Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2020

Taronga Zoo have announced the arrival of two Giraffe from Western Plains Zoo - female Kito and her four-month-old male calf Ebo. This means Taronga now house 2.2 Giraffe in the renovated exhibit. From the zoo’s Facebook page:
Annnnnnnd we’re open! We were so excited to welcome guests back to Taronga Zoo Sydney today. We’re also excited to finally be able to introduce you to our two new giraffe, little Ebo and his mum Kito. This gorgeous pair have come from Taronga Western Plains Zoo to join Jimiyu and Zarafa in the newly built Giraffe paddock at the top of the hill.

Just a reminder all guests will need to have pre-purchased tickets or registered online before visiting. For more information about tickets and the safety practices we’ve put in place, simply visit, www.taronga.org.au.

#forthewild
Security Check
 
Taronga Zoo has announced the passing of their Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat joey, Waru. His story was covered in the recent TV series and after losing his mother and having to be handraised, he unfortunately had several mobility issues and poor bone development. From their Facebook page:
It is with a very heavy heart that today we announce the passing of Waru, our little Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat joey. Waru touched the lives of many and holds a very special place within our hearts.

Many of you may already be aware through following his journey from the very beginning that Waru has faced ongoing medical challenges throughout his life. During his most recent health check, it was detected that these conditions had deteriorated and sadly the incredibly heartbreaking decision was made to euthanize Waru to avoid any pain and suffering.

The devotion, love and care from Waru's surrogate parents, Keepers Suzie and Andrew, was immeasurable, not to mention the dedication and commitment of our veterinary team, nutrition staff and entire Taronga community.

The animals within our care at Taronga are like family and the loss of a family member is extremely difficult, that is why we would like to invite you to leave a message of condolence and support that can be shared with our community.

We thank you for your support during this emotional time.

#forthewild
Taronga Zoo Sydney
 
According to a post on Instagram (by a visitor who tagged taronga) at least 2 (posisbly more) zebras have arrived in sydney from dubbo and are now on display in the africa Savannah and appear to be living in the giraffe enclosure but separated by a fence
 
Taronga Zoo has announced that by the end of the week all the animal moves for the new African Savannah should be complete.
There's movement at the zoo this week,
Stay tuned in for your sneak peek!

For soon there'll be new plains to roam,
Five species find a brand-new home.

Some are cute and oh-so-small,
Some are very, very tall.

Some will trot and some will prowl,
Some graze among the guineafowl!

And soon they'll step out on the plains -
Paws and claws and hooves and manes!

Not long to wait at all, you know...
Only six more sleeps to go!

The zoo's website with more information: The migration has begun | Taronga Conservation Society Australia
 
Last edited:
Taronga Zoo have been giving clues all day on their social media about the first of the five species moving into the African Savannah. Today's species hasn't officially been announced but from the posts they are clearly Fennec Foxes. It has been many years since this species has been on-display at the zoo and the new enclosure is very spacious: Future Fennec Fox Enclosure- African Savannah (Opening 2020) - ZooChat
It’s been a while since you might have seen these furry little friends on display at Taronga Zoo Sydney.

Their enormous ears help them dissipate heat while scurrying across the deserts of Africa - but they also allow them to hear incredibly well! This means these little guys are able to catch all the sounds from around the zoo - so we’ve built them a brand new home specially designed to be as quiet as possible!

Can you guess who’s moving in?

Source: Taronga Zoo's Facebook page
 
Last edited:
From this morning’s clue posted on their Facebook page, it’s pretty obvious that it’s Giraffe.

Security Check

We’ll see what we can expect over the coming days for the next three species that they have yet to reveal clues for. I’m pretty sure two of the three species are African Lion and Plains Zebra, but I’m not sure about the other one. They originally had plans for Ostrich, but it now appears they have instead imported Zebra. Anyone have any other ideas for which the third species might be?
 
I’m pretty sure two of the three species yet to be announced will be African Lion and Plains Zebra, but I’m not sure about the other one. They originally had plans for Ostrich, but it now appears they have instead imported Zebra.
The other species will most likely be Meerkat.
 
After several years of not housing the species, the Lions have arrived at Taronga Zoo. From their Facebook page:
ONE MORE SLEEP TO GO!!! Aaaaand just like that, the migration is over. The very last residents to move into Taronga‘s incredible new multi-species precinct are safe and sound in their paw-some new, state-of-the-art home.

Any idea who they might be?

All will be revealed tomorrow - so stay tuned for the MANE event!

Source: Taronga Zoo's Facebook page
 
Oooppss... They gave the game away ;) the label on the side of the crate as they were pulling it through the house definitely said "Lwazi". I think the occupant might be 2 year old, Lwazi from Werribee.... Just a guess. Other crate in the lorry might be one of his siblings?
 
Oooppss... They gave the game away ;) the label on the side of the crate as they were pulling it through the house definitely said "Lwazi". I think the occupant might be 2 year old, Lwazi from Werribee.... Just a guess. Other crate in the lorry might be one of his siblings?

No, I think it’s Maya as we know she’s coming to Taronga Zoo to form a breeding pair. Reference has previously been made to her being paired with a mate (singular) and 2.1 wouldn’t be an ideal starting ratio for a pride. Introducing two unrelated lionesses would be problematic, so I doubt they import Lwazi and one of his sisters to integrate with Maya.

1.0 Lwazi (12/08/2017)
0.1 Maya (26/02/2011)

Either way, the import of Lwazi is a homecoming of sorts for his family line. His father Johari was in the last litter of cubs born at Taronga Zoo 26/08/2003.
 
The comments on Taronga's Facebook post (under the teaser image from the day before the video) seem to indicate that Ato has travelled with Lwazi. So maybe they are planning a group of 2.2 now with them, Maya and an additional female? The plot thickens :confused:
 
The comments on Taronga's Facebook post (under the teaser image from the day before the video) seem to indicate that Ato has travelled with Lwazi. So maybe they are planning a group of 2.2 now with them, Maya and an additional female? The plot thickens :confused:

I suppose to be fair, keeping a lioness on her own for a prolonged period could be avoided if she were to be bred immediately (she could) and a daughter retained. It’d be pretty sh-t luck if there wasn’t at least one female cub in the litter.

In situations like Auckland Zoo, where the sole purpose of Sheeka’s import was to provide company for Kura; the circumstances were different. Kura was a cub - two years away from breeding and up against two fully grown males. In contrast, Ato and Lwazi are young males - barely into adulthood. It’d also make sense if they could be placed together, as three young males (the remainder at Werribee) would have been difficult to place in one institution - likely requiring a split between two holding facilities instead of one.
 
Maya the lioness didn’t end up going to Taronga Zoo. Brothers from Werribee Open Range Zoo, Ato and Lwazi made the move to Taronga.

Full story: https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp...frican-wildlife-precinct-20200626-p556h9.html

With priceless views of Sydney Harbour and plentiful open space to roam, wrestle or laze in the sun, Lwazi and Ato are perched on one of the highest rungs of Sydney’s property ladder.

Mandy Everett, precinct manager of exotics at Taronga Zoo, said the two-year-old lions from Melbourne’s Werribee Zoo had quickly settled into their new home at the zoo in Mosman.
 
Back
Top