Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2024

Jambo said:
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!
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That is the first I have heard of the eels being in with the Murray River Turtles! There is an eel exhibit inside the wildlife retreat (off display except to paying guests), where they are mixed with a Broad-shelled Turtle; perhaps this is causing some confusion? Or maybe I am completely wrong and the eels are indeed now on display, very exciting news if so, as it brings the total of fish species on display at Taronga up to...4!

I also had not heard before of the Blue Mountains Bushwalk platypus exhibit and the Wildlife Retreat exhibit being connected. I was under the impression, having spoken to keepers, that (when the Wildlife Retreat pool still held Platypus) Jackie was in the aviary and the male Mackenzie, now at Dubbo, was in the Wildlife Retreat exhibit. Before Mackenzie left, I did see Jackie with scars obtained during mating, so I think it likely that they were trying to breed the pair.
 
Osedax said:
That is the first I have heard of the eels being in with the Murray River Turtles! There is an eel exhibit inside the wildlife retreat (off display except to paying guests), where they are mixed with a Broad-shelled Turtle; perhaps this is causing some confusion? Or maybe I am completely wrong and the eels are indeed now on display, very exciting news if so, as it brings the total of fish species on display at Taronga up to...4!

I also had not heard before of the Blue Mountains Bushwalk platypus exhibit and the Wildlife Retreat exhibit being connected. I was under the impression, having spoken to keepers, that (when the Wildlife Retreat pool still held Platypus) Jackie was in the aviary and the male Mackenzie, now at Dubbo, was in the Wildlife Retreat exhibit. Before Mackenzie left, I did see Jackie with scars obtained during mating, so I think it likely that they were trying to breed the pair.
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I would assume going forward that any breeding will be undertaken at Dubbo. They said the centre will (among other things) be a place to observe and understand Platypus breeding behaviour and due to the capacity of the facility, they’ll be the opportunity to re-pair animals if they’re not compatible.

Since the hatching of the first Platypus at Healesville in 1943, breeding has been very sporadic, with Taronga having bred a handful over the years. I was interested to learn Melbourne Zoo‘s Platypus (Sam) was Taronga born in 2004.
 
Osedax said:
That is the first I have heard of the eels being in with the Murray River Turtles! There is an eel exhibit inside the wildlife retreat (off display except to paying guests), where they are mixed with a Broad-shelled Turtle; perhaps this is causing some confusion? Or maybe I am completely wrong and the eels are indeed now on display, very exciting news if so, as it brings the total of fish species on display at Taronga up to...4!

I also had not heard before of the Blue Mountains Bushwalk platypus exhibit and the Wildlife Retreat exhibit being connected. I was under the impression, having spoken to keepers, that (when the Wildlife Retreat pool still held Platypus) Jackie was in the aviary and the male Mackenzie, now at Dubbo, was in the Wildlife Retreat exhibit. Before Mackenzie left, I did see Jackie with scars obtained during mating, so I think it likely that they were trying to breed the pair.
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Successful Captive Platypus Hatchings

On the subject of breeding Platypus at Taronga, I thought I’d look up the history of breeding this species in Australia. The number of successful hatchlings is much higher than I realised - 15 at Healesville; 5 at Taronga.

Note: Successful is defined as having survived the lactation phase:

Healesville:

0.1 Corrie (1943) Jack x Jill

1.0 Barak (1998) N x Koorina
1.0 Yarra Yarra (1998) N x Koorina
1.0 Mackenzie (2000) N x Koorina

1.0 Burran (2007) Barak x Binarri
0.1 Waddirang (2007) Barak x Binarri
0.1 Ember (2008) Barak x Binarri
1.0 Unknown (2009) Barak x Binarri

1.0 Birrarung (2011) Tarrabi x Binarri
0.1 Alooka (2011) Tarrabi x Binarri
1.0 Aroona (2012) Tarrabi x Binarri
1.0 Unknown (2012) Tarrabi x Binarri
1.0 Wiliam (2015) Tarrabi x Binarri
1.0 Yaro (2015) Tarrabi x Binarri

0.1 Storm (2019) Tarrabi x Waddirang

Taronga Zoo:

0.1 Binarri (2002) Abby x Maryanne
0.1 Samantha (2002) Abby x Maryanne
1.0 Adam (2003) Abby x Maryanne
0.1 Eve (2003) Abby x Maryanne
1.0 Sam (2004) Abby x Maryanne

Source: Platypuses in Captivity
 
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.
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I did actually see her about a yearish ago, i went to the zoo with my dad. He was more content to let the crowds go and clear out and watch the yabbies in there. As soon as the crowds went and the aviary was quiet, he called me over as 'theres a platypus in here' she popped out for a minute or so and swam around a few times. I think your best bet is when the exhibit doesnt have kids running and screaming around ahaha. I have also seen her one other time when the exhibit was quiet on a rainy day a few years back.

It would make sense to move her to the zoos new platypus breeding centre. If they have some luck with getting them to breed hopefully well see more go on display and more released into the wild.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Successful Captive Platypus Hatchings

On the subject of breeding Platypus at Taronga, I thought I’d look up the history of breeding this species in Australia. The number of successful hatchlings is much higher than I realised - 15 at Healesville; 5 at Taronga.

Note: Successful is defined as having survived the lactation phase:

Healesville:

0.1 Corrie (1943) Jack x Jill

1.0 Barak (1998) N x Koorina
1.0 Yarra Yarra (1998) N x Koorina
1.0 Mackenzie (2000) N x Koorina

1.0 Burran (2007) Barak x Binarri
0.1 Waddirang (2007) Barak x Binarri
0.1 Ember (2008) Barak x Binarri
1.0 Unknown (2009) Barak x Binarri

1.0 Birrarung (2011) Tarrabi x Binarri
0.1 Alooka (2011) Tarrabi x Binarri
1.0 Aroona (2012) Tarrabi x Binarri
1.0 Unknown (2012) Tarrabi x Binarri
1.0 Wiliam (2015) Tarrabi x Binarri
1.0 Yaro (2015) Tarrabi x Binarri

0.1 Storm (2019) Tarrabi x Waddirang

Taronga Zoo:

0.1 Binarri (2002) Abby x Maryanne
0.1 Samantha (2002) Abby x Maryanne
1.0 Adam (2003) Abby x Maryanne
0.1 Eve (2003) Abby x Maryanne
1.0 Sam (2004) Abby x Maryanne

Source: Platypuses in Captivity
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They are a species that is able to be bred in captivity with ease with the right set up/managment, from what a keeper at Taronga said a few years ago.

This is why Taronga have gone in with there purpose built platypus breeding facilities, they want to build up a captive breeding population. With any spare released into the wild. Especially now they have a release site in the royal national park.
 
Osedax said:
That is the first I have heard of the eels being in with the Murray River Turtles! There is an eel exhibit inside the wildlife retreat (off display except to paying guests), where they are mixed with a Broad-shelled Turtle; perhaps this is causing some confusion? Or maybe I am completely wrong and the eels are indeed now on display, very exciting news if so, as it brings the total of fish species on display at Taronga up to...4!

I also had not heard before of the Blue Mountains Bushwalk platypus exhibit and the Wildlife Retreat exhibit being connected. I was under the impression, having spoken to keepers, that (when the Wildlife Retreat pool still held Platypus) Jackie was in the aviary and the male Mackenzie, now at Dubbo, was in the Wildlife Retreat exhibit. Before Mackenzie left, I did see Jackie with scars obtained during mating, so I think it likely that they were trying to breed the pair.
Click to expand...
I could be confusing the exhibits. It was on one of the episodes of WWATZ and I was sure it was the enclosure the Platypus were in from memory at the entrance to the Wildlife Retreat. There were turtles in that exhibit too, but perhaps this is the other one (off display).

The enclosures aren't connected directly, but the off display area is pretty much in between the two so they are/were able to rotate the Platypus across the two enclosures. Mackenzie was indeed in the Wildlife Retreat enclosure and it would therefore make sense if there was attempted breeding as Jackie too supposedly was in that enclosure at times too. Sorry for the confusion earlier too, I had mistakenly thought Mackenzie was a female for the longest time now.:p
 
tigris115 said:
I'd legit kill for a captive platypus population that could eventually give them to other zoos. I've yet to see these precious freaks so it would be amazing
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Aside from the San Diego pair, there’s none held outside Australia. This could potentially change were breeding to take off; though given it’d be a massive understatement to say they don’t breed as regularly as other Australian fauna widespread in the US like Koala, kangaroos, wallabies etc. I can’t foresee it happening anytime soon.

The rationale behind exporting non-breeding Tasmanian devils is first and foremost to clear out surplus stock; as opposed to wanting to maintain a monopoly on the species.
 
chrisjpl said:
II 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.
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The signage in the Blue Mountains aviary says that there is a platypus (or multiple? I don't recall) in it, but I did not see it there when I visited last year.
 
Osedax said:
That is the first I have heard of the eels being in with the Murray River Turtles! There is an eel exhibit inside the wildlife retreat (off display except to paying guests), where they are mixed with a Broad-shelled Turtle; perhaps this is causing some confusion? Or maybe I am completely wrong and the eels are indeed now on display, very exciting news if so, as it brings the total of fish species on display at Taronga up to...4!
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What are the other fish species displayed? The only one I recall seeing were the Koi in the wetland aviary.
 
DaLilFishie said:
The signage in the Blue Mountains aviary says that there is a platypus (or multiple? I don't recall) in it, but I did not see it there when I visited last year.
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I didn’t see this signage when I visited 20/11/2024 with @steveroberts.
DaLilFishie said:
What are the other fish species displayed? The only one I recall seeing were the Koi in the wetland aviary.
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Banded archerfish and a catfish species share this exhibit in ARC with Mary River turtle and Merten’s water monitor:

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Would be great someday if one or two of the zoos in New Zealand were offered to be able to house a couple of captive bred Platypuses from say Healesville or Dubbo.

Have heard that Perth Zoo is interested at last in being a potential future holder of them (wonder if perhaps Adelaide or Monarto may consider also).

But also very much behind the wild release of many captive born individuals too at the right sites in the wild like the site at royal national park mentioned above.
 
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@Zoofan15

If Komodo Dragons return to the zoo, and some Philippine Crocs' maybe become residents too, (or say the zoo decides to return Johnstone's Freshwater Crocs' to public display), think best thing would be to create additional exhibits for them somewhere (else) in the zoo grounds, as the ARC is fantastic, it does seem to have full capacity with its current collection as it is though hey.
 
steveroberts said:
@Zoofan15

If Komodo Dragons return to the zoo, and some Philippine Crocs' maybe become residents too, (or say the zoo decides to return Johnstone's Freshwater Crocs' to public display), think best thing would be to create additional exhibits for them somewhere in the zoo grounds, as the ARC is fantastic, it does seem to have full capacity with its current collection as it is though hey.
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Fully agree. It was hard to imagine the juvenile Komodo dragon that was originally planned to inhabit the complex remaining there into adulthood. There was three in the clutch and one is now going to Melbourne, so this was presumably the one meant to go to Taronga.

I remember thinking at the time it’d be fitting for Taronga (the first holder in the region) to then receive one of the first successful clutch in the region.
 
@Zoofan15

Absolutely and well said, while we're happy for Melbourne having received Khan from ARP would be like you said fitting and symbolic if Taronga received one of the individuals too.

Re Crocodilians - if perhaps Philippine Crocodile is not feasible for Taronga, really like your previous suggestion of perhaps the zoo looking into being an additional regional holder for False/Sunda Gharial in partnership with Auckland (believe Johnstone's Freshies' will remain in the IOS&L complex anyway, even if personal want was for them to be housed in the general public display grounds somewhere again in near future).

Realised after posting before should of replied to you in the speculative thread; but its almost 2025 anyway so this thread is seeing its final posts anyway as it is.
 
Osedax said:
There are no Freshies in the Institute to my knowledge. There are however a couple of Estaurine Croc hatchlings, perhaps this is what you were getting confused with?
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Thanks man, yeah that was what I was getting confused with. Thats great they have some Estuarine Croc hatchlings there; I think they have said bonvoyage to their days as being holders of full grown Salties though since they sent Rin Tin Tin back up north; would be awesome to see Freshies' return to the zoo someday (I wonder where they sent their Freshies' earlier this year to).
 
steveroberts said:
Thanks man, yeah that was what I was getting confused with. Thats great they have some Estuarine Croc hatchlings there; I think they have said bonvoyage to their days as being holders of full grown Salties though since they sent Rin Tin Tin back up north; would be awesome to see Freshies' return to the zoo someday (I wonder where they sent their Freshies' earlier this year to).
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I know international visitors would be captivated by seeing Saltwater crocodiles. They’re hugely popular at Australia Zoo and as a fan of the Crocodile Hunter series as a kid, I was still interested to see multiple exhibits of them to see all the individuals from the show.

Unfortunately they require a lot of space and so as a city zoo, I agree Taronga will likely never hold them again.
 
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