Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2025

Goura said:
Further to my query about the chimpanzees, can you enlighten me about the subspecific nature of the giraffes (I assume this will be true for all giraffes in Australasia) - thanks in advance
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They're all generics besides a few recent purebreds Rothschilds added to the regional population in recent decades. Taronga's former breeding stock go way back, and majority of the descendants were consequently generic as well. They did acquire some individuals from Hawaii but afaik they were generic too.

Kito (2016) is the great granddaughter of Makulu and Twiga (purebred Rothschild's pair) - so therefore her and her son Ebo are distantly descended from those Rothschilds imports in the 80's and 90's.
 
Goura said:
Further to my query about the chimpanzees, can you enlighten me about the subspecific nature of the giraffes (I assume this will be true for all giraffes in Australasia) - thanks in advance
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Jambo said:
They're all generics besides a few recent purebreds Rothschilds added to the regional population in recent decades. Taronga's former breeding stock go way back, and majority of the descendants were consequently generic as well. They did acquire some individuals from Hawaii but afaik they were generic too.

Kito (2016) is the great granddaughter of Makulu and Twiga (purebred Rothschild's pair) - so therefore here and Ebo are distantly descended from those Rothschilds imports in the 80's and 90's.
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The Taronga founders included the following subspecies:

1.0 Jan Smuts (born 1943 at Johannesburg Zoo) - South African giraffe (G. c. giraffe).

0.1 Clara (born 1950 at the Smithsonian National Zoo) - Nubian Giraffe (G. c. camelopardalis).

0.1 Mighty (born 1933 in Tanzania) - Masai Giraffe (G. c. tippelskirchi).

The vast majority of the region’s giraffes descend from these three giraffes.

Additional founders to the regional population include 2.1 Rothschild’s giraffe imported by Orana Wildlife Park from North America; a female Rothschild’s imported by Melbourne Zoo from Europe; and a handful of generics from Honolulu Zoo to Auckland and Taronga Zoo. I will note there has been uncertainty over whether these ‘Rothschild’s’ were indeed purebred; but the Taronga founders certainly were purebreds of their respective subspecies.
 
Elephant move postponed until late April:

From socials:

Tang Mo and Pak Boon’s big move to their new home and herd has been postponed to late April. As you can imagine, moving an elephant – let alone two - is no small feat.

Asian Elephant Pak Boon has recently presented with a health concern to her right eye and our expert teams want to ensure that she is in the best health ahead of her big journey.

In positive news for our beloved Taronga community (that’s you!), the Ele girls and their keepers will remain at Taronga Zoo Sydney across the NSW school holidays, giving you an additional chance to witness their water & mud loving antics and make everlasting memories ahead of this great migration.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Elephant move postponed until late April:

From socials:

Tang Mo and Pak Boon’s big move to their new home and herd has been postponed to late April. As you can imagine, moving an elephant – let alone two - is no small feat.

Asian Elephant Pak Boon has recently presented with a health concern to her right eye and our expert teams want to ensure that she is in the best health ahead of her big journey.

In positive news for our beloved Taronga community (that’s you!), the Ele girls and their keepers will remain at Taronga Zoo Sydney across the NSW school holidays, giving you an additional chance to witness their water & mud loving antics and make everlasting memories ahead of this great migration.
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Thanks @Zoofan15 for the update I was wondering when they were going to leave. Does anyone know what will happen to the exhibit once they leave like will it need renovating for the Indian Rhino and Water buffalo and what time of year will they come:)
 
Jaiden said:
Thanks @Zoofan15 for the update I was wondering when they were going to leave. Does anyone know what will happen to the exhibit once they leave like will it need renovating for the Indian Rhino and Water buffalo and what time of year will they come:)
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The Indian rhinoceros is Hari (from Dubbo) and is expected to come later this year - along with three Asian water buffalo. The exhibit and barn will need minor modifications, but they’ll be relatively simple.

There’s more information about Hari here:

March into Ele-brations.

No month has been announced for Hari’s arrival this year, but on display by the September or certainly Christmas holidays is likely (even with the elephant move being delayed another month). They’ll also be keen to avoid transporting him in the height of summer.
 
Jaiden said:
Thanks @Zoofan15 i really appreciate it. But does anyone know what Zoo the water buffalo’s are coming from?
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The Asian water buffalo (three of them) are coming from Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Their primary purpose is to provide companionship to the young bull.

Long term, it’ll be interesting to see if Taronga acquire a female Indian rhinoceros given they have two paddocks.
 
Yeah it would be interesting if Taronga gets a Female to breed with since if they successfully breeds then where would the zoo send the calf once it gets older and how would they keep Hari and the female together if Hari is solitary?
 
Jaiden said:
Yeah it would be interesting if Taronga gets a Female to breed with since if they successfully breeds then where would the zoo send the calf once it gets older and how would they keep Hari and the female together if Hari is solitary?
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Taronga's current elephant paddock can be divided into two. This will be useful initially when introducing Hari and the Water Buffalo.
 
Jaiden said:
Yeah it would be interesting if Taronga gets a Female to breed with since if they successfully breeds then where would the zoo send the calf once it gets older and how would they keep Hari and the female together if Hari is solitary?
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Jambo said:
Taronga's current elephant paddock can be divided into two. This will be useful initially when introducing Hari and the Water Buffalo.
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Hari and any female would live separately (as do his parents), which can be easily accommodated across two paddocks. Taronga Western Plains Zoo could accomodate a calf long term; but I’d expect that a breeding recommendation would only be given if there was interest from a new holder within the region in acquiring the species. If there’s no interest, there’s little point in importing a female.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Hari and any female would live separately (as do his parents), which can be easily accommodated across two paddocks. Taronga Western Plains Zoo could accomodate a calf long term; but I’d expect that a breeding recommendation would only be given if there was interest from a new holder within the region in acquiring the species. If there’s no interest, there’s little point in importing a female.
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Sending Hari to Taronga will hopefully open up space for another calf from Hari and Amala.

Technically, Dubbo could retain the calf long term but there will also be the opportunity to send it across to Taronga too, as they do have the two paddocks as has previously been mentioned.
 
Jambo said:
Sending Hari to Taronga will hopefully open up space for another calf from Hari and Amala.

Technically, Dubbo could retain the calf long term but there will also be the opportunity to send it across to Taronga too, as they do have the two paddocks as has previously been mentioned.
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Some zoos like Basel Zoo have been successful in housing cows together, so were Dora and Amala to produce a female calf next time, they might intend for Amala and her daughter to live together long term.

Considering the Indian rhinoceros has been held in Australia since 2003, it’s nice to see a second holder emerge (even if it’s is Dubbo’s sister zoo).
 
Zoofan15 said:
Some zoos like Basel Zoo have been successful in housing cows together, so were Dora and Amala to produce a female calf next time, they might intend for Amala and her daughter to live together long term.

Considering the Indian rhinoceros has been held in Australia since 2003, it’s nice to see a second holder emerge (even if it’s is Dubbo’s sister zoo).
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In regards to another regional holder, Monarto have a designated rhino complex ironically right next to their newly constructed Asian elephant complex. Potentially something to look into on their behalf in the long run!
 
Booroolong frog release:

From socials:

In ribbeting news for some of Australia’s most endangered amphibians, and in recognition of World Rewilding Day and World Frog Day, our Taronga staff teamed up with our partners @dcceew, a local ecologist and landholder on the North West Slopes for the third release of endangered Booroolong Frogs!

257 frogs, all bred just a few months ago at Taronga, were released after dark into a creek that once had thriving frog populations before the harsh 2019/20 drought.

This release follows exciting news from our January surveys, where we found very young frogs along the reintroduction site.

This is a huge step forward, showing that Taronga-bred and released frogs are now breeding in the wild – a major milestone for the program.
 
Australian sea lion pup born:

The female pup was born January 31 to Charlie and Tarni.

The pup is a genetically valuable addition given both parents are wild born.

Endangered Australian sea lion pup born at Taronga Zoo

It’s Tarni’s first pup and Charlie’s fourth. After she gave birth it took a few tense days for Tarni’s maternal instinct to kick in, but she soon began nursing the pup, who’s yet to be named.
 
Update on Pak Boon the Asian elephant:

From socials:

Last week, a dedicated team of Taronga Keepers, Wildlife Hospital staff, and specialists worked together to treat Pak Boon’s eye issue.

We’re happy to report that her treatment was successful under general anesthesia, and she’s recovering well. The healing process will continue be monitored over the next few weeks.

While the team continue to monitor the girls and get back on track with crate training, excitingly, that gives us all one more month to make memories with the Eles before their great migration to Monarto Safari Park in South Australia at the end of April!
 
Zoofan15 said:
Australian sea lion pup born:

The female pup was born January 31 to Charlie and Tarni.

The pup is a genetically valuable addition given both parents are wild born.

Endangered Australian sea lion pup born at Taronga Zoo

It’s Tarni’s first pup and Charlie’s fourth. After she gave birth it took a few tense days for Tarni’s maternal instinct to kick in, but she soon began nursing the pup, who’s yet to be named.
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Australian sea lion pup goes on display:

The nine week old female Australian sea lion pup went on display for the first time today, with her mother Tarni.

Reported via a paywalled article.
 
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