Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2024

ThylacineAlive said:
Hey everyone!

I will be visiting Taronga (and Australia) for the first time in a couple months time now. My main question was regarding the difficulty of seeing JR, however I see that question was answer about a week or so ago on the previous page! Still, if anyone has any tips for him or the zoo in general, I'd love to hear them.

~Thylo
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I've been going to Taronga a couple of times per month for JR since he went back on show in the nocturnal house, and I've not yet had a day that I didn't see him. I was there yesterday, and spent 45 minutes watching him walking around the enclosure. I went back briefly a couple of hours later, and he'd disappeared (he does have access to a den) - so it's not an absolute guarantee, but odds are very good. They've really done very well in my view at reintegrating him to an indoor environment after the time in the Tassie devil area and then off-show.

If you've not been before, it's the largest enclosure on the right before you leave. (The nocturnal house is one-directional.) There are potoroos with him, and also bettongs supposedly but I've never seen them - or I'm just not good enough to pick the difference between a bettong and a potoroo! The enclosure isn't glassed, which I like.

Sometimes he does pace around quite a bit, but if you watch for more than 10 minutes then he normally breaks off and deviates to another part of the enclosure. You can almost always hear him sniffing as he explores. You'll probably see a small white circle on the floor with a hole in the middle, which is his food. (It looks a bit like a candle holder.) I find the timing inconsistent, but it's great when he is feeding because you'll see him fully extend his tongue, and afterwards he often tastes the air and acts less predictably. A couple of weeks ago, while I was watching he rolled around on his back in the dust quite vigorously after feeding.

More generally in the nocturnal house, the chudditch (Western quoll) is a highlight for me as I've rarely seen them in captivity outside WA. I couldn't see the quoll yesterday though; hopefully just sleeping out of sight rather than anything else.
 
ThylacineAlive said:
I know they used to be, but seemingly no longer.

What species are in the freeflight show? Does the list vary between the two shows?

~Thylo
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It does vary between the 12:00 and 3:00 presentation. Species include:
Whistling Kite
Black-breasted Buzzard
Barking Owl
Brown Rat (domestic)
Andean Condor
Red Junglefowl
Australian Barn Owl
Pink Cockatoo
Eastern Galah
Kuhli Galah
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
Domestic Pigeon
 
Zoo Tour Australia said:
Does anybody know how many Francois Langurs Taronga currently have?
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Unless there’s been any deaths/transfer since 2022, I believe they have the following Francois langurs:

1.0 Ngai
1.0 Manchu
0.1 Meili
0.1 Noel
0.1 Elke
0.1 Embe

This details how they’re related:

Complete History of Francois Langur at Taronga Zoo (2004-2022)

Hanoi and Saigon were imported from Nagoya Zoo in 2004 and produced their first offspring (0.1 Elke) in 2009, followed by the second (1.0 Gan Ju) in 2010 - who died a few weeks later.

Bobo and Meili were imported from Beijing Zoo in 2010 and were split, with Meili joining Hanoi and Saigon; and Bobo joining Elke. In 2011, Saigon gave birth to her third infant (1.0 Keo-co) and Meili gave birth to her first infant (1.0 Tam Dao).

Noel was imported from Blijdorp Zoo 12/11/2012.

Hanoi was exported to Belfast Zoo 17/04/2013.

Saigon gave birth to her fourth infant (0.1 Nuoc) in 2013, who died shortly after her reintegration into the troop. Saigon was exported to Howletts Zoo 30/04/2014.

Meili gave birth to her second infant (1.0 Nangua) in 2015; while Noel gave birth to her first infant (0.1 Embe in 2016). They lived in a troop with Bobo (sire of both infants) and Elke.

Keo-co and Tam Dao were housed off display, ahead of transferring to the National Zoo.

Meili subsequently produced three more infants (1.0 Jing in 2017, 1.0 Minh in 2018 and 1.0 Manchu in 2021); while Noel produced two infants (1.0 Didi in 2018 and 1.0 Ngai in 2019).

Bobo, Nangua, Jing, Minh and Didi were exported to Singapore Zoo in 2022, leaving the zoo with 2.4: Meili, Noel, Elke, Embe, Ngai and Manchu.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Unless there’s been any deaths/transfer since 2022, I believe they have the following Francois langurs:

1.0 Ngai
1.0 Manchu
0.1 Meili
0.1 Noel
0.1 Elke
0.1 Embe

This details how they’re related:

Complete History of Francois Langur at Taronga Zoo (2004-2022)

Hanoi and Saigon were imported from Nagoya Zoo in 2004 and produced their first offspring (0.1 Elke) in 2009, followed by the second (1.0 Gan Ju) in 2010 - who died a few weeks later.

Bobo and Meili were imported from Beijing Zoo in 2010 and were split, with Meili joining Hanoi and Saigon; and Bobo joining Elke. In 2011, Saigon gave birth to her third infant (1.0 Keo-co) and Meili gave birth to her first infant (1.0 Tam Dao).

Noel was imported from Blijdorp Zoo 12/11/2012.

Hanoi was exported to Belfast Zoo 17/04/2013.

Saigon gave birth to her fourth infant (0.1 Nuoc) in 2013, who died shortly after her reintegration into the troop. Saigon was exported to Howletts Zoo 30/04/2014.

Meili gave birth to her second infant (1.0 Nangua) in 2015; while Noel gave birth to her first infant (0.1 Embe in 2016). They lived in a troop with Bobo (sire of both infants) and Elke.

Keo-co and Tam Dao were housed off display, ahead of transferring to the National Zoo.

Meili subsequently produced three more infants (1.0 Jing in 2017, 1.0 Minh in 2018 and 1.0 Manchu in 2021); while Noel produced two infants (1.0 Didi in 2018 and 1.0 Ngai in 2019).

Bobo, Nangua, Jing, Minh and Didi were exported to Singapore Zoo in 2022, leaving the zoo with 2.4: Meili, Noel, Elke, Embe, Ngai and Manchu.
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I wonder if this means they are looking to import a new breeding male, or whether they can use one of the current males to breed with some of the females.
They are such a good species, it is a shame that more zoos havent picked them up or been given the chance (if that's the case).
 
Tiger91 said:
I wonder if this means they are looking to import a new breeding male, or whether they can use one of the current males to breed with some of the females.
They are such a good species, it is a shame that more zoos havent picked them up or been given the chance (if that's the case).
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I too am curious as to Taronga’s langur plans. They’re an engaging species, as well as being endangered; and while the regional numbers are low; I note we function as an annex to the EEP.

A new breeding male would be ideal as otherwise options are limited to:

Ngai could breed with Meili and Elke

Manchu could breed with Noel and Elke

Neither Ngai or Manchu can breed with Embe
 
Tiger91 said:
I wonder if this means they are looking to import a new breeding male, or whether they can use one of the current males to breed with some of the females.
They are such a good species, it is a shame that more zoos havent picked them up or been given the chance (if that's the case).
Click to expand...
The reason as to why only Taronga (bar 2 spares males at Mogo) zoo is still the only zoo in the region after all these years has been brought up a number of times before on the forum, Remember other zoos around the country were encouraged to phase out their Langur species they held such as Javans, Lion-tailed ect to make room for the "chosen" ZAA species!
 
Zoofan15 said:
I too am curious as to Taronga’s langur plans. They’re an engaging species, as well as being endangered; and while the regional numbers are low; I note we function as an annex to the EEP.

A new breeding male would be ideal as otherwise options are limited to:

Ngai could breed with Meili and Elke

Manchu could breed with Noel and Elke

Neither Ngai or Manchu can breed with Embe
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Either a new breeding male or splitting the troop and sending some of to re start breeding would be preferable. Though being hand reared i wonder if elke is a non breeder it doesnt seem she has had any ofspring and she is getting on in years,
 
Tiger91 said:
Either a new breeding male or splitting the troop and sending some of to re start breeding would be preferable. Though being hand reared i wonder if elke is a non breeder it doesnt seem she has had any ofspring and she is getting on in years,
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Re. Francois langur breeding:

Elke:

It’s possible Elke is a behavioural non-breeder as she was housed with an unrelated male (Bobo) for many years, but no offspring eventuated. Elke was rejected by her mother and hand-raised with visual contact with her parents, Hanoi and Saigon; but without having direct contact with them.

Potential breeding male:

Keo-co at Canberra is the only other surviving offspring of Hanoi and Saigon in the region (besides Elke). Combined with fact he was mother-raised and he could be a good candidate for Taronga’s new breeding male. His transfer would leave Tam Dao alone, but if it’s not possible to integrate Tam Dao with the two young males at Taronga (to form a bachelor troop); one of Taronga’s females could potentially join Tam Dao to form a 1.1 pair - ideally Noel or Embe, who are unrelated to him and could potentially breed.
 
Zorro said:
The reason as to why only Taronga (bar 2 spares males at Mogo) zoo is still the only zoo in the region after all these years has been brought up a number of times before on the forum, Remember other zoos around the country were encouraged to phase out their Langur species they held such as Javans, Lion-tailed ect to make room for the "chosen" ZAA species!
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What a crying shame ....!
 
Sumatran Tiger Export

With regards to the upcoming Sumatran tiger export (Pemanah and Mawar going to Memphis Zoo; with Mawar then sent on to Point Defiance Zoo as reported by @Elena earlier this year); it appears this will occur in 2025.

This article states:

Two Sumatran tigers leaving Memphis Zoo

Two male Sumatran tigers are leaving the Memphis Zoo next week in efforts to continue breeding the endangered subspecies. Two females will remain here, with another male expected next year, zoo officials said.

I thought I’d mention this as there’s been speculation the tigers have left Taronga already.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Sumatran Tiger Export

With regards to the upcoming Sumatran tiger export (Pemanah and Mawar going to Memphis Zoo; with Mawar then sent on to Point Defiance Zoo as reported by @Elena earlier this year); it appears this will occur in 2025.

This article states:

Two Sumatran tigers leaving Memphis Zoo

Two male Sumatran tigers are leaving the Memphis Zoo next week in efforts to continue breeding the endangered subspecies. Two females will remain here, with another male expected next year, zoo officials said.

I thought I’d mention this as there’s been speculation the tigers have left Taronga already.
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They've likely been separated from the others in preparation for the move, perhaps even moved of display permanently until the move. This would potentially explain why they haven't been seen in a while.
 
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