Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2023

[Zoofan15]

Ah, thanks for that. I've seen that document before, but had struggled to track it down again to confirm what the plans for the Congo precinct looked like. I would be interested to see how they do plan to overlap the Okapi exhibit like that, considering the slope of the site, but I gather that slither would be the land on the top level or perhaps on a gradual slope.

It’ll be interesting as neither of the obvious replacements for Okapi (Eastern bongo or Pygmy hippopotamus) are better suited to a sloping terrain.

Given Australia has no Giraffidae IRA even on the horizon, Okapi remain a pipe dream at this stage. It wouldn’t surprise me to see a scaled back exhibit to house Eastern bongo (which may not need to overlap with existing gorilla exhibit); combined with Black and white colobus or similar.

Taronga have always maintained through my enquiries that the gorillas will remain the focus of the exhibit and either way, I’m excited to see provisions made to better accomodate and breed them into the future.

As a side note, there seems to frequently be confusion on the forum as to the origins of the existing gorilla exhibit. I thought the document linked above sums it up nicely:

The area occupied by the current gorilla enclosure was originally designated for ‘running birds’ that include ostrichs, emus and rheas. This remained the case for many decades until in 1988 the western end was redesigned to accommodate giant pandas from China as the Chinese government’s Bicentennial gift to Australia. However, this was never intended to be a permanent exhibit. At the eastern end, an earlier circular aviary for parrots and parakeets was reused as a Guenon exhibit. Both of these sites were subsumed in the 1990s for a new gorilla exhibit.

 

[Abbey]

It’ll be interesting as neither of the obvious replacements for Okapi (Eastern bongo or Pygmy hippopotamus) are better suited to a sloping terrain.

Given Australia has no Giraffidae IRA even on the horizon, Okapi remain a pipe dream at this stage. It wouldn’t surprise me to see a scaled back exhibit to house Eastern bongo (which may not need to overlap with existing gorilla exhibit); combined with Black and white colobus or similar.

Taronga have always maintained through my enquiries that the gorillas will remain the focus of the exhibit and either way, I’m excited to see provisions made to better accomodate and breed them into the future.

As a side note, there seems to frequently be confusion on the forum as to the origins of the existing gorilla exhibit. I thought the document linked above sums it up nicely:

The area occupied by the current gorilla enclosure was originally designated for ‘running birds’ that include ostrichs, emus and rheas. This remained the case for many decades until in 1988 the western end was redesigned to accommodate giant pandas from China as the Chinese government’s Bicentennial gift to Australia. However, this was never intended to be a permanent exhibit. At the eastern end, an earlier circular aviary for parrots and parakeets was reused as a Guenon exhibit. Both of these sites were subsumed in the 1990s for a new gorilla exhibit.

Looking at the plan more closely, the okapi exhibit seems to be above the gorilla building (which keepers can enter from the top path) so I would say that it wouldn't involve the floor space of the existing gorilla exhibit (which is down a terrace and would be a challenge to incorporate with the land above).

On the current Taronga map, it's the area with shrubs on it just below (above on the hill) the gorillas: https://taronga.org.au/sites/default/files/2023-05/TZ_Map_Ed14v02.pdf
This is mostly my speculation, of course, but I think it would be an appropriate interpretation of the plan - and would give the okapi or bongo privacy at that side of their exhibit (no path).

 

[Zoofan15]

Looking at the plan more closely, the okapi exhibit seems to be above the gorilla building (which keepers can enter from the top path) so I would say that it wouldn't involve the floor space of the existing gorilla exhibit (which is down a terrace and would be a challenge to incorporate with the land above).

On the current Taronga map, it's the area with shrubs on it just below (above on the hill) the gorillas: https://taronga.org.au/sites/default/files/2023-05/TZ_Map_Ed14v02.pdf
This is mostly my speculation, of course, but I think it would be an appropriate interpretation of the plan - and would give the okapi or bongo privacy at that side of their exhibit (no path).

That makes complete sense and would allow the ungulates privacy like you say. Okapi are a naturally shy species and bongo can be flighty as proven by the incident involving a female running into a fence.

Taronga would be keen to negate any risks - especially given the challenges of sourcing such valuable species; in conjunction with best practices and obligations to animal welfare.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

I’d love to see orangutans return to Taronga. It’d make them the only zoo in the region to hold all three great ape species. The aerial pathways are a game changer as they’ve suddenly made the species space efficient - which is a valuable commodity in a small city zoo.

*cough* There are five species of great ape *cough*
Sorry something in my throat.

 

[Dassie rat]

*cough* There are five species of great ape *cough*
Sorry something in my throat.

If you include humans, there are 8 living species of great ape
Human
Bonobo
Chimpanzee
2 species of gorilla
3 species of orang-utan

 

[Zoofan15]

*cough* There are five species of great ape *cough*
Sorry something in my throat.

If you include humans, there are 8 living species of great ape
Human
Bonobo
Chimpanzee
2 species of gorilla
3 species of orang-utan

Great Ape Holders of Australasia

Being realistic, the best you can hope for is a zoo in our region to hold one species of orangutan, one species of gorilla and chimpanzee.

Bonobo, Mountain gorillas and Tapanuli orangutan are all non-starters and no orangutan holder has Bornean and Sumatran:

Taronga: gorilla, chimpanzee
Sydney: orangutan, chimpanzee
Mogo: gorilla, orangutan
Melbourne: gorilla, orangutan
Werribee: gorilla
Perth: orangutan
Rockhampton: chimpanzee
Adelaide: orangutan
Monarto: chimpanzee
Auckland: orangutan
Hamilton: chimpanzee
Wellington: chimpanzee
Orana: gorilla

By acquiring orangutans, Taronga would be the only zoo to hold three species of great ape; while it’d be nice to see Dubbo and Australia Zoo join the leaderboard full stop.

 

[Jambo]

Looking at the plan more closely, the okapi exhibit seems to be above the gorilla building (which keepers can enter from the top path) so I would say that it wouldn't involve the floor space of the existing gorilla exhibit (which is down a terrace and would be a challenge to incorporate with the land above).

On the current Taronga map, it's the area with shrubs on it just below (above on the hill) the gorillas: https://taronga.org.au/sites/default/files/2023-05/TZ_Map_Ed14v02.pdf
This is mostly my speculation, of course, but I think it would be an appropriate interpretation of the plan - and would give the okapi or bongo privacy at that side of their exhibit (no path).

If Taronga somehow find a way to renovate the current gorilla exhibit; I think it could definitely serve as an additional Pygmy Hippo exhibit if they wish, similar to what Adelaide have done by moving Obi into the former Sun Bear exhibit.

A mixed species exhibit for them and Black and White Colobus would be an interesting option.

 

[Zoofan15]

If Taronga somehow find a way to renovate the current gorilla exhibit; I think it could definitely serve as an additional Pygmy Hippo exhibit if they wish, similar to what Adelaide have done by moving Obi into the former Sun Bear exhibit.

A mixed species exhibit for them and Black and White Colobus would be an interesting option.

If we’re to assume the Okapi exhibit will be built where stated (or Eastern bongo to take their place), I think utilising the existing gorilla exhibit would be a great way to expand the Congo precinct.

Despite what the zoo may have in mind, the Congo precinct will be arguably their most dramatic and crowd-pulling precinct to date and by holding multiple Pygmy hippopotamus exhibits, will ensure they can remain a breeding holder.

With the Hippopotamus IRA on the horizon, I’m hopeful a number of zoos will soon be breeding Pygmy hippopotamus. Unlike the Common hippopotamus, there’s no logic behind phasing them out of city zoos.

 

[Jambo]

If we’re to assume the Okapi exhibit will be built where stated (or Eastern bongo to take their place), I think utilising the existing gorilla exhibit would be a great way to expand the Congo precinct.

Despite what the zoo may have in mind, the Congo precinct will be arguably their most dramatic and crowd-pulling precinct to date and by holding multiple Pygmy hippopotamus exhibits, will ensure they can remain a breeding holder.

With the Hippopotamus IRA on the horizon, I’m hopeful a number of zoos will soon be breeding Pygmy hippopotamus. Unlike the Common hippopotamus, there’s no logic behind phasing them out of city zoos.

Considering the small footprint that is planned, it seems all we’ll end up getting is two gorilla enclosures and an enclosure for Black and White Colobus. Okapi may very well be squeezed into there as well, but if not I’d prefer they’d accomodate another enclosure for Pygmy Hippo to enable further breeding, rather than Bongo (which would be more suitable for Dubbo).

 

[Abbey]

Great Ape Holders of Australasia

Being realistic, the best you can hope for is a zoo in our region to hold one species of orangutan, one species of gorilla and chimpanzee.

Bonobo, Mountain gorillas and Tapanuli orangutan are all non-starters and no orangutan holder has Bornean and Sumatran:

Taronga: gorilla, chimpanzee
Sydney: orangutan, chimpanzee
Mogo: gorilla, orangutan
Melbourne: gorilla, orangutan
Werribee: gorilla
Perth: orangutan
Rockhampton: chimpanzee
Adelaide: orangutan
Monarto: chimpanzee
Auckland: orangutan
Hamilton: chimpanzee
Wellington: chimpanzee
Orana: gorilla

By acquiring orangutans, Taronga would be the only zoo to hold three species of great ape; while it’d be nice to see Dubbo and Australia Zoo join the leaderboard full stop.

When you put it like that it hadn't dawned on me before that (save for Healesville of course) Dubbo is the only one of the 'Big 12' (the eight statutory zoos in Australia and the major four NZ zoos) not to hold a great ape species (and, to my knowledge, they never have). I suppose that has, in some ways, been a reflection of Taronga's needs - Monarto and Werribee's holding of apes, in part, generated from their city complexes having animals or species they no longer had room for, necessitating a new attraction at the open range zoo.

Now that the siamang exhibit has been vacated due to the passing of Dubbo's pair, I could see that area being used for orangutans, were animals available.

 

[Zoofan15]

Considering the small footprint that is planned, it seems all we’ll end up getting is two gorilla enclosures and an enclosure for Black and White Colobus. Okapi may very well be squeezed into there as well, but if not I’d prefer they’d accomodate another enclosure for Pygmy Hippo to enable further breeding, rather than Bongo (which would be more suitable for Dubbo).

It’s be my preference to see opportunities for Pygmy hippopotamus breeding at Taronga maximised, though I fear Taronga will succumb to the doubling up of species with Dubbo for the sake of preserving what little diversity in exotics they have and the Okapi will be replaced by bongo. It’s a shame as a herd attaining numbers of 20+ could potentially be accommodated at Dubbo.

 

[Jambo]

When you put it like that it hadn't dawned on me before that (save for Healesville of course) Dubbo is the only one of the 'Big 12' (the eight statutory zoos in Australia and the major four NZ zoos) not to hold a great ape species (and, to my knowledge, they never have). I suppose that has, in some ways, been a reflection of Taronga's needs - Monarto and Werribee's holding of apes, in part, generated from their city complexes having animals or species they no longer had room for, necessitating a new attraction at the open range zoo.

Now that the siamang exhibit has been vacated due to the passing of Dubbo's pair, I could see that area being used for orangutans, were animals available.

I believe there was a plan back in the 90’s for Dubbo to acquire some of Taronga’s male chimps, but this has since changed.

The current Saimang exhibit is too small for Orangutans, and I would be very surprised if Dubbo acquired Orangutans before Taronga.

Going forward, I don’t see any feasible way for Dubbo to acquire great apes; a bachelor group of gorillas may be the only way, but Taronga will be constructing a bachelor exhibit soon.

 

[tigris115]

ooc, has Taronga ever said "We are DEFINETLY phasing out elephants" like Melbourne or is it more of a general suggestion?

 

[Zoofan15]

When you put it like that it hadn't dawned on me before that (save for Healesville of course) Dubbo is the only one of the 'Big 12' (the eight statutory zoos in Australia and the major four NZ zoos) not to hold a great ape species (and, to my knowledge, they never have). I suppose that has, in some ways, been a reflection of Taronga's needs - Monarto and Werribee's holding of apes, in part, generated from their city complexes having animals or species they no longer had room for, necessitating a new attraction at the open range zoo.

Now that the siamang exhibit has been vacated due to the passing of Dubbo's pair, I could see that area being used for orangutans, were animals available.

I believe there was a plan back in the 90’s for Dubbo to acquire some of Taronga’s male chimps, but this has since changed.

The current Saimang exhibit is too small for Orangutans, and I would be very surprised if Dubbo acquired Orangutans before Taronga.

Going forward, I don’t see any feasible way for Dubbo to acquire great apes; a bachelor group of gorillas may be the only way, but Taronga will be constructing a bachelor exhibit soon.

That’s correct, Dubbo have never held a great ape species. They did plan in 1994 to accomodate six male chimpanzees to form a bachelor troop.

The obvious candidates in 1994 were:

1.0 Lewis (1985) Taronga
1.0 Monte (1985) Taronga
1.0 Gombe (1988) Taronga
1.0 Lobo (1989) Taronga
1.0 Marty (1988) Wellington
1.0 Lucifer (1988) Auckland

Auckland, with a small exhibit and 3.3 chimpanzees, suffered from cohesion issues as the males entered adolescence. Lucifer, then six years old would have been a prime candidate for transfer.

In any case, a bachelor facility to offload male chimpanzees would have greatly assisted Taronga Zoo and despite a run of female infants, remains their priority along with the bachelor gorilla males now planned to be accomodated on site. If Dubbo could allocate the space to accomodate this, I believe they’d compliment their collection nicely.

 

[Zoofan15]

ooc, has Taronga ever said "We are DEFINETLY phasing out elephants" like Melbourne or is it more of a general suggestion?

It was first mentioned in this article:

Three baby elephants are soon to be born at Melbourne Zoo. And a move to a new open-plains life at Werribee may be next.

Some of the world’s urban zoos, including Detroit and San Francisco, have given up their elephants on ethical grounds, while Taronga plans to move its two Sydney-based elephants, who live on just half a hectare, to Dubbo, which has seven elephants on four hectares. The zoo states it will create “a centre of excellence for elephant care, conservation and guest experience” at Dubbo, but can’t say when this will happen or if it will be bigger.

Via email, Taronga advised this was at least five years away.

We can’t rule out Taronga accomodating bachelor bull elephants in place of the cows, though I consider this unlikely. Yes Sydney Zoo have them, but Taronga should be striving to create precincts that negate the need to rely on elephants to draw the crowds and if they can’t, then there’s a bigger issue than not having an elephant.

 

[Jambo]

That’s correct, Dubbo have never held a great ape species. They did plan in 1994 to accomodate six male chimpanzees to form a bachelor troop.

The obvious candidates in 1994 were:

1.0 Lewis (1985) Taronga
1.0 Monte (1985) Taronga
1.0 Gombe (1988) Taronga
1.0 Lobo (1989) Taronga
1.0 Marty (1988) Wellington
1.0 Lucifer (1988) Auckland

Auckland, with a small exhibit and 3.3 chimpanzees, suffered from cohesion issues as the males entered adolescence. Lucifer, then six years old would have been a prime candidate for transfer.

In any case, a bachelor facility to offload male chimpanzees would have greatly assisted Taronga Zoo and despite a run of female infants, remains their priority along with the bachelor gorilla males now planned to be accomodated on site. If Dubbo could allocate the space to accomodate this, I believe they’d compliment their collection nicely.

With the growing regional population I think we will see some additional holders in the coming years. A region first bachelor group may be something to consider, especially with some holders beginning to approach capacity.

It was first mentioned in this article:

Three baby elephants are soon to be born at Melbourne Zoo. And a move to a new open-plains life at Werribee may be next.

Some of the world’s urban zoos, including Detroit and San Francisco, have given up their elephants on ethical grounds, while Taronga plans to move its two Sydney-based elephants, who live on just half a hectare, to Dubbo, which has seven elephants on four hectares. The zoo states it will create “a centre of excellence for elephant care, conservation and guest experience” at Dubbo, but can’t say when this will happen or if it will be bigger.

Via email, Taronga advised this was at least five years away.

We can’t rule out Taronga accomodating bachelor bull elephants in place of the cows, though I consider this unlikely. Yes Sydney Zoo have them, but Taronga should be striving to create precincts that negate the need to rely on elephants to draw the crowds and if they can’t, then there’s a bigger issue than not having an elephant.

I’d be surprised if Taronga continue to hold elephants going forward. Dubbo should have the facilities available, and if not, there’s no reason why Werribee (who’ll have almost 50 acres), won’t.

Taronga should look to expand their collection in the right way, and creating a precinct that can live up to the elephants popularity and potentially even exceed it should be on the cards. Orangutans should be considered. A precinct for them (and Gibbons) on the current elephant enclosure, featuring O-lines would definitely be an equivalent draw to the current elephant herd Taronga has.

 

[Zoofan15]

With the growing regional population I think we will see some additional holders in the coming years. A region first bachelor group may be something to consider, especially with some holders beginning to approach capacity.

I’d be surprised if Taronga continue to hold elephants going forward. Dubbo should have the facilities available, and if not, there’s no reason why Werribee (who’ll have almost 50 acres), won’t.

Taronga should look to expand their collection in the right way, and creating a precinct that can live up to the elephants popularity and potentially even exceed it should be on the cards. Orangutans should be considered. A precinct for them (and Gibbons) on the current elephant enclosure, featuring O-lines would definitely be an equivalent draw to the current elephant herd Taronga has.

In retrospect, I think the greatest loss to the region was Sydney Zoo importing chimpanzees from overseas. They apparently have no inclination to breed them, so they’ll be no exchange between them and other facilities.

Had they instead taken the males from Taronga - including Fumo, Sudi and Liwali (who were approaching adolescence); then Taronga could have started afresh by bringing in 2-3 unrelated males. Combined with the new females from Europe, that would have led to some genetically valuable lines - as well as enabling Taronga to breed multiple infants, knowing any males could be accommodated to address the deficit.

I assuming public mood continues to favour the phase out of elephants from city zoos, Sydney Zoo holding them may actually be a detriment to their zoo; rather than a drawcard if Taronga phases out. Either way, the transfer of the cows to Dubbo presents a cross roads to decide the way forward.

 

[Abbey]

I visited Taronga tonight for the Wild Lights display.

Whilst the only animal which wasn't a lit-up installation I saw was a wild possum near the macropod walkthrough, I did learn that Lisa's female infant has been named Lemba.

Also, the gorilla troop has been off-display, as they recover from being unwell.

 

[OskarGC]

Any news on the reopening of the nocturnal house? I'll be visiting in two weeks and hope it's opened by then.

 

[loganjmuir]

Seeing as Taronga plan to phase out the elephants long term, I'm wondering what will happen with the camels long term also. To me they seemed like a filler animal due to the elephants moving to a new exhibit but it could be interesting to see what happens with the new Congo section potentially on the horizon. If anyone knows anything about the camels it'd be greatly appreaciated.