Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2024

FelixFS said:
With the opening of the ARC I've noticed some reptiles are no longer at the zoo (such as the olive python and green anaconda) are there any other species that were at the old reptile section but not the new one?
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The green anaconda passed away a while ago iirc. Other than that, the olive python and Scheltopusik the other species not included in arc are; river cooters, eastern long necked turtle (still housed next to the hotel), short necked turtle, golden tailed gecko, murray river turtle, fresh water crocodile, goldfields crevice skink, stimsons python. There might be a few more but those are the ones I have on my list. It’s important to note whilst this is a large list most of these species have had others taking their place so the net species loss isnt that high (only 2 species) and if you count the fish it’s a net increase in species
 
FelixFS said:
What are they doing with the shechltopusik if it won't be on display?
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Most likely it’s just being housed back of house. Taronga also has a record of timing renovations for when a lot of species are reaching the end of their life so they can cycle species. So it is also likely the Scheltopusik and other species didn’t have much left in them so the zoo decided to choose new species rather than build for the dying ones.
 
I was at Taronga today. Not much to report; I spent most of my time in the new ARC building, and most of what can be said about that has been said already.

- There are now a pair of Common Bronzewings in the Semi-Arid Aviary and at least one Noisy Pitta in the Blue Mountains Bushwalk.

* = unsigned
Italics = unseen

Rainforest 1
1. Boa Constrictor
2. Indian Star Tortoise
3. Chinese Three-striped Box Turtle
Nocturnal
4. Boyd's Forest Dragon
5. Reticulated Python
6. Green Tree Python, White-lipped Tree Frog
7. Australian Scrub Python
8. Monocled Cobra
9. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Corn Snake
10. Tuatara
11. Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog
12. Red-eyed Green Tree Frog
13. Pygmy Python
14. Centralian Knob-tailed Gecko
Alpine / Endangered species
15. Southern Corroboree Frog
16. Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon
17. Yellow-spotted Bell Frog
18. Booroolong Frog
Desert
19. Rhinoceros Iguana
20. Inland Taipan
21. Centralian Python, Slater's Skink
22. Frilled Lizard, Eastern Blue-tongue
23. Black-headed Python
24. Western Bobtail, Central Netted Dragon
25. Rusty Desert Monitor, Eastern Pilbara Spiny-tailed Skink
26. Red-barred Dragon
27. Reticulated Gila Monster
28. Veiled Chameleon
Rainforest 2 / Freshwater
29. Alligator Snapping Turtle
30. Fijian Crested Iguana
31. Central American Eyelash Viper
32. Plumed Basilisk
33. Merten's Water Monitor, Mary River Turtle, Banded Archerfish*
Outdoor
34. Coastal Taipan
35. Red-bellied Black Snake
36. Lace Monitor
37. Common Death Adder
38. Broad-headed Snake
39. Bellinger River Turtle
40. Tiger Snake
 
Osedax said:
I was at Taronga today. Not much to report; I spent most of my time in the new ARC building, and most of what can be said about that has been said already.

- There are now a pair of Common Bronzewings in the Semi-Arid Aviary and at least one Noisy Pitta in the Blue Mountains Bushwalk.

* = unsigned
Italics = unseen

Rainforest 1
1. Boa Constrictor
2. Indian Star Tortoise
3. Chinese Three-striped Box Turtle
Nocturnal
4. Boyd's Forest Dragon
5. Reticulated Python
6. Green Tree Python, White-lipped Tree Frog
7. Australian Scrub Python
8. Monocled Cobra
9. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Corn Snake
10. Tuatara
11. Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog
12. Red-eyed Green Tree Frog
13. Pygmy Python
14. Centralian Knob-tailed Gecko
Alpine / Endangered species
15. Southern Corroboree Frog
16. Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon
17. Yellow-spotted Bell Frog
18. Booroolong Frog
Desert
19. Rhinoceros Iguana
20. Inland Taipan
21. Centralian Python, Slater's Skink
22. Frilled Lizard, Eastern Blue-tongue
23. Black-headed Python
24. Western Bobtail, Central Netted Dragon
25. Rusty Desert Monitor, Eastern Pilbara Spiny-tailed Skink
26. Red-barred Dragon
27. Reticulated Gila Monster
28. Veiled Chameleon
Rainforest 2 / Freshwater
29. Alligator Snapping Turtle
30. Fijian Crested Iguana
31. Central American Eyelash Viper
32. Plumed Basilisk
33. Merten's Water Monitor, Mary River Turtle, Banded Archerfish*
Outdoor
34. Coastal Taipan
35. Red-bellied Black Snake
36. Lace Monitor
37. Common Death Adder
38. Broad-headed Snake
39. Bellinger River Turtle
40. Tiger Snake
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Forgot to mention that neither of the two Eyelash Vipers currently on display in the ARC are the one that was previously on display in Serpentaria. New imports, I'm guessing?
 
Osedax said:
Forgot to mention that neither of the two Eyelash Vipers currently on display in the ARC are the one that was previously on display in Serpentaria. New imports, I'm guessing?
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Both Melbourne and Taronga lost their last females last year so it's possible there's been a new import from overseas. The Australian Reptile Park imported a trio in November 2023.
 
Osedax said:
Forgot to mention that neither of the two Eyelash Vipers currently on display in the ARC are the one that was previously on display in Serpentaria. New imports, I'm guessing?
Click to expand...
Jambo said:
Both Melbourne and Taronga lost their last females last year so it's possible there's been a new import from overseas. The Australian Reptile Park imported a trio in November 2023.
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It was noted in January 2024 that Melbourne Zoo had received juvenile Eyelash viper, so they’re another potential source. This import may have been made in conjunction with the aforementioned import by the ARP, which was around the same time.

Tuatara were similarly imported from Chester by the ARP, with the intention of them being distributed between the ARP and Taronga.
 
Osedax said:
And I still haven't managed to spot Taronga's female:mad:
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They’re certainly an elusive species. I know a number of people who have yet to see Taronga’s Tuatara.

Hamilton Zoo have a Tuatara House with multiple exhibits and yet it’s still been hit and miss on my visits of whether I see them; with the obvious exception of feeding time:

upload_2024-7-13_13-45-47.jpeg

By contrast, I’ve seen them on every one of my visits to Auckland Zoo over the past couple of years. Their exhibit is comparatively open compared to the exhibits I’ve seen at other zoos; though the Tuatara are unphased and have tunnels etc. if they require privacy.
 

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Osedax said:
I was at Taronga today. Not much to report; I spent most of my time in the new ARC building, and most of what can be said about that has been said already.

- There are now a pair of Common Bronzewings in the Semi-Arid Aviary and at least one Noisy Pitta in the Blue Mountains Bushwalk.

* = unsigned
Italics = unseen

Rainforest 1
1. Boa Constrictor
2. Indian Star Tortoise
3. Chinese Three-striped Box Turtle
Nocturnal
4. Boyd's Forest Dragon
5. Reticulated Python
6. Green Tree Python, White-lipped Tree Frog
7. Australian Scrub Python
8. Monocled Cobra
9. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Corn Snake
10. Tuatara
11. Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog
12. Red-eyed Green Tree Frog
13. Pygmy Python
14. Centralian Knob-tailed Gecko
Alpine / Endangered species
15. Southern Corroboree Frog
16. Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon
17. Yellow-spotted Bell Frog
18. Booroolong Frog
Desert
19. Rhinoceros Iguana
20. Inland Taipan
21. Centralian Python, Slater's Skink
22. Frilled Lizard, Eastern Blue-tongue
23. Black-headed Python
24. Western Bobtail, Central Netted Dragon
25. Rusty Desert Monitor, Eastern Pilbara Spiny-tailed Skink
26. Red-barred Dragon
27. Reticulated Gila Monster
28. Veiled Chameleon
Rainforest 2 / Freshwater
29. Alligator Snapping Turtle
30. Fijian Crested Iguana
31. Central American Eyelash Viper
32. Plumed Basilisk
33. Merten's Water Monitor, Mary River Turtle, Banded Archerfish*
Outdoor
34. Coastal Taipan
35. Red-bellied Black Snake
36. Lace Monitor
37. Common Death Adder
38. Broad-headed Snake
39. Bellinger River Turtle
40. Tiger Snake
Click to expand...
What does the italic-ed parts mean?
 
loganjmuir said:
What does the italic-ed parts mean?
Click to expand...

They were species @Osedax noted he didn’t see on his visit:

Chinese Three-striped Box Turtle
Boyd's Forest Dragon
Reticulated Python
Monocled Cobra
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Corn Snake
Tuatara
Pygmy Python
Southern Corroboree Frog
Slater's Skink
Eastern Pilbara Spiny-tailed Skink
Tiger Snake

ARC zones:

Thanks also to @Osedax for the note of the six zones in ARC, which Taronga hasn’t otherwise listed in full on their website/socials:

1. Rainforest 1
2. Nocturnal
3. Alpine/Endangered
4. Desert
5. Rainforest 2/Freshwater
6. Outdoor

It’s nice to see a level of theming throughout the building.
 
Zoofan15 said:
ARC zones:

Thanks also to @Osedax for the note of the six zones in ARC, which Taronga hasn’t otherwise listed in full on their website/socials:

1. Rainforest 1
2. Nocturnal
3. Alpine/Endangered
4. Desert
5. Rainforest 2/Freshwater
6. Outdoor

It’s nice to see a level of theming throughout the building.
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Although these zones were themed, they didn't have official names, so I made some up based on the theming.
 
Zoofan15 said:
It was noted in January 2024 that Melbourne Zoo had received juvenile Eyelash viper, so they’re another potential source. This import may have been made in conjunction with the aforementioned import by the ARP, which was around the same time.

Tuatara were similarly imported from Chester by the ARP, with the intention of them being distributed between the ARP and Taronga.
Click to expand...
How many tuatara and eyelash vipers were imported exactly?
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
How many tuatara and eyelash vipers were imported exactly?
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Three Eyelash vipers were imported by the Australian Reptile Park last year; while three female Tuatara were imported by the Australian Reptile Park from Chester Zoo in 2022:

World's Most Unique Reptile Has Arrived | Australian Reptile Park

The three Tuatara are all five-years-old and have the names Hinemoa, Arona, Marika which have significant Māori meanings:
  • Hinemoa – The Lady of the Lake
  • Arona – Colourful
  • Marika – Quiet and careful
 
Zoofan15 said:
Three Eyelash vipers were imported by the Australian Reptile Park last year; while three female Tuatara were imported by the Australian Reptile Park from Chester Zoo in 2022:

World's Most Unique Reptile Has Arrived | Australian Reptile Park

The three Tuatara are all five-years-old and have the names Hinemoa, Arona, Marika which have significant Māori meanings:
  • Hinemoa – The Lady of the Lake
  • Arona – Colourful
  • Marika – Quiet and careful
Click to expand...
Thanks for your comments!

Is it planned to go for a full breeding group at some point in the future (mind: it will take a while for these individuals to mature!?
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Thanks for your comments!

Is it planned to go for a full breeding group at some point in the future (mind: it will take a while for these individuals to mature!?
Click to expand...

I’d always assumed they were imported for ambassadorship/display purposes (as the previous ones were) rather than with the intention of sourcing males and breeding, but I could be wrong; and as you mentioned, the females are still pre-reproductive.

Chester Zoo welcomed their first hatchling in 2015. They were the first facility outside New Zealand to breed them and had been attempting to do so for decades. They first imported Tuatara in 1962.
 
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