarium

Upgraded specialist exhibits for an amazing array of Reptiles and Amphibians including critical breeding facilities to support zoo-based conservation programs.

9. New Orang-utan exhibit

Drawing from their native Indonesian habitat, this facility has a range of climbing structures complete with an overhead canopy playground for these fascinating primates.
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Taronga seems to have updated this list to remove any mention of Orang-utans. The new list only mentions a "new primate exhibit". Does anyone have any information regarding the possible future of Orangutang at Taronga. I would personally love to see this species return.

New List:
Building a Better Zoo
 
It does mention it will display a he role of great apes in their ecosystems, and given that gorillas will be part of the Congo development and they won’t be moving chimps anytime soon, I’d say orangutans are still on the list, possibly with other primate species.
 
The plan for the upper Australia precinct doesn’t show wombats. will they be phased out or move to a new area in the zoo?
 
Dhole dude said:
The plan for the upper Australia precinct doesn’t show wombats. will they be phased out or move to a new area in the zoo?
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There are Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats in the Backyard to Bush area of the zoo (which isn’t shown on the plans and is located a bit further on). Common Wombat is also displayed right outside the Platypus House but I’m not sure what will happen to that species at the zoo when the building is demolished.
 
The platypus have been relocated to the pool out the front of the Wildlife Retreat and the pools at the start of the Blue Mountains Bushwalk.

As for the wombats, potentially there could be an exhibit in the redeveloped night house? There is no details in the plans on what will be exhibited, however there is one large exhibit in the centre of the house, that could maybe hold wombat.

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