Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2023

[Zoofan15]

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

The zoo’s website still lists it as closed; but according to this news release (posted April), it was supposed to open in May, so shouldn’t be too much longer now:

https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/taronga-zoo-native-wildlife-experience

Nura Diya Australia will ultimately be home to 270 individual animals from 23 different species across the following landscapes:

• Buru nura (Kangaroo Country)
• Gulamany nura (Koala Country)
• Wuragal nura (Dingo Country)
• Nguwing yana (Night Walk, to open May 2023)

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.

I’ve replied in this thread:

Future of Taronga Zoo (Speculation / Fantasy) [Taronga Zoo]

 

[Abbey]

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

As @Zoofan15 has mentioned, it hasn't opened yet, unfortunately. I'm not aware of a planned date (given that it is already behind schedule). From the quick peek I had through the closed doors last night, the interior essentially appears complete.

Signage outside specifically mentions Platypus, potentially answering the question previously posed about whether the Night Walk will contain an additional Platypus exhibit.

 

[AreOhAreWhy]

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.

The camels replaced the giraffes that moved into the savannah precinct. I reckon they might stay for a bit but once something more exciting shows up then they may be replaced. I'm going again in a couple of weeks so I can check up on this for you

 

[Jambo]

The camels replaced the giraffes that moved into the savannah precinct. I reckon they might stay for a bit but once something more exciting shows up then they may be replaced. I'm going again in a couple of weeks so I can check up on this for you

The giraffes were only there temporarily though; replacing the long term resident, Gung, who was sent across to Dubbo in the beginning of 2018.

I'd say the Camels are more likely a 'fill in' species where they'll remain there for another few years before an actual decision can be made on the exhibit and its future; ie. whether they want to renovate it for another species, or demolish the whole thing and rebuild something from there.

 

[Jambo]

Upon completion of the new Reptile Complex in 2024, I am told Taronga will receive one of the Australian Reptile Parks remaining pair of Komodo Dragon hatchlings.

The hope is to then import a mate from overseas; but is obviously, not guaranteed at this point.

 

[Zoofan15]

Upon completion of the new Reptile Complex in 2024, I am told Taronga will receive one of the Australian Reptile Parks remaining pair of Komodo Dragon hatchlings.

The hope is to then import a mate from overseas; but is obviously, not guaranteed at this point.

That’s good news. It’ll be nice to see this species return to Taronga and for them to exhibit a juvenile Komodo dragon in the first time in their history.

Sexual maturity in this species is usually attained by seven years, so there’s plenty of time to import a female if there’s a desire for Taronga to breed. I suspect we’ll see success at other facilities in the region by them, which will no doubt influence the decision.

 

[steveroberts]

@Zoofan15 @Jambo

That was such a special moment when they hatched, I remember you guys too at the time writing about how significant and what an achievement it was. It's funny (or for want of a better word) because Taronga is the first when it comes to everything else Komodo Dragon related in Australia. The first (and for many decades) only zoo to have them starting with Keith and poor septicemia suffering female (assume from Keith bites/attacks) in '63. For a long time assumed the reptile park had them too but then learnt Perenties and Asian Water Monitors were historically and until recently the biggest lizards ever at the park (believe the late Eric Worrell use to enjoy being able to come back down to Sydney and interact with Keith under Terry Boylan's reptile management days and that he [Worrell] strongly wished to have a Komodo Dragon at Gosford but it never ended up happening until decades later, and not in his lifetime).

It seems right that Taronga should receive at least one of the remaining young Komodos from the ARP when the new reptile complex is opened next year. Even my dad (who remembers the awe of seeing Tuka out the front of the Serpentaria complex in the '90s and '00s) said he was surprised when I told him on the phone that Taronga is currently Komodo-less.

 

[Zoofan15]

@Zoofan15 @Jambo

That was such a special moment when they hatched, I remember you guys too at the time writing about how significant and what an achievement it was. It's funny (or for want of a better word) because Taronga is the first when it comes to everything else Komodo Dragon related in Australia. The first (and for many decades) only zoo to have them starting with Keith and poor septicemia suffering female in '63. For a long time assumed the reptile park had them too but then learnt Perenties and Asian Water Monitors were historically and until recently the biggest lizards ever at the park (believe the late Eric Worrell use to enjoy being able to come back down to Sydney and interact with Keith under Terry Boylan's reptile management days and that he [Worrell] strongly wished to have a Komodo Dragon at Gosford but it never ended up happening until decades later, and not in his lifetime).

It seems right that Taronga should receive at least one of the remaining young Komodos from the ARP when the new reptile complex is opened next year. Even my dad (who remembers the awe of seeing Tuka out the front of the Serpentaria complex in the '90s and '00s) said he was surprised when I told him on the phone that Taronga is currently Komodo-less.

It was indeed exciting to hear of Komodo dragons being bred in Australasia for the first time. Like Asian elephants and Galapagos giant tortoises, they’re a species which was kept in the region for decades before breeding success was realised - but with advances in husbandry and access to advice from across the globe, huge strides have been made in breeding these species. I have no doubt we’ll see several more successful clutches over the next decade.

Taronga have been first at a few things - the first to successfully breed Common chimpanzee (1941), Sumatran tiger (1980) and Asian elephant (2009) to name three examples. As the first to hold Komodo dragon, it’s fitting they’ll soon hold one of the first clutch bred in the county.

 

[OskarGC]

Here's a few updates from my visit to Taronga on 27.6.23

• the nocturnal house (Night Walk) is nearing completion
• a larger flock of Budgerigar has been established in the Blue Mountains Bushwalk aviary and many were looking for nesting holes
• the Southern Leaf-Tailed Gecko exhibit within the Blue Mountains Bushwalk was empty and filled with wild spiderwebs though still being signed for the geckos
• Swift Parrot, Welcome Swallow and Variegated Fairywren have been added to the Arid Bird Aviary after the Blue Mountains Bushwalk aviary
• the Western Lowland-Gorilla exhibit is still blocked off as the troop recovers from an illness
• the Binturong exhibit was empty apart from a wild Common Brushtail-Possum sleeping in one of the shelters
• the Francois' Leaf-Monkeys were seemingly off-exhibit
• in the Reptile House (Reptile World) the Tuatara wasn't seen in her exhibit and the Gila monster exhibit is now being occupied by Western Shingleback
• a few already kept bird are now in a second or even third aviary, Eastern Whipbird in the Australian Rainforest Aviary, Superb Fruit-Dove in the Wetland Aviary and Noisy Pitta in the Palm Aviary
• the Moore Park Aviary is still empty

Highlights
Double-Eyed Fig-Parrot

Superb Lyrebird
Budgerigar Swift Parrot
Lady Amherst's Pheasant Common Brushtail-Possum (wild)
Meerkat
Red-Barred Dragon
Freckled Duck

Dollarbird

 

[Jambo]

Here's a few updates from my visit to Taronga on 27.6.23

• the nocturnal house (Night Walk) is nearing completion
• a larger flock of Budgerigar has been established in the Blue Mountains Bushwalk aviary and many were looking for nesting holes
• the Southern Leaf-Tailed Gecko exhibit within the Blue Mountains Bushwalk was empty and filled with wild spiderwebs though still being signed for the geckos
• Swift Parrot, Welcome Swallow and Variegated Fairywren have been added to the Arid Bird Aviary after the Blue Mountains Bushwalk aviary
• the Western Lowland-Gorilla exhibit is still blocked off as the troop recovers from an illness
• the Binturong exhibit was empty apart from a wild Common Brushtail-Possum sleeping in one of the shelters
• the Francois' Leaf-Monkeys were seemingly off-exhibit
• in the Reptile House (Reptile World) the Tuatara wasn't seen in her exhibit and the Gila monster exhibit is now being occupied by Western Shingleback
• a few already kept bird are now in a second or even third aviary, Eastern Whipbird in the Australian Rainforest Aviary, Superb Fruit-Dove in the Wetland Aviary and Noisy Pitta in the Palm Aviary
• the Moore Park Aviary is still empty

Highlights
Double-Eyed Fig-Parrot
View attachment 631700
Superb LyrebirdView attachment 631701
BudgerigarView attachment 631702 Swift ParrotView attachment 631703
Lady Amherst's PheasantView attachment 631705 Common Brushtail-Possum (wild)View attachment 631706
MeerkatView attachment 631707
Red-Barred DragonView attachment 631709
Freckled Duck
View attachment 631710
DollarbirdView attachment 631711

Thanks for the updates.

Interesting to hear you saw a brush tailed possum in the Binturong enclosure. I believe they had/have two young brothers. Maybe the Binturong were just off exhibit too and the possum just somehow found it’s way in. There are a lot of wild possums in the zoo.

Re. Moore Park Aviary; Taronga’s male Red Panda, Pabu was in there for a while, I visited in April last year and saw him there. He’s probably moved back to the main enclosures with his recent offspring being sent elsewhere as of late. It would be great to see birds in that aviary again.

 

[OskarGC]

Thanks for the updates.

Interesting to hear you saw a brush tailed possum in the Binturong enclosure. I believe they had/have two young brothers. Maybe the Binturong were just off exhibit too and the possum just somehow found it’s way in. There are a lot of wild possums in the zoo.

Re. Moore Park Aviary; Taronga’s male Red Panda, Pabu was in there for a while, I visited in April last year and saw him there. He’s probably moved back to the main enclosures with his recent offspring being sent elsewhere as of late. It would be great to see birds in that aviary again.

I saw three Red Panda in their exhibit, two of them were sleeping in one of the trees and the third was sleeping in a different tree.

 

[Jambo]

I saw three Red Panda in their exhibit, two of them were sleeping in one of the trees and the third was sleeping in a different tree.

If there were three all in one exhibit, they would’ve likely been Amala and her two daughters.

Pabu would’ve been seperate in the other exhibit.

 

[Zoofan15]

New Inhabitants for Gibbon Exhibit

Following the phase out of Northern white-cheeked gibbon, a bachelor troop of Bolivian squirrel monkey have moved into their exhibit (as I predicted).

Taronga has a surplus of male squirrel monkeys following a string of male births - 15.6 births across the previous three breeding seasons.

The zoo’s map has now been updated with this change.

 

[ReaganM]

New Inhabitants for Gibbon Exhibit

Following the phase out of Northern white-cheeked gibbon, a bachelor troop of Bolivian squirrel monkey have moved into their exhibit (as I predicted).

Taronga has a surplus of male squirrel monkeys following a string of male births - 15.6 births across the previous three breeding seasons.

The zoo’s map has now been updated with this change.

I noticed the lions have been re-added to the new map. I haven't been to the zoo for a couple of months. So I am unsure when they were put back on exhibit. I wonder what upgrades where made to the fencing.

 

[Zoofan15]

I noticed the lions have been re-added to the new map. I haven't been to the zoo for a couple of months. So I am unsure when they were put back on exhibit. I wonder what upgrades where made to the fencing.

The lions went back on display this week.

The exhibit fence was breeched after fastenings in the mesh failed, so at a minimum the repairs would have included fastenings that can withstand the strength of the lions. I imagine additional reinforcements have been made given it’s taken eight months to be assessed as compliant.

On that note, I’m sure the lions will have been keen to get back outside. The pride numbers seven lions and the five ‘cubs’ are now 22 month old adolescents; so even with a decent indoor area, cabin fever would have been building up.

 

[Abbey]

The lions went back on display this week.

The exhibit fence was breeched after fastenings in the mesh failed, so at a minimum the repairs would have included fastenings that can withstand the strength of the lions. I imagine additional reinforcements have been made given it’s taken eight months to be assessed as compliant.

On that note, I’m sure the lions will have been keen to get back outside. The pride numbers seven lions and the five ‘cubs’ are now 22 month old adolescents; so even with a decent indoor area, cabin fever would have been building up.

I'd heard the lions were going back on display at the end of June, but seems to have happened rather non-eventfully. Thankfully, there is a second outdoor area which the lions have had access to (off-display), so they haven't been totally confined to indoor quarters - but good they have been able to return to their exhibit.

Essentially, much of the mesh has been completely replaced (hence the delay), with the fastenings much closer together. The intention of this design is that, were these fastenings to somehow fail in the future, the size of the hole created would be much, much smaller and the lions unable to get through.

 

[loganjmuir]

I'd heard the lions were going back on display at the end of June, but seems to have happened rather non-eventfully. Thankfully, there is a second outdoor area which the lions have had access to (off-display), so they haven't been totally confined to indoor quarters - but good they have been able to return to their exhibit.

Essentially, much of the mesh has been completely replaced (hence the delay), with the fastenings much closer together. The intention of this design is that, were these fastenings to somehow fail in the future, the size of the hole created would be much, much smaller and the lions unable to get through.

Thanks for the update. Really good news to hear the lions are back on display, and great timing too as I am going on thursday. It's been strangely quiet in the zoo the last few months and the lions may explain it. I will post an update when I get back in a few days. Thanks again for the update.

 

[steveroberts]

Gorillas off display, have been unwell:

(own photo):

 

[Zoofan15]

Gorillas off display, have been unwell:

(own photo):

Hopefully it’s nothing serious as they’ve been off display for quite a while now. It’s the coldest time of year and with great apes being susceptible to colds and pneumonia, I guess they’re just taking no chances.

 

[loganjmuir]

Hopefully it’s nothing serious as they’ve been off display for quite a while now. It’s the coldest time of year and with great apes being susceptible to colds and pneumonia, I guess they’re just taking no chances.

Hopefully nothing serious has happened to the gorillas because it could be catastrophic, especially with the new congo precinct in its planning stages. Although they have been off exhibit for a while, I heard somewhere that they are now on display in the west section, including the indoor area. As for the outdoor I would assume it would still be shut off from the public.