Interesting name choice to say the least...especially for a girl.
Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Osedax
- Start date
Yeah that doesn’t make a lick of sense. It sounds like something Australia Zoo would come up with.
It doesn’t seem to reference either of the parents names, Charlie or Tarni. Tarni is an Aborginal name meaning ‘surf’ or ‘breaking waves’.
Updates from my visit today (19/04/2025):
- There were (at least) two unsigned White-rumped shamas in the Wetlands Aviary.
- Kambiri and Lololi (pygmy hippos) were together in the exhibit near the binturongs/langurs.
- As well as the two bilbies in with the Yellow-bellied glider, there still is at least one Short-beaked echidna.
- The three young male gorillas are still going well in the troop so there are no imminent plans to move them out. All three females are on contraception. Johari has formed a close bond with the youngest member of the troop, Mwamba. I have some gorilla photos which I will upload to the gallery at some stage.
- The Pit Stop area was open in the old camel exhibit, but we didn't enter. I don't think the train was running, but I could be wrong.
- The pinniped configurations @Osedax reported previously were the same today. Pea was very active and vocalised loudly for Keke to get down from the rock where she was resting, so that they could eventually go swimming together. We watched a training session with Tarni as she collected plant debris from the Seal Cove pool for food rewards, while her pup was asleep.
- There were (at least) two unsigned White-rumped shamas in the Wetlands Aviary.
- Kambiri and Lololi (pygmy hippos) were together in the exhibit near the binturongs/langurs.
- As well as the two bilbies in with the Yellow-bellied glider, there still is at least one Short-beaked echidna.
- The three young male gorillas are still going well in the troop so there are no imminent plans to move them out. All three females are on contraception. Johari has formed a close bond with the youngest member of the troop, Mwamba. I have some gorilla photos which I will upload to the gallery at some stage.
- The Pit Stop area was open in the old camel exhibit, but we didn't enter. I don't think the train was running, but I could be wrong.
- The pinniped configurations @Osedax reported previously were the same today. Pea was very active and vocalised loudly for Keke to get down from the rock where she was resting, so that they could eventually go swimming together. We watched a training session with Tarni as she collected plant debris from the Seal Cove pool for food rewards, while her pup was asleep.
Thanks for the updates @Abbey
It’s good to hear the gorilla troop has remained cohesive thus far. The absence of infants in the troop (with protective mothers); and lack of cycling females may be assisting this.
It’s exciting to have so many pups and juvenile pinnipeds at one time. The pinniped exhibits must be a hive of activity.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
I was there today too! The White-rumped Shamas have been in the Wetlands Aviary for quite a while. The train is not running over Easter because of how busy the zoo is. You didn't miss much by not entering the Pit Stop; the only live animals in there at the moment are rabbits and guinea pigs.
I'm sorry to hear that. Charlie was a wonderful animal and a successful breeding male. I presume he was the father of Tarni's pup, although it could have been Moby.
Moby would be able to breed with Nala, April (if she's still on breeding loan) or Tarni, but not Amalie (his half-sister).
That’s unfortunate to hear about Charlie. I saw him last November and he was a magnificent bull. He was confirmed as the sire of Tarni’s pup:
Endangered Australian sea lion pup born at Taronga Zoo
Charlie has sired the last four Australian sea lion pups born at Taronga Zoo:
1.0 Moby (2017) Charlie x Lexie
1.0 Torre (2018) Charlie x Nala
0.1 Amalie (2020) Charlie x Nala
0.1 Bear (2025) Charlie x Tarni
Moby transferred to Dolphin Marine Magic, where he’s their breeding bull. I can find no mention on here that he returned to Taronga, but you two both visit more regularly than me so I might have missed something.
That's good to have confirmation that Charlie sired Bear, a fitting legacy for him alongside his three previous pups. I had heard about Moby's transfer, although my understanding was it was a breeding loan with the intention he would return to Taronga (and Storm would return to Dolphin Marine Magic).
I assumed from @Osedax's post that the loan had concluded and Moby was back at Taronga, although (and I could be wrong about this) I haven't confirmed this personally and, with Charlie's passing, Storm may be a better option for breeding at Taronga going forward, as (as far as I'm aware), he's unrelated to all the females (including Charlie's daughters).
Yes, that sounds like a possibility. Storm is unrelated to all of Taronga’s females:
0.1 Nala
0.1 April
0.1 Tarni
0.1 Amalie
0.1 Bear
There were unsuccessful attempts to introduce Charlie and April for breeding a few years prior, so they might have luck with a new male (either Storm or Moby).
Thanks for confirming. Though I note Moby was only on loan, he’s clearly served his purpose at DMM and now may have returned to Taronga to sire pups to their females. Tarni (whose only representation is her female pup) may be high on the list.
Storm returned to Coffs Harbor last Spring - he was only at Taronga for eighteen months on breeding loan. Moby was sent back to Taronga at the same time.
I believe Moby may have sired Coff's last two pups (both born last year), leading to the decision to send him back to Taronga following the fulfilment of his breeding loan.
I believe Moby may have sired Coff's last two pups (both born last year), leading to the decision to send him back to Taronga following the fulfilment of his breeding loan.
It’s not possible for Moby to have sired the first of these two pups (born February 2024) because he wasn’t on site when it was conceived 18 months prior. He’s only the potential sire of Maverick (born November 2024), though factoring in the gestation and there may be more pups to come.
Similarly with the return of Storm to Coff’s Harbour reported by @WhistlingKite24 in September 2024, there’s the possibility some of Taronga’s females (Nala, April and Amalie) could currently be pregnant with pups sired by Storm - with the last possible due date being the first quarter of 2026.
It's possible that Adelaide may have conceived to Moby following the birth of Gary in February of last year. Even if she hasn't, Storm is back on site following his return from Taronga, and so should be able to breed with both her and the other breeding female (Miri) if he hasn't already.
Looking at the weather, they will likely move early next week.
Saturday 26 would be my guess. Going a weekend day will enable them to avoid heavy traffic and Friday 25 is Anzac Day (people will be travelling Friday and Sunday).
I would be surprised if they moved later this week. As you say, they would likely want to avoid traffic that may come about as a result of people travelling over the long weekend.
The days off are Friday, Saturday, Sunday so peak traffic would be Thursday night and Sunday night; with residual amounts of traffic Friday morning and Sunday morning.
With this in mind, Saturday (especially if they leave at dawn) would be perfect.
Taronga also said late April, implying the last five days.