Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2025

Zoofan15 said:
The smaller exhibit was previously used to manage Haoko and Shabani for a short period of time; as well as Kibale and Kimya, who were briefly paired up in the early 2010’s.
Click to expand...
I remember both groups in there.

Kimya didn't respond well to Kibale and she was swapped for Mbeli and Johari. I honestly don't know what Taronga planned for their gorillas since it was pretty much just going to be Kibali plus Kimya and Frala once her sons left. That move was delayed due to the earthquakes. Her sons also spent time in that exhibit until they were sent to NZ in 2015.
 
Trua said:
I remember both groups in there.

Kimya didn't respond well to Kibale and she was swapped for Mbeli and Johari. I honestly don't know what Taronga planned for their gorillas since it was pretty much just going to be Kibali plus Kimya and Frala once her sons left. That move was delayed due to the earthquakes. Her sons also spent time in that exhibit until they were sent to NZ in 2015.
Click to expand...

From what I’ve read, females are uncomfortable when housed with a silverback in a 1.1 pair as they lack the assurance that comes from having other females to back them up if the silverback is using unreasonable discipline. They invariably cease cycling in these scenarios.

Johari has ultimately added little to the culture of Taronga’s troop, but it’s clear she wouldn’t have fared well in Otana’s troop and when she and Mbeli arrived, they had a good relationship.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Johari has ultimately added little to the culture of Taronga’s troop, but it’s clear she wouldn’t have fared well in Otana’s troop and when she and Mbeli arrived, they had a good relationship.
Click to expand...
They were very close buddies - I feel like Johari missed a lot when Ganyeka and Yakini were moved out. Despite being hand raised, those three were effectively also peer raised together.

Although it's been said Mbeli arrived to Melbourne to breed, I'm also of the opinion she was also brought in to liven up the group socially and especially provide Johari with a playmate/companion. None of Melbourne's females nor Rigo were particularly of that nature.
 
Jambo said:
They were very close buddies - I feel like Johari missed a lot when Ganyeka and Yakini were moved out. Despite being hand raised, those three were effectively also peer raised together.

Although it's been said Mbeli arrived to Melbourne to breed, I'm also of the opinion she was also brought in to liven up the group socially and especially provide Johari with a playmate/companion. None of Melbourne's females nor Rigo were particularly of that nature.
Click to expand...

Johari and Mbeli (then aged 10 and 7) took to each other instantly when Mbeli transferred to Melbourne. There’s a great photo of them climbing over each other. Mbeli came from Taronga where she left behind her then four siblings/half-siblings and Johari would have been missing the companionship of her half-brothers like you say.

Mbeli’s arrival certainly stirred up the Melbourne troop, which had become complacent around Rigo, with Yuska essentially leading the troop. Mbeli modelled how females are supposed to behave around a silverback, which made Yuska up her game so to speak.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Mbeli’s arrival certainly stirred up the Melbourne troop, which had become complacent around Rigo, with Yuska essentially leading the troop. Mbeli modelled how females are supposed to behave around a silverback, which made Yuska up her game so to speak.
Click to expand...
When Rigo was first integrated, Yuska hadn't seen him for more than two decades. And being the dominant one in their youth, she went right back to doing what she always did - putting him in his place. Rigo took his time stepping up to the plate! But he's certainly not to blame - going from being in isolation for so long in an outdated habitat to a naturalistic, world class habitat with five females would've been a dramatic change.

Come Mbeli's arrival he was doing better, but from what I understand he never fully learnt how to mate. Apparently he 'mated' Yuska. But she was on contraception.
 
Jambo said:
When Rigo was first integrated, Yuska hadn't seen him for more than two decades. And being the dominant one in their youth, she went right back to doing what she always did - putting him in his place. Rigo took his time stepping up to the plate! But he's certainly not to blame - going from being in isolation for so long in an outdated habitat to a naturalistic, world class habitat with five females would've been a dramatic change.

Come Mbeli's arrival he was doing better, but from what I understand he never fully learnt how to mate. Apparently he 'mated' Yuska. But she was on contraception.
Click to expand...

Taronga certainly had a clear advantage in receiving a troop of 10 mother raised gorillas from Apenheul in 1996; a stark contrast to Melbourne’s troop which was formed from gorillas from a multitude of backgrounds and many of which had social deficiencies.

Frala at Taronga won’t be breeding again, so presumably the troop will continue with just Mbeli breeding (since Johari is a behavioural non-breeder); though a new exhibit could potentially allow for the introduction of a fourth female (and second breeding female) - ideally an import given Kanzi etc are closely related to Mbeli.
 
Trua said:
On the elephants leaving, Hari and the water buffalo will arrive later this year. This spring hopefully. The current habitats will need some modifications done before they can arrive.
Click to expand...

It’ll be very exciting to have rhinoceros at Taronga Zoo again (especially an Indian rhinoceros).

A clear standout as the best replacement any of the region’s city zoos have announced so far for their elephants.
 
Trua said:
On the elephants leaving, Hari and the water buffalo will arrive later this year. This spring hopefully. The current habitats will need some modifications done before they can arrive.
Click to expand...
Thanks for advising us.

The current complex isn't old by any means but could do with some small upgrades as it's been almost 20 years since its construction.

They should have plenty of time in between the cows leaving in late March and Hari/the Water Buffalo arriving in Spring to complete these modifications.
 
A few updates from today. This will likely be my last visit for a while, though I will try to visit one more time before the elephants leave.


- I think I forgot to report this earlier but there are now Java Sparrows in the aviary in Backyard to Bush with the Budgerigars and King Quails.

- The Blue Mountains Bushwalk is closed for renovation.

- A Barking Tarantula is back on display in the Wombat Burrow in their old terrarium. This terrarium had recently housed Hadra snails which have now moved into the long-empty terrarium that held a scolopendrid many years ago.
 
Osedax said:
A few updates from today. This will likely be my last visit for a while, though I will try to visit one more time before the elephants leave.


- I think I forgot to report this earlier but there are now Java Sparrows in the aviary in Backyard to Bush with the Budgerigars and King Quails.

- The Blue Mountains Bushwalk is closed for renovation.

- A Barking Tarantula is back on display in the Wombat Burrow in their old terrarium. This terrarium had recently housed Hadra snails which have now moved into the long-empty terrarium that held a scolopendrid many years ago.
Click to expand...

Thanks heaps for the updates, hey which other species are housed in the Wombat Burrow (besides the Sth hairy-nosed wombats of course lol and the other ones you mentioned)?
 
Osedax said:
A few updates from today. This will likely be my last visit for a while, though I will try to visit one more time before the elephants leave.


- I think I forgot to report this earlier but there are now Java Sparrows in the aviary in Backyard to Bush with the Budgerigars and King Quails.

- The Blue Mountains Bushwalk is closed for renovation.

- A Barking Tarantula is back on display in the Wombat Burrow in their old terrarium. This terrarium had recently housed Hadra snails which have now moved into the long-empty terrarium that held a scolopendrid many years ago.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your update. The Blue Mountains Bushwalk renovations must have been either quickly completed or being done in stages, because the aviary was open again during my visit today.

The Pit Stop area (on the site of the camel exhibit) was closed. Sydney experienced high winds yesterday and some of the temporary fencing had come down, so I gather that was the reason.
 
Fiordland crested penguin update:

It was mentioned on Taronga’s socials this morning that one of the Fiordland crested penguin chicks hatched last year is female.

The clip referred to chicks (plural) indicating the second chick has also survived to date (though gender wasn’t mentioned).

The zoo’s population of this species is therefore 2.4.1. Fingers crossed the second chick is a male!
 
Taronga Zoo has just rescued and taken in care a Green Sea Turtle, that has been called BROWNIE.
It was entangled in a fishing line, and had partly swallowed it.
Taronga Zoo on Instagram: "Turtle-y awesome Brownie update This Green Sea Turtle, known to locals around the Cabbage Tree Bay area as “Brownie”, was brought to the Taronga Wildlife Hospital after being found with a hook in its left flipper, fishing line entanglement around its right flipper and had swallowed some fishing line While the fishing line around the flipper and the hook was removed, Brownie remained under intensive care at the Taronga Wildlife Hospital and was carefully monitored to see if the swallowed fishing line could pass naturally without surgical intervention. Swallowed fishing line can often be fatal for wildlife, causing internal injuries including intestines to concertina. The Taronga Wildlife Hospital team is happy to report that Brownie has defecated 167cm of fishing line – and curiously has been passing large amounts of human hair. Brownie’s flipper is also healing optimally ✅ Brownie is now out of intensive care and feeding well but will continue to be monitored by our expert vets and vet nurses to ensure that all fishing line has been passed, and is passing normal faeces. Not all wildlife are as lucky as Brownie to have been found by caring members of the public and brought to the Taronga Wildlife Hospital for treatment. We can all help to keep our wildlife safe through simple steps such as: Disposing of hooks and line responsibly Taking our rubbish with us when we’re out and about and throwing it away in allocated bins ️ Picking up litter when we’re next at the beach ♻️ Limiting our reliance on single use items Vet Nurse Liz #ForTheWild "
 
Zorro said:
There is absolutely nothing stopping Taronga importing Bongo and if the zoo does build an African rainforest it's going to be very disappointing if they only have the one or two species included!
Click to expand...

Equally there is nothing stopping Taronga importing Mandril. But they are spending an absurd amount on a new transport system that will never pay itself of. 75 million is probably the cost of a Congo percent or close to it.
 
Tiger91 said:
Equally there is nothing stopping Taronga importing Mandril. But they are spending an absurd amount on a new transport system that will never pay itself of. 75 million is probably the cost of a Congo percent or close to it.
Click to expand...
In regards to the Mandrill, there in fact is something stopping Taronga from importing them. I'll quote @Steve Robinson who summed it up well in a post last month;

Mandrill are a CITES 1 species.

In order to import a CITES 1 species endorsement must first be obtained from a recognised Association.

Thus there must be a CMP/CCP for that species and a program established.

Although Mandrill are certainly a spectacular species there is very little interest in the zoo community at the moment to establish a program for them.
 
Jambo said:
In regards to the Mandrill, there in fact is something stopping Taronga from importing them. I'll quote @Steve Robinson who summed it up well in a post last month;

Mandrill are a CITES 1 species.

In order to import a CITES 1 species endorsement must first be obtained from a recognised Association.

Thus there must be a CMP/CCP for that species and a program established.

Although Mandrill are certainly a spectacular species there is very little interest in the zoo community at the moment to establish a program for them.
Click to expand...
Steve is right on the money.

There effectively needs to be interest in founding a breeding program again. This involves a good amount of work (like forming management plans). Someone needs to be in charge and they need approval from the ZAA and support from the region. To put things straight.. there just isn't the interest to do so with Mandrills at the moment. Priorities lie elsewhere.
 
Jambo said:
In regards to the Mandrill, there in fact is something stopping Taronga from importing them. I'll quote @Steve Robinson who summed it up well in a post last month;

Mandrill are a CITES 1 species.

In order to import a CITES 1 species endorsement must first be obtained from a recognised Association.

Thus there must be a CMP/CCP for that species and a program established.

Although Mandrill are certainly a spectacular species there is very little interest in the zoo community at the moment to establish a program for them.
Click to expand...

I do remember this post, and Steve can correct if I am wrong. At the end of the day the bold is a fancy way of saying we would have to join a European program the same as we do for gorilla, Sri Lankan leopard and more then likely will do for Brazilian tapir. Instead of just importing a few from somewhere and start breeding, like we would do with lions. Mandrill and instead managed like gorilla, sumatran tiger and gorilla, all cities 1. All we either have regional established program or have joined another program like the European SMP.
 
Tiger91 said:
I do remember this post, and Steve can correct if I am wrong. At the end of the day the bold is a fancy way of saying we would have to join a European program the same as we do for gorilla, Sri Lankan leopard and more then likely will do for Brazilian tapir. Instead of just importing a few from somewhere and start breeding, like we would do with lions. Mandrill and instead managed like gorilla, sumatran tiger and gorilla, all cities 1. All we either have regional established program or have joined another program like the European SMP.
Click to expand...
Correct, we either must establish a program of our own (very difficult!!) or receive permission to operate as an extension to other regions. I know some of our programs operate apart of South East Asia too. This all still requires support as there would need to be a fair amount of support for this to be accepted
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top