Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2023

Osedax said:
He was not there today.
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To be fair to Taronga Zoo, they did say he was in the new nocturnal house, not that he was on display already; so I’d assume he’ll be going on display in the next few weeks if yourself and @Abbey didn’t see him today. At least we know he’ll be on display soon. It figures the more confident species have gone on display first.
 
Zoofan15 said:
To be fair to Taronga Zoo, they did say he was in the new nocturnal house, not that he was on display already; so I’d assume he’ll be going on display in the next few weeks if yourself and @Abbey didn’t see him today. At least we know he’ll be on display soon. It figures the more confident species have gone on display first.
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I did hear that the plan was for him to “eventually” be on display.
 
Were you volunteering there today, did you say, @Osedax? I saw a few lovely volunteers in the nocturnal house and was around the zoo in the morning, in my Indiana Jones T-shirt and carrying my Uluru Statement bag. There were also lots of YATZ around, no doubt due to being the school holidays.

I don't think I've mentioned this, from recent visits I give my tick of approval to the squirrel monkeys in the old gibbon exhibit. While I love gibbons and would love to see them return to Taronga, you get a much closer view of the squirrel monkeys than on their island (albeit through mesh), so it's a good way to display the species.
 
Actually, you know what, I’ll give you the updates now while I’m on the train home.

- New glass panels have been added to the dingo exhibit for ease of viewing
- The grass in the macropod walkthrough (Buru nura) has been redone
- The Moore Park/Circular Aviary finally has birds in it again! A group of Nicobar Pigeons have moved in.
- The Guinea pigs now have a rabbit mixed in with them, and the indoor hutch now has a layer of perspex as well as the mesh
- Semi-arid Aviary: an Eastern Yellow Robin is now in this aviary! A pair of Turquoise Parrots, several new Diamond Firetails and at least one Star Finch are being gradually introduced. The Little Lorikeets are nesting.
- Blue Mountains Bushwalk: several Brush Bronzewing matings were witnessed, so hopefully some chicks soon
- All 7 lions are being housed together
- The Green Pygmy Goose is back in the Finch Aviary
- The gorillas’ fencing has been strengthened
- The Cultural Garden now has signage about the different plant species. Interestingly, over half of the plants in the garden are endemic to the Sydney region.

And finally:
- Nguwing nura - wow!! So peaceful! So tranquil! So futuristic!
The experience starts with a long glass-fronted exhibit for a large colony of Spinifex Hopping Mice: at least 30 of them! All of the exhibits are extremely large and most of them house a large number of the species they hold. Hidden speakers quietly play a mesmerising soundtrack of calming indigenous music, intermingled with the calls of nocturnal creatures. The effect is an incredibly relaxing environment with no sense of time, where guests don’t even need to be told to keep the noise down!
Next was a similar exhibit, though rather smaller, for unseen Fat-tailed Dunnarts. This was followed by the best Ghost Bat exhibit I have ever seen, themed as a cave with large stalactites that the bats roost on. After this was the lifer of the experience: a Chuditch. I eventually saw it on my second visit to the building.
An interesting feature up next was a large open fronted exhibit for around 5 Greater Bilbies. I have never seen bilbies housed in these numbers, and I had never seen an open fronted exhibit in a nocturnal house before either!
Next was a long and tall exhibit for at least 4 Yellow-bellied Gliders, which was followed on the other side of the path by a second open fronted exhibit for a group of Long-nosed Potoroos. The sound of a potoroo hopping across a hollow log in the quiet of a nocturnal house is one that I will never forget.
The experience ended with a very dark exhibit with a large pool, reminiscent of photos I have seen of San Diego’s platypus exhibit for Matilda, the 6-month old rescued Platypus.

Overall, Nguwing nura is an incredible experience that has to be seen to be believed. I did not see any sign of the promised Feathertail Glider, Rufous Bettong, Barton’s Long-beaked Echidna or the mysterious 12th species; but I thought that the bettongs could be mixed with the Yellow-bellied Gliders in future, and the echidna either with them or the potoroos. I did not see any way that Feathertail Gliders could be housed here, as I have never seen them mixed with any other species before.
 
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Abbey said:
Were you volunteering there today, did you say, @Osedax? I saw a few lovely volunteers in the nocturnal house and was around the zoo in the morning, in my Indiana Jones T-shirt and carrying my Uluru Statement bag. There were also lots of YATZ around, no doubt due to being the school holidays.

I don't think I've mentioned this, from recent visits I give my tick of approval to the squirrel monkeys in the old gibbon exhibit. While I love gibbons and would love to see them return to Taronga, you get a much closer view of the squirrel monkeys than on their island (albeit through mesh), so it's a good way to display the species.
Click to expand...
I was one of the YATZ. I don’t think I saw you there but I don’t know (I don’t really notice what people are wearing!). I was in the YATZ uniform with a black Lonsdale backpack (with silver paint on it from painting an aviary in WA a few months ago) and a Cradle Mountain hat.
 
Osedax said:
Actually, you know what, I’ll give you the updates now while I’m on the train home.

- New glass panels have been added to the dingo exhibit for ease of viewing
- The grass in the macropod walkthrough (Buru nura) has been redone
- The Moore Park/Circular Aviary finally has birds in it again! A group of Nicobar Pigeons have moved in.
- The Guinea pigs now have a rabbit mixed in with them, and the indoor hutch now has a layer of perspex as well as the mesh
- Semi-arid Aviary: an Eastern Yellow Robin is now in this aviary! A pair of Turquoise Parrots, several new Diamond Firetails and at least one Star Finch are being gradually introduced. The Little Lorikeets are nesting.
- Blue Mountains Bushwalk: several Brush Bronzewing matings were witnessed, so hopefully some chicks soon
- All 7 lions are being housed together
- The Green Pygmy Goose is back in the Finch Aviary
- The gorillas’ fencing has been strengthened

And finally:
- Nguwing nura - wow!! So peaceful! So tranquil! So futuristic!
The experience starts with a long glass-fronted exhibit for a large colony of Spinifex Hopping Mice: at least 30 of them! All of the exhibits are extremely large and most of them house a large number of the species they hold. Hidden speakers quietly play a mesmerising soundtrack of calming indigenous music, intermingled with the calls of nocturnal creatures. The effect is an incredibly relaxing environment with no sense of time, where guests don’t even need to be told to keep the noise down!
Next was a similar exhibit, though rather smaller, for unseen Fat-tailed Dunnarts. This was followed by the best Ghost Bat exhibit I have ever seen, themed as a cave with large stalactites that the bats roost on. After this was the lifer of the experience: a Chuditch. I eventually saw it on my second visit to the building.
An interesting feature up next was a large open fronted exhibit for around 5 Greater Bilbies. I have never seen bilbies housed in these numbers, and I had never seen an open fronted exhibit in a nocturnal house before either!
Next was a long and tall exhibit for at least 4 Yellow-bellied Gliders, which was followed on the other side of the path by a second open fronted exhibit for a group of Long-nosed Potoroos. The sound of a potoroo hopping across a hollow log in the quiet of a nocturnal house is one that I will never forget.
The experience ended with a very dark exhibit with a large pool, reminiscent of photos I have seen of San Diego’s platypus exhibit for Matilda, the 6-month old rescued Platypus.

Overall, Nguwing nura is an incredible experience that has to be seen to be believed. I did not see any sign of the promised Feathertail Glider, Rufous Bettong, Barton’s Long-beaked Echidna or the mysterious 12th species; but I thought that the bettongs could be mixed with the Yellow-bellied Gliders in future, and the echidna either with them or the potoroos. I did not see any way that Feathertail Gliders could be housed here.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update @Osedax. I’m intrigued at the fission-fusion management style of the adolescent male lions. Most zoos manage the transition of adolescent males out of the pride in a clear-cut separation. Perhaps living in close proximity, tensions would arise from have visual/auditory contact and this at least allows them space.
 
A couple of things I forgot to mention before:

- The ostriches seem to be settling in well, although they are still housed separately from the zebras and giraffes. But blimey, the amount of times I heard them called emus!
- The former anaconda exhibit in Reptile World now houses Boa Constrictor, and the former giant cave gecko exhibit, a Rough Knob-tailed Gecko.
 
Osedax said:
A couple of things I forgot to mention before:

- The ostriches seem to be settling in well, although they are still housed separately from the zebras and giraffes. But blimey, the amount of times I heard them called emus!
- The former anaconda exhibit in Reptile World now houses Boa Constrictor, and the former giant cave gecko exhibit, a Rough Knob-tailed Gecko.
Click to expand...
I knew I forgot something else!
- The Goliath Stick Insects in the BTB house have produced a large number of eggs
- The beehives in the Shearing Shed are still off display
- A new pair of King Quail have moved in to the budgie aviary
 
Osedax said:
Actually, you know what, I’ll give you the updates now while I’m on the train home.

- New glass panels have been added to the dingo exhibit for ease of viewing
- The grass in the macropod walkthrough (Buru nura) has been redone
- The Moore Park/Circular Aviary finally has birds in it again! A group of Nicobar Pigeons have moved in.
- The Guinea pigs now have a rabbit mixed in with them, and the indoor hutch now has a layer of perspex as well as the mesh
- Semi-arid Aviary: an Eastern Yellow Robin is now in this aviary! A pair of Turquoise Parrots, several new Diamond Firetails and at least one Star Finch are being gradually introduced. The Little Lorikeets are nesting.
- Blue Mountains Bushwalk: several Brush Bronzewing matings were witnessed, so hopefully some chicks soon
- All 7 lions are being housed together
- The Green Pygmy Goose is back in the Finch Aviary
- The gorillas’ fencing has been strengthened
- The Cultural Garden now has signage about the different plant species. Interestingly, over half of the plants in the garden are endemic to the Sydney region.

And finally:
- Nguwing nura - wow!! So peaceful! So tranquil! So futuristic!
The experience starts with a long glass-fronted exhibit for a large colony of Spinifex Hopping Mice: at least 30 of them! All of the exhibits are extremely large and most of them house a large number of the species they hold. Hidden speakers quietly play a mesmerising soundtrack of calming indigenous music, intermingled with the calls of nocturnal creatures. The effect is an incredibly relaxing environment with no sense of time, where guests don’t even need to be told to keep the noise down!
Next was a similar exhibit, though rather smaller, for unseen Fat-tailed Dunnarts. This was followed by the best Ghost Bat exhibit I have ever seen, themed as a cave with large stalactites that the bats roost on. After this was the lifer of the experience: a Chuditch. I eventually saw it on my second visit to the building.
An interesting feature up next was a large open fronted exhibit for around 5 Greater Bilbies. I have never seen bilbies housed in these numbers, and I had never seen an open fronted exhibit in a nocturnal house before either!
Next was a long and tall exhibit for at least 4 Yellow-bellied Gliders, which was followed on the other side of the path by a second open fronted exhibit for a group of Long-nosed Potoroos. The sound of a potoroo hopping across a hollow log in the quiet of a nocturnal house is one that I will never forget.
The experience ended with a very dark exhibit with a large pool, reminiscent of photos I have seen of San Diego’s platypus exhibit for Matilda, the 6-month old rescued Platypus.

Overall, Nguwing nura is an incredible experience that has to be seen to be believed. I did not see any sign of the promised Feathertail Glider, Rufous Bettong, Barton’s Long-beaked Echidna or the mysterious 12th species; but I thought that the bettongs could be mixed with the Yellow-bellied Gliders in future, and the echidna either with them or the potoroos. I did not see any way that Feathertail Gliders could be housed here, as I have never seen them mixed with any other species before.
Click to expand...

Yeah I had the same thought re the platypus exhibit being reminiscent of San Diego's. I really enjoyed the deep pool - it's more slice-of-nature, rather than aquarium tank-style like in the previous platypus house. Likewise I'm not sure where the other species are fitting in, but it'll be interesting to see.
 
Abbey said:
Yeah I had the same thought re the platypus exhibit being reminiscent of San Diego's. I really enjoyed the deep pool - it's more slice-of-nature, rather than aquarium tank-style like in the previous platypus house. Likewise I'm not sure where the other species are fitting in, but it'll be interesting to see.
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I’m glad the nocturnal house has prioritised a smaller number of species housed in large exhibits; than a greater number of species held in smaller exhibits. As @Osedax mentioned, some of the species that are MIA may show up within a mixed species context.

The platypus exhibit sounds great. I look forward to seeing it in person one day.
 
Osedax said:
He was not there today.
Click to expand...
I went to a private tour hosted for Zoo Friends on Thursday, the day before it opened and there wasn't an echidna(I was hoping for the long-beaked). Despite this, a member of staff was able to confirm the echidna would be integrated into the Nocturnal House, sharing an exhibit with 2 very intrigued gliders. There was no clarification on exact sub-species, only that they 100% planned to house in the immediate future. On another note, it was awesome to see some representation for the lesser known Australian species.
 
loganjmuir said:
I went to a private tour hosted for Zoo Friends on Thursday, the day before it opened and there wasn't an echidna(I was hoping for the long-beaked). Despite this, a member of staff was able to confirm the echidna would be integrated into the Nocturnal House, sharing an exhibit with 2 very intrigued gliders. There was no clarification on exact sub-species, only that they 100% planned to house in the immediate future. On another note, it was awesome to see some representation for the lesser known Australian species.
Click to expand...

Taronga have confirmed that ‘JR’ the long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bartoni) will be the one exhibited in the nocturnal house; but thanks for the update he’ll be housed with the gliders.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Southern cassowary update:

A video posted on socials stated the zoo now have one cassowary, a female named Macca.

In 2021, the zoo had a pair which also included a male named Chuck. It appears he’s passed away sometime in the last year.
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It would be a shame if so as Chuck was only a young male (around fifteen years old), and had arrived with the intention of being bred with Macca a decade ago.

It's possible he's been shifted onto another facility to breed, as Macca has only laid infertile eggs to date.
 
Jambo said:
It would be a shame if so as Chuck was only a young male (around fifteen years old), and had arrived with the intention of being bred with Macca a decade ago.

It's possible he's been shifted onto another facility to breed, as Macca has only laid infertile eggs to date.
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That’s certainly a possibility and perhaps a question for @Osedax on his next visit! It doesn’t appear Chuck has turned up at another facility, though transfer aren’t always mentioned. Fingers crossed he’s merely gone to peruse better breeding opportunities.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Southern cassowary update:

A video posted on socials stated the zoo now have one cassowary, a female named Macca.

In 2021, the zoo had a pair which also included a male named Chuck. It appears he’s passed away sometime in the last year.
Click to expand...
Jambo said:
It would be a shame if so as Chuck was only a young male (around fifteen years old), and had arrived with the intention of being bred with Macca a decade ago.

It's possible he's been shifted onto another facility to breed, as Macca has only laid infertile eggs to date.
Click to expand...

Good news, Taronga have confirmed Chuck the Southern cassowary is alive and well. He was transferred to an inter-state zoo for breeding due to him and Macca being incompatible long term. This presumably referred to Macca producing infertile eggs. The person didn’t know the specific facility, but thought it was in either SA or WA.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Good news, Taronga have confirmed Chuck the Southern cassowary is alive and well. He was transferred to an inter-state zoo for breeding due to him and Macca being incompatible long term. This presumably referred to Macca producing infertile eggs. The person didn’t know the specific facility, but thought it was in either SA or WA.
Click to expand...
Or, Melbourne, which would align with Zillie's move back to the GFA?
 
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