Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2023

Abbey said:
Updates from my recent visits to Taronga:
  • Obi the young male zebra has been castrated.
  • The seven lions are still in all together. A couple of weeks ago, they were all snoozing together on the platform in the enclosure, yesterday they were a bit more spread out. One of the males was climbing the tree, in the tradition of his father, Ato, and some of the females were wrestling in the grass. You can still tell the cubs from their parents, but at 2 years, 3 months, they are now at the same age their great-grandmother, Kuchani, was when she gave birth to their grandfather, Johari. The females are contracepted.
  • I enjoyed watching Taronga's male Goodfellow's tree kangaroo for an extended period - he was particularly active. I believe the zoo holds 1.1, the female Kwikila and the male Makali, which leaves the fate unknown of the previous breeding male Parum. I would guess he has passed away, but it would be helpful to have confirmation either way.
  • Unfortunately I wasn't able to take a photo, but the exterior of the reptile house is close to completion.
  • I actually saw the Fishing cat! As far as I'm aware, Taronga just holds the female, Maew.
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Thanks for the update @Abbey.

It’ll be interesting to see how long the lions can remain together before the young males need to transfer out. Interesting times ahead with Chad and Ruka at Monarto being in the same boat.

Since Obi is a young male zebra, this implies Taronga’s long term plans to hold a non breeding herd of zebra; combined with the acquisition of ostrich.
 
Abbey said:
Updates from my recent visits to Taronga:
  • Obi the young male zebra has been castrated.
  • The seven lions are still in all together. A couple of weeks ago, they were all snoozing together on the platform in the enclosure, yesterday they were a bit more spread out. One of the males was climbing the tree, in the tradition of his father, Ato, and some of the females were wrestling in the grass. You can still tell the cubs from their parents, but at 2 years, 3 months, they are now at the same age their great-grandmother, Kuchani, was when she gave birth to their grandfather, Johari. The females are contracepted.
  • I enjoyed watching Taronga's male Goodfellow's tree kangaroo for an extended period - he was particularly active. I believe the zoo holds 1.1, the female Kwikila and the male Makali, which leaves the fate unknown of the previous breeding male Parum. I would guess he has passed away, but it would be helpful to have confirmation either way.
  • Unfortunately I wasn't able to take a photo, but the exterior of the reptile house is close to completion.
  • I actually saw the Fishing cat! As far as I'm aware, Taronga just holds the female, Maew.
Click to expand...

Zoofan15 said:
Thanks for the update @Abbey.

It’ll be interesting to see how long the lions can remain together before the young males need to transfer out. Interesting times ahead with Chad and Ruka at Monarto being in the same boat.

Since Obi is a young male zebra, this implies Taronga’s long term plans to hold a non breeding herd of zebra; combined with the acquisition of ostrich.
Click to expand...
The castration of Obi makes a lot of sense as the new female Ostriches are needing to be housed in the stalls previously designated for additional zebra.

Parum would've been sixteen this year, so not superbly young. Combining this and his genetic value, I would find it unlikely he has ended up at another facility. Did you get this confirmation from a keeper?

Good news to also hear the Reptile House is nearing completion. The goal was for it to be completed by winter 2024 so hopefully everything is still running on schedule.

When I visited last year Taronga had both Fishing Cats (male and female). There was still hope for breeding so it would be a shame if the male has since passed.
 
Abbey said:
I enjoyed watching Taronga's male Goodfellow's tree kangaroo for an extended period - he was particularly active. I believe the zoo holds 1.1, the female Kwikila and the male Makali, which leaves the fate unknown of the previous breeding male Parum. I would guess he has passed away, but it would be helpful to have confirmation either way.
Click to expand...
Parum died at Taronga in 2019 due to age-related problems. He sired two joeys at Taronga - female Nupela at Singapore and male Torembi at Currumbin. The 2020 joey, Taro now at Gumbuya, was sired by Makali (there is an error in my population list) so the current pair have successfully bred.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Parum died at Taronga in 2019 due to age-related problems. He sired two joeys at Taronga - female Nupela at Singapore and male Torembi at Currumbin. The 2020 joey, Taro now at Gumbuya, was sired by Makali (there is an error in my population list) so the current pair have successfully bred.
Click to expand...
Hello,
Do you know if KWIKILA is born in Beauval Zoo (France)? A female with this name is born there in 2007.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Parum died at Taronga in 2019 due to age-related problems. He sired two joeys at Taronga - female Nupela at Singapore and male Torembi at Currumbin. The 2020 joey, Taro now at Gumbuya, was sired by Makali (there is an error in my population list) so the current pair have successfully bred.
Click to expand...
I assumed so as Makali and Kwikila have been the designated breeding pair at Taronga for a while. Thanks for the confirmation.:)
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Parum died at Taronga in 2019 due to age-related problems. He sired two joeys at Taronga - female Nupela at Singapore and male Torembi at Currumbin. The 2020 joey, Taro now at Gumbuya, was sired by Makali (there is an error in my population list) so the current pair have successfully bred.
Click to expand...

Thank you for this clarification. The episode of Who's Who at the Zoo about Taro's birth implied that Parum had passed away and that Makali was Taro's sire, but I wasn't sure whether that was just clever editing to keep the number of 'characters' in the story as simple as possible, so good to have confirmation of that.

Re. the fishing cats, a volunteer had told me earlier that only Maew was at the zoo. It would be speculation to assume that Jalur had died; however, he doesn't seem to have turned up at another facility in Australasia and it's highly unlikely that he would have been exported overseas. Happy to be corrected by anyone with more up-to-date information.
 
Zorro said:
So have Taronga given up with the Fishing cats?
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Zoofan15 said:
Their population stands at a single female, who I believe is non reproductive (and in any case elderly). I find it hard to imagine Taronga will continue with this species considering their elusive nature makes them poor display animals. Nothing has been publicly confirmed at this stage.
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Considering the lack of breeding success I'd find it hard to see Taronga continuing with this species.

I'd hope they will, but I guess there's better alternatives to explore re. small cats.
 
Jambo said:
Considering the lack of breeding success I'd find it hard to see Taronga continuing with this species.

I'd hope they will, but I guess there's better alternatives to explore re. small cats.
Click to expand...

Depending how they’re displayed, Clouded leopard would be a better fit for Taronga imo and align better with the region (one holder; at least one confirmed future holder).

Hamilton Zoo hold an ageing trio of Fishing cat and I struggle to imagine them persisting with the species when they pass on. I don’t know whether the WCCC plan to import a female Fishing cat and breed or whether they’ll just retain their male as an ambassador.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Depending how they’re displayed, Clouded leopard would be a better fit for Taronga imo and align better with the region (one holder; at least one confirmed future holder).

Hamilton Zoo hold an ageing trio of Fishing cat and I struggle to imagine them persisting with the species when they pass on. I don’t know whether the WCCC plan to import a female Fishing cat and breed or whether they’ll just retain their male as an ambassador.
Click to expand...

If you don't mind me asking, what zoos are the current and planned holders of Clouded leopard?

Also agree that clouded leopards would be really cool for Taronga.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Depending how they’re displayed, Clouded leopard would be a better fit for Taronga imo and align better with the region (one holder; at least one confirmed future holder).

Hamilton Zoo hold an ageing trio of Fishing cat and I struggle to imagine them persisting with the species when they pass on. I don’t know whether the WCCC plan to import a female Fishing cat and breed or whether they’ll just retain their male as an ambassador.
Click to expand...
The current fishing cat exhibit is on the smaller side but a nice exhibit of reasonable size would be the current Bongo exhibit, which could be renovated for Clouded Leopard. It's about time Taronga get Leopards back and a single or pair of non breeding Clouded Leopards would be perfect for that exhibit; potentially cubs from any of the regions breeding pair/s.
 
That Aussie Guy said:
If you don't mind me asking, what zoos are the current and planned holders of Clouded leopard?

Also agree that clouded leopards would be really cool for Taronga.
Click to expand...

The Wild Cat Conservation Centre have 2.2. Clouded leopard (a sibling pair named Tai and Cinta and an unrelated pair named Mark and Moana).

Hamilton Zoo are planning to import them in the next few years.
 
That Aussie Guy said:
Awesome, thanks! What zoo is planning on getting some?
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Hamilton Zoo plan to import them, but their priority is Spotted hyena, which will be coming within the next couple of years (I’d guess 3-5 years for the Clouded leopard). I anticipate they’ll receive a sibling pair. It would make sense to have a breeding hub of off display Clouded leopard at the WCCC that would supply the others holders with sibling pairs.
 
Zorro said:
So have Taronga given up with the Fishing cats?
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We'll see what happens. I predict Rainforest Trail / Wild Asia to be the next redevelopment after the new reptile house, wildlife hospital, Sky Safari and Congo precinct, especially as the elephants will be leaving within the next few years. I would say its exhibits are looking a little on the small side, especially the bongo and Pygmy hippo exhibits. After that, I would say GSO is the next precinct to be renovated, although this would probably just be the demolition of the pelican exhibit (hopefully they will build an aviary for them but I can't think where) and a small enlargement of the seal pools.
 
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