Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2024

Abbey said:
Female Long-nosed fur seal pup born:

Experienced mother Keke gave birth to her third offspring, a daughter, on Christmas Eve (24/12/2023).

The zoo is currently holding a naming competition and the options are:
  • Eve - the little pup was born on Christmas Eve in 2023
  • Ruby - ruby saltbush is a native Australian plant
  • Eden - a NSW coastal town where the species is found

Reported on socials.
Click to expand...

That’s great news! This is Keke’s third pup in three years:

0.1 Birubi (21/12/2020)
1.0 Kobe (15/12/2022)
0.1 Unnamed (24/12/2023)
 
Abbey said:
Female Long-nosed fur seal pup born:

Experienced mother Keke gave birth to her third offspring, a daughter, on Christmas Eve (24/12/2023).

The zoo is currently holding a naming competition and the options are:
  • Eve - the little pup was born on Christmas Eve in 2023
  • Ruby - ruby saltbush is a native Australian plant
  • Eden - a NSW coastal town where the species is found

Reported on socials.
Click to expand...

As much as I love the name Ruby (it would be my number one pick if I ever had a daughter), the pup's older sister (now in Queensland) was named Birubi (as @Zoofan15 mentioned), so I voted for Eden - due to the link to the species' natural range and a more tangential link to the late Tathra, also named for a NSW town. I like how Eve reflects the pup's birthdate, but it is a bit too literal for me.
 
Abbey said:
As much as I love the name Ruby (it would be my number one pick if I ever had a daughter), the pup's older sister (now in Queensland) was named Birubi (as @Zoofan15 mentioned), so I voted for Eden - due to the link to the species' natural range and a more tangential link to the late Tathra, also named for a NSW town. I like how Eve reflects the pup's birthdate, but it is a bit too literal for me.
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Eden would be my choice too. Eve gets used quite a lot on animals born December 24 - Auckland Zoo named a zebra filly this name in 2018 for example. I also agree Ruby and Birubi are too similar. It annoyed me Berani (Sumatran tiger) was paired with Rahni and not her twin sister, Indah; and I didn’t like Maya (African lion) have two daughters named Uzuri and Zuri.
 
loganjmuir said:
I spoke to a Keeper today and they were able to let me know that as a result of Covid-19, the highly anticipated Congo Precinct will not go ahead. At the very least, there will be a Pygmy Hippo exhibit built as the current one lacks in size. In regards to Ekundu, he will be the end of the line for Bongo at Taronga. The exhibit space is impossibly tiny and would need to be split in half and have an adequate barn built on the existing heritage building, which as we all know, wouldn’t work out too well. Ekundu is alive and healthy fortunately, but in his old age there really isn’t much to be expected of him. As it turns out @Osedax was correct(never doubted you), the Ungulate department have a huge announcement coming up in the next few days, the timing is just up to the Media team.
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I am somewhat in shock that the Congo Precinct is off the table now. It has not been publicly announced ... has it (even though the word about the Congo Precinct did go out before). If now only pygmy hippo and the gorilla in doubt ... What on Earth ...? What is the plan as of now?

I wonder what will replace the Asiatic elephants when they leave? Both them and gorilla (leaving) all will leave a big hole in Taronga Zoo.

On the bongo: I have signalled the inevitable before and commented here and there plenty about the bongo situation in Australia (so will not say anymore). To me it remains pure population mismanagement and inaction at species coördinator and TZ senior level to deal with the population imbalance in Australia. Everybody on here has been talking about the IRA and a possible import on here, just TBH I do not see it happening by TZ.


Bongo population effective before:
Dubbo 2.1
Monarto 1.0
Taronga 1.0
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I am somewhat in shock that the Congo Precinct is off the table now. It has not been publicly announced ... has it (even though the word about the Congo Precinct did go out before). If now only pygmy hippo and the gorilla in doubt ... What on Earth ...? What is the plan as of now?

I wonder what will replace the Asiatic elephants when they leave? Both them and gorilla (leaving) all will leave a big hole in Taronga Zoo.

On the bongo: I have signalled the inevitable before and commented here and there plenty about the bongo situation in Australia (so will not say anymore). To me it remains pure population mismanagement and inaction at species coördinator and TZ senior level to deal with the population imbalance in Australia. Everybody on here has been talking about the IRA and a possible import on here, just TBH I do not see it happening by TZ.


Bongo population effective before:
Dubbo 2.1
Monarto 1.0
Taronga 1.0
Click to expand...

The cancellation of the Congo precinct has not yet been publicly announced; and to be fair, will probably go unnoticed by the general public. They typically show little interest other than in what’s in the here and now; neither lamenting the saintly days of yore or contemplating future planning.

The future of Pygmy hippopotamus is not in doubt. @loganjmuir reported yesterday the zoo plans to build a new exhibit for this species.

Western lowland gorilla are the unknown. It was previously reported the zoo are considering phasing them out, which is supported by the revelation the Congo precinct has been canned (gorillas were the headliners for this precinct).

It was mentioned on here last year that an exhibit for an ape species will be one of the replacements for the elephants. Orangutans seem the most likely choice here. They’re endangered; the face of the palm oil campaign; and fit the image of a modern zoo via aerial pathways. They can potentially be integrated with gibbons and otters, which is efficient use of space in a city zoo.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I am somewhat in shock that the Congo Precinct is off the table now. It has not been publicly announced ... has it (even though the word about the Congo Precinct did go out before). If now only pygmy hippo and the gorilla in doubt ... What on Earth ...? What is the plan as of now?

I wonder what will replace the Asiatic elephants when they leave? Both them and gorilla (leaving) all will leave a big hole in Taronga Zoo.

On the bongo: I have signalled the inevitable before and commented here and there plenty about the bongo situation in Australia (so will not say anymore). To me it remains pure population mismanagement and inaction at species coördinator and TZ senior level to deal with the population imbalance in Australia. Everybody on here has been talking about the IRA and a possible import on here, just TBH I do not see it happening by TZ.


Bongo population effective before:
Dubbo 2.1
Monarto 1.0
Taronga 1.0
Click to expand...
I haven’t been to TWPZ in a few years so I am unsure of their current Bongo population but the plan from the sounds of it to keep Dubbo as the breeding facility with their breeding female, and move away from ungulates at Taronga full stop. The plan following Ekundu’s passing is a filler animal for the meanwhile, most likely Philippine spotted or Chital, until concrete plans can be made regarding the Elephant trail. I am assuming the entire precinct will be transformed and partly demolished with the Fishing cat on her last legs and Ekundu not far behind. With a thriving bongo and Langur population these species will remain although their exhibits may not. It would make sense to build further exhibits for the Hippo and potentially move the Langurs somewhere in the middle of the zoo, which as we have spoken about here, offers terrain elevation suited to Primates.
 
loganjmuir said:
I haven’t been to TWPZ in a few years so I am unsure of their current Bongo population but the plan from the sounds of it to keep Dubbo as the breeding facility with their breeding female, and move away from ungulates at Taronga full stop. The plan following Ekundu’s passing is a filler animal for the meanwhile, most likely Philippine spotted or Chital, until concrete plans can be made regarding the Elephant trail. I am assuming the entire precinct will be transformed and partly demolished with the Fishing cat on her last legs and Ekundu not far behind. With a thriving bongo and Langur population these species will remain although their exhibits may not. It would make sense to build further exhibits for the Hippo and potentially move the Langurs somewhere in the middle of the zoo, which as we have spoken about here, offers terrain elevation suited to Primates.
Click to expand...

The langur exhibit has just been refurbed, possibly indicating that the langurs will stay where they are. It would be easy enough to redo the elephant exhibit without moving them. The binturong, otter and langur exhibits are decent exhibits. Same with the fishing cats. It would be a waste to remove them.
 
loganjmuir said:
I haven’t been to TWPZ in a few years so I am unsure of their current Bongo population but the plan from the sounds of it to keep Dubbo as the breeding facility with their breeding female, and move away from ungulates at Taronga full stop. The plan following Ekundu’s passing is a filler animal for the meanwhile, most likely Philippine spotted or Chital, until concrete plans can be made regarding the Elephant trail. I am assuming the entire precinct will be transformed and partly demolished with the Fishing cat on her last legs and Ekundu not far behind. With a thriving bongo and Langur population these species will remain although their exhibits may not. It would make sense to build further exhibits for the Hippo and potentially move the Langurs somewhere in the middle of the zoo, which as we have spoken about here, offers terrain elevation suited to Primates.
Click to expand...
If their goal is to move away from ungulates full stop, then why did they add a new exhibit for giraffes and zebras?
 
tigris115 said:
If their goal is to move away from ungulates full stop, then why did they add a new exhibit for giraffes and zebras?
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Giraffes are a staple of Taronga, especially as their enclosure is intentionally designed so you can glimpse the City and Harbor Bridge in the background. I do imagine they have a future at Taronga.

Zebras on the other hand might not, especially if Taronga can manage to integrate the Ostrich into the mixed species habitat.

We also have the Pygmy Hippos who will also almost certainly have a future at Taronga as well (especially with the newest calf being born).
 
tigris115 said:
If their goal is to move away from ungulates full stop, then why did they add a new exhibit for giraffes and zebras?
Click to expand...
Jambo said:
Giraffes are a staple of Taronga, especially as their enclosure is intentionally designed so you can glimpse the City and Harbor Bridge in the background. I do imagine they have a future at Taronga.

Zebras on the other hand might not, especially if Taronga can manage to integrate the Ostrich into the mixed species habitat.

We also have the Pygmy Hippos who will also almost certainly have a future at Taronga as well (especially with the newest calf being born).
Click to expand...

The general public have always been fond of giraffes. While the phase out of Melbourne Zoo’s zebras almost went unnoticed, their giraffes remain a popular exhibit and background for photographs. As @Jambo mentions, the city background adds an even greater appeal.

Taronga’s a city zoo and while many ungulates (namely elephants, common hippopotamus and rhinos) are unsuitable for the site; exceptions will be made for crowd-pullers like giraffe or those that are suited to city zoo e.g. Pygmy hippopotamus. Carnivores will always remain the dramatic headliners; but ungulates, primates, birds and reptiles add variety that even the general public appreciate.

I believe zebra will remain onsite for the foreseeable (there’s no indication they won’t); though phasing them out to breed giraffes would be a better move imo in terms of attracting visitors.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Pygmy hippopotamus birth!!!

Kambiri went on display today with her new calf, which was born three weeks ago.

Great news for Taronga Zoo, following the sad loss of Kambiri’s last calf, Amara, in December 2021.

Seen by my friend and other visitors, including this photographer:

Matthew Holm (@matthew.holm_photography) • Instagram photos and videos
Click to expand...
Well there we go; as I'm sure you have all guessed, this is the exciting ungulate news that @loganjmuir and myself were so secretive about.
 
loganjmuir said:
Terrific news! I expect the team are ecstatic, a healthy hippo calf will lighten things up. Can anyone confirm their gender? Sorry if I spoilt the surprise, I could have been slightly more discrete about it:D
Click to expand...

As of this evening, I’ve heard ‘appears to be a female’ from someone who visited the zoo this afternoon; but no official confirmation yet. My friend visited in the morning, but didn’t get a good glimpse or see anyone to ask.

World Hippopotamus Day is February 15, so I imagine the zoo will make an announcement on the gender then.
 
Jambo said:
Giraffes are a staple of Taronga, especially as their enclosure is intentionally designed so you can glimpse the City and Harbor Bridge in the background. I do imagine they have a future at Taronga.

Zebras on the other hand might not, especially if Taronga can manage to integrate the Ostrich into the mixed species habitat.

We also have the Pygmy Hippos who will also almost certainly have a future at Taronga as well (especially with the newest calf being born).
Click to expand...

It will be interesting to see if they keep zebra. Prior to Sydney zoo at eastern creek mogo and western plains were the closest zoos that held them. So whether they go by the way side as there are other zoos closer with them. Or they keep them for competition will be interesting to see. I personally dont see them going anywhere.
 
Tiger91 said:
It will be interesting to see if they keep zebra. Prior to Sydney zoo at eastern creek mogo and western plains were the closest zoos that held them. So whether they go by the way side as there are other zoos closer with them. Or they keep them for competition will be interesting to see. I personally dont see them going anywhere.
Click to expand...

I can see Taronga retaining their zebra. A gelding and a mare shouldn’t cause compatability issues with the giraffe and in any case, it’s clear Taronga doesn’t wish to breed giraffe (they haven’t bred since 1992 and hold castrated bulls). Melbourne has an open range sister zoo within 45 minutes; but the distance between Taronga and Dubbo is considerably greater, meaning it’s less desirable to transit calves to and from their sites.
 
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