Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2024

chrisjpl said:
I visited Taronga yesterday, and had my first failure to see JR since he moved into the new nocturnal house - unfortunately because I had guests with me who had (unsurprisingly) never seen a long-beaked echidna. My impression was that the potoroo population in that enclosure was larger than previously.

I also couldn't see the chudditch, which has been true for the past couple of visits now. I noticed that two nest boxes have been added to that enclosure, so potentially the keepers are experimenting with how to balance viewability against the animal's wellbeing. (But I'm entirely speculating.) I did see the bettong in the glider enclosure, which was great because I'd not seen that animal at all previously despite spending a lot of time in that building to watch JR.

I had a random question for the forum. I think I remember reading that one of Taronga's walkthrough aviaries had a platypus living in the pond (additional to the platypus featured in the nocturnal house). Is that correct or am I totally imagining it? Is it still there? And which aviary? Thanks! And Merry Christmas.
Click to expand...

I’d say my best advice is to visit the nocturnal house multiple times on your visit. Head there early on in your visit, so if you don’t see anything, you have time to check back. When myself and @steveroberts visited, JR spent the majority of his time at a feeding station and then retreated to his burrow. It’s not hard to imagine he would have spent the rest of the day there.

Although I didn’t see the Platypus myself but understand it used to be the Blue Mountains Aviary. I believe it’s been taken out, but a more regular visitor like @loganjmuir, @Abbey or @Osedax can confirm that.
 
I was lucky enough to see the Chudditch, however it was one of the hardest animals to see in the house (I found the bettong and JR to be pretty hard as well).

It was roughly two hours into my visit before I saw JR. He was in his box until feeding time as described above and then disappeared for the rest of the day, according to a keeper.

I had heard there was a Platypus in the Blue Mountains aviary but it was nearly impossible to see. It was apparently still in there as of April of this year but I don't know about now.

~Thylo
 
Zoofan15 said:
I’d say my best advice is to visit the nocturnal house multiple times on your visit. Head there early on in your visit, so if you don’t see anything, you have time to check back. When myself and @steveroberts visited, JR spent the majority of his time at a feeding station and then retreated to his burrow. It’s not hard to imagine he would have spent the rest of the day there.

Although I didn’t see the Platypus myself but understand it used to be the Blue Mountains Aviary. I believe it’s been taken out, but a more regular visitor like @loganjmuir, @Abbey or @Osedax can confirm that.
Click to expand...

The platypus in the Blue Mountains Aviary has access to both the pool in the aviary and the outdoor platypus exhibit (which is shared with turtles) near the cultural garden and the entrance to the wildlife retreat. I believe this is why it might be (even more) difficult to see the platypus there. About two years ago, Taronga had a female named Jackie from Wild Life Sydney Zoo in that exhibit who was reasonably visible, but other than that period, myself and my family have only seen the platypus once or twice in our 20+ years visiting Taronga.
 
Abbey said:
The platypus in the Blue Mountains Aviary has access to both the pool in the aviary and the outdoor platypus exhibit (which is shared with turtles) near the cultural garden and the entrance to the wildlife retreat. I believe this is why it might be (even more) difficult to see the platypus there. About two years ago, Taronga had a female named Jackie from Wild Life Sydney Zoo in that exhibit who was reasonably visible, but other than that period, myself and my family have only seen the platypus once or twice in our 20+ years visiting Taronga.
Click to expand...
A few years ago a volunteer who was in the aviary told me the female was never really one to show. As you mention she had access to both enclosures and preferred to spend her time behind the scenes.

From what I heard too, there's no longer Platypus here or in the Wildlife Retreat exhibit. She was moved out; I had guessed across to Dubbo with their facility opening up but I may be wrong. That would leave Matilda in Nura Diya as the only remaining individual at the zoo. Perhaps someone else could confirm?
 
chrisjpl said:
Thanks for the extra info on the platypus in the aviary. If anybody can confirm/deny Jambo's intel that she's gone, that would be much appreciated.

Was she signed in the aviary as an official exhibit, or was it more of a "if you know, you know" situation?
Click to expand...
The signage is still there but the icon is no longer on the map. Eels also now live in the Wildlife Resort entrance habitat.

I just seem to remember a drifting comment of Matilda being Taronga's only platypus and combine this with the information above it would make sense if she is now gone. But it would be appreciated to have confirmation!

It also makes sense with Platypus being a nocturnal species; the Aviary enclosure isn't the most well lit enclosure but it also isn't the darkest. The volunteer did recommend to me popping in at the end of the day to try and catch her when it was slightly darker and cooler.
 
chrisjpl said:
Thanks for the extra info on the platypus in the aviary. If anybody can confirm/deny Jambo's intel that she's gone, that would be much appreciated.

Was she signed in the aviary as an official exhibit, or was it more of a "if you know, you know" situation?
Click to expand...
Jambo said:
The signage is still there but the icon is no longer on the map. Eels also now live in the Wildlife Resort entrance habitat.

I just seem to remember a drifting comment of Matilda being Taronga's only platypus and combine this with the information above it would make sense if she is now gone. But it would be appreciated to have confirmation!

It also makes sense with Platypus being a nocturnal species; the Aviary enclosure isn't the most well lit enclosure but it also isn't the darkest. The volunteer did recommend to me popping in at the end of the day to try and catch her when it was slightly darker and cooler.
Click to expand...

It’s certainly a unique exhibit in that it’s naturalistic as opposed to the tanks more commonly seen in nocturnal houses. From visitor engagement perspective, it’s not going to be a popular visit if nobody ever sees it and so combined with the complex at Dubbo, it probably makes sense to phase them out to this aviary.
 
@Jambo

Isn't Matilda still at Taronga in her Nguwing Nura Nocturnal House exhibit; but Jackie from Wildlife Sydney Zoo who Abbey mentioned, is no longer living at the zoo in the inter-connected wildlife retreat entrance pool/adjacent to the cultural reflections garden and the waters and surrounds in the Blue Mountains aviary (did notice only the {Murray/Macquarie} Short-necked Turtles were on the map recently for the latter mentioned exhibit for the pool next to w.r entry).

@Zoofan15

In some ways (though think housing Jackie and other Platypuses in the Blue Mountains aviary waterways has been wonderful idea, + Taronga always great host of multiple Platypus exhibits potentially future-tense too hopefully): but on a personal level really miss the old Platypus House exhibit (albeit would love to of seen it rebuilt or revamped with multiple Platypus exhibits in it; did enjoy seeing the Water Rats in their exhibit in there too but back in the day).
 
Last edited:
steveroberts said:
@Jambo

Isn't Matilda still at Taronga in her Nguwing Nura Nocturnal House; but Jackie from Wildlife Sydney Zoo who Abbey mentioned, is no longer living at the zoo in the inter-connected wildlife retreat entrance pool/adjacent to the cultural reflections garden and the waters and surrounds in the Blue Mountains aviary (did notice only the {Murray/Macquarie} Short-necked Turtles were on the map recently for the latter mentioned exhibit for the pool next to w.r entry).
Click to expand...

Yes, that’s correct. Matilda is in the nocturnal house. We saw her on our visit, but Sam at Melbourne Zoo remains the most active platypus I’ve ever seen.

I too would like to see more Platypus held at Taronga, but their Dubbo hub is spectacular and can accomodate up to 65. Taronga will at best hold ambassadors.
 
steveroberts said:
@Jambo

Isn't Matilda still at Taronga in her Nguwing Nura Nocturnal House; but Jackie from Wildlife Sydney Zoo who Abbey mentioned, is no longer living at the zoo in the inter-connected wildlife retreat entrance pool/adjacent to the cultural reflections garden and the waters and surrounds in the Blue Mountains aviary (did notice only the {Murray/Macquarie} Short-necked Turtles were on the map recently for the latter mentioned exhibit for the pool next to w.r entry).
Click to expand...
Yeah I was under the impression this is the case - Matilda is indeed currently on display in the Nura Diya Nocturnal House.

Not sure about Jackie still being at the zoo, but I'm confident at the very least she isn't no longer on display, at least in that specific enclosure. The turtles do share that enclosure with the eels!
 
Zoofan15 said:
Yes, that’s correct. Matilda is in the nocturnal house. We saw her on our visit, but Sam at Melbourne Zoo remains the most active platypus I’ve ever seen.
Click to expand...

Yeah remembered there was at least one Platypus on our visit (didnt get a good look that day because of crowd, went back to watching JR), only learn afterwards about her being named Matilda (actually remember now she was named after our wonderful Matildas team that was awesome); thought maybe (glad not the case of course) she had departed the zoo possibly (ie comments just before) in last few weeks or something.
 
Last edited:
steveroberts said:
Yeah remembered there was at least one Platypus on our visit (didnt get a good look that day because of crowd, went back to watching JR), only learn afterwards about her being named Matilda; thought maybe (glad not the case of course) she had departed the zoo possibly (ie comments just before) in last few weeks or something.
Click to expand...

Nope, still there. It’s one of the nocturnal house’s most popular exhibits. Even though JR remains my favourite, I feel like the vast majority of Taronga’s visitors fail to realise his significance. I see it across the region with so many species - Melbourne’s peccaries and Orana’s Springbok as two of numerous examples.
 
steveroberts said:
Yeah remembered there was at least one Platypus on our visit (didnt get a good look that day because of crowd, went back to watching JR), only learn afterwards about her being named Matilda; thought maybe (glad not the case of course) she had departed the zoo possibly (ie comments just before) in last few weeks or something.
Click to expand...
Nope and it's a good thing too! She's apparently a very active Platypus too from all I've heard, although I haven't visited her myself yet.

She was rescued last year and spent her time off display being hand raised before moving into her new enclosure earlier this year.
 
@Zoofan15

Yeah so true (I get the popularity with Matilda of course 100%), I think JR is very much an appreciated champion of us Australasian Zoochatters and a few others from further abroad and the staff at Taronga and a few others.

@Jambo

Oh cool thats great to hear her story, hope she has a great happy long life there and look forward to hopefully getting to see her properly some time soon maybe.
 
steveroberts said:
@Zoofan15

Yeah so true (I get the popularity with Matilda of course 100%), I think JR is very much an appreciated champion of us Australasian Zoochatters and a few others from further abroad and the staff at Taronga and a few others.
Click to expand...

I’ll admit especially as a child, I took so many incredible species like Temminck’s golden cat and Leopard cat for granted. What I’d give to have those two felids back in Australasian zoos.

Taronga’s nocturnal house is fantastic, it’s great seeing something so special as JR up close.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Nope, still there. It’s one of the nocturnal house’s most popular exhibits. Even though JR remains my favourite, I feel like the vast majority of Taronga’s visitors fail to realise his significance. I see it across the region with so many species - Melbourne’s peccaries and Orana’s Springbok as two of numerous examples.
Click to expand...

When I was there first trying to see JR, a keeper tried pointing me to the Platypus and I told them no I wanted to see the echidna :p They then told me I could see echidnas by the children's area..

Once I explained I knew how special JR was, this keeper was eventually one who helped me time my return to the enclosure when he was active.

~Thylo
 
ThylacineAlive said:
When I was there first trying to see JR, a keeper tried pointing me to the Platypus and I told them no I wanted to see the echidna :p They then told me I could see echidnas by the children's area..

Once I explained I knew how special JR was, this keeper was eventually one who helped me time my return to the enclosure when he was active.

~Thylo
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing the experience.

It sounds like they are really proud of Matilda and her exhibit in the nocturnal house at the moment (which fair enough/understandeable) like it is (along with perhaps the Bilbies in their exhibit) what they expect most visitors will want to see and remember as highlight of animals seen in the Taronga noc' house. But there are all those of us (here on ZC especially), who know about JR and how unique and amazing it is to see him; but it sounds like we have to let the keepers know that we are aware of him in advance of seeing when meeting them in the noc' house + have knowledge of him being a sight rarer than that even of seeing Platypuses - with him being only member of his species living outside of the wilds of their home range in New Guinea. Platypuses still equally amazing of course, but you would of surprised and impressed a lot of keepers (hypothetically if not that particular one but like to think they were impressed) talking about JR and having knowledge of how unique he is.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top