Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2025

[Tiger91]

The previous Sky Safari was free with admission both times I visited a few years back.

Yes, however the NSW government isnt known, especially in the last decade for building expensive things and not charging money for it. You have to pay extra to use the wild ropes course, same as parking which they charge like a wounded bull for.

Odd's are even if it's 'free' at opening it'll insure a fee afterwards. Or it'll be included in zoo entry but entry will go up. But at $55 for an adult and dwindling species they dont have much room to play with there.

 

[Osedax]

Some exciting marsupial news:
- Finally, after much searching, a new Quokka has arrived! He is a two-year-old male from WA and is on display in BTB as a companion for Pep. The zoo is now searching for an unrelated female.
- New bettongs have also been acquired for Nguwing Nura but are off display currently.
There is something else exciting that is marsupial-related as well, but I am not yet able to say exactly what.

 

[Jambo]

Some exciting marsupial news:
- Finally, after much searching, a new Quokka has arrived! He is a two-year-old male from WA and is on display in BTB as a companion for Pep. The zoo is now searching for an unrelated female.
- New bettongs have also been acquired for Nguwing Nura but are off display currently.
There is something else exciting that is marsupial-related as well, but I am not yet able to say exactly what.

It'll be interesting to see how Taronga goes finding a female Quokka. As of a few months ago, Melbourne too were searching for a female to pair with their on display male, but the keeper mentioned available female Quokkas were scarce within the region at that point in time.

 

[WhistlingKite24]

- Finally, after much searching, a new Quokka has arrived! He is a two-year-old male from WA and is on display in BTB as a companion for Pep. The zoo is now searching for an unrelated female.

Surplus quokka via the ZAA program are surprisingly few and far between currently with most females involved with breeding to simply maintain the demographics of the population. Hopefully they can source one.

- New bettongs have also been acquired for Nguwing Nura but are off display currently.

Rufous or Brush-tailed?

 

[Osedax]

Rufous or Brush-tailed?

I'm not sure. I will try to check tomorrow.

 

[Jambo]

Surplus quokka via the ZAA program are surprisingly few and far between currently with most females involved with breeding to simply maintain the demographics of the population. Hopefully they can source one.

Rufous or Brush-tailed?

I'm not sure. I will try to check tomorrow.

As of a few years back Taronga did have at least one Rufous Bettong in the Wildlife Retreat.

 

[Osedax]

As of a few years back Taronga did have at least one Rufous Bettong in the Wildlife Retreat.

There are no bettongs currently in the Wildlife Retreat. There are definitely still Woylies in the Taronga Institute, and there was previously a Rufous Bettong in Nguwing Nura, which died a few months ago, but I'm not sure which species have been acquired this time.

 

[Osedax]

A few more updates from today:

Rufous or Brush-tailed?

Rufous.

- The male gorillas are still adjusting to the females' departure, and so part of their viewing area is closed off.
- The new male Quokka is settling in nicely. Pep also seemed more lively than usual, but still quite shy.
- The former Platypus and turtle exhibit just outside the Wildlife Retreat is now a temporary home for at least two Little Penguins.

 

[Jambo]

- The former Platypus and turtle exhibit just outside the Wildlife Retreat is now a temporary home for at least two Little Penguins.

That's an interesting move, I'm assuming they've had to repurpose most of the exhibit in that case (especially the pond to replace it with saltwater).

It would be good to see a photo of them in that new enclosure if you, or any others visit soon.

 

[Osedax]

That's an interesting move, I'm assuming they've had to repurpose most of the exhibit in that case (especially the pond to replace it with saltwater).

It would be good to see a photo of them in that new enclosure if you, or any others visit soon.

I know! I was very surprised when I saw the sign there. Mostly the exhibit is the same, just with some mats at the back to prevent bumble foot. The pond is still freshwater. No photos unfortunately as I only saw them swimming past very quickly before they disappeared.

 

[Jambo]

The pond is still freshwater.

A lot of facilities keep their Little Penguins in freshwater, but Taronga's down in GSO are kept in Saltwater with water pumped directly from the bay. It makes me wonder whether these two have perhaps come from a different facility ie. where they were previously kept in freshwater.

 

[Haliaeetus]

Taronga Zoo has just been rescued 1 young Loggerhead Turtle.
Taronga Zoo on Instagram: "Just keep swimming While some of our wildlife hospital patients stay for just a few days, others like this endangered Loggerhead Turtle hatchling, require care at our Taronga Wildlife Hospital for a number of months. Early this year in April, Bulwal Bilima, meaning strong turtle, was found stranded and rescued in Yuin Country, South Coast NSW. ‘Wintering’ this little one over the last six months allows the juvenile marine reptile to maintain thermoregulation, meaning extra energy can be used to strengthen, forage and grow. As we head into the warmer seasons and ocean temperatures increase, so do our plans for releasing it back out to the big blue. Taronga Wildlife Hospital is funded through visitation to Taronga’s two not-for-profit zoos. So your ticket to the Zoo helps us treat and care for endangered wildlife, just like this Loggerhead Turtle. #ForTheWild #Taronga #Sydney #WildlifeHospital #Loggerhead #Turtle"

 

[Zoofan15]

Nepalese red panda transfer out:

1.1 red panda have transfered to Oakvale Wildlife Park.

Their departure leaves Taronga Zoo with 1.1 red panda:

1.0 Pabu (24/12/2012) Sagar x Bo
0.1 Daiyu (08/12/2021) Pabu x Amala

From Oakvale’s socials:

We’re beyond excited to officially welcome two brand-new and seriously adorable residents to Oakvale Wildlife Park — Keisho and Khyana, a brother-and-sister pair of Red Pandas.

These cheeky siblings have joined us from Taronga Zoo and are the very first Red Pandas to ever call Oakvale home.

 

[Zoofan15]

Regent honeyeater release:

From socials:

This past week marked a major milestone for us at Taronga, as we celebrate 30 years of our Regent Honeyeater conservation breeding program with 69 Regent Honeyeaters released onto Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council on Wonnarua Country in the Lower Hunter Valley, NSW.

This is the fourth release at this important site, which is rich in flowering gums, breeding habitat and cultural significance.

So far, we’ve released over 400 Taronga-bred Regent Honeyeaters. With fewer than 300 birds remaining in the wild, every single bird plays a vital role in the survival of this endemic species.

 

[Osedax]

Some things from today:

- Plans are underway for the new Rhino Reserve to open by December. The water buffalo arrived on Wednesday and are kept in the lower ele’ yard, but the barriers are still up and so they are not officially on display yet.
- The old rhino statue in the garden with the Sumatran Rhino signage near old Serpentaria has been moved to Rhino Reserve and has replaced one of the elephant statues. An odd choice as this particular statue clearly depicts a Black Rhino, rather than a GOHR; but as they kept it with Sumatran Rhino signage for several years, I doubt they will change it.
- The Fennec Foxes have been observed mating, but it is unknown whether this has led to a successful pregnancy.
- Some interesting news from the labs, work to breed Yellow-spotted Bell Frogs through artificial insemination has commenced. A first for this species, though it has previously been done in Booroolong Frogs.
- There are a couple of White-breasted Ground Dove chicks in the Palm Aviary.
- The penguins that were temporarily in the former platypus exhibit near the Wildlife Retreat have moved out, and the Short-necked Turtles have moved in again.
- The pelicans were off display today due to “planned works” in their exhibit (the pool was drained).
- The underwater viewing building in GSO is being repainted.
- Zodiac, one of the male goats, has died.
- Krieger the male Tasmanian Devil has also been euthanised 27/9. Regina George and Brontë are now the on-display devils.
- Some new statues / art installations are being installed in GSO, on the path down from penguins to Seal Cove. Photos attached.

 

[Zoofan15]

Some things from today:

- Plans are underway for the new Rhino Reserve to open by December. The water buffalo arrived on Wednesday and are kept in the lower ele’ yard, but the barriers are still up and so they are not officially on display yet.
- The old rhino statue in the garden with the Sumatran Rhino signage near old Serpentaria has been moved to Rhino Reserve and has replaced one of the elephant statues. An odd choice as this particular statue clearly depicts a Black Rhino, rather than a GOHR; but as they kept it with Sumatran Rhino signage for several years, I doubt they will change it.
- The Fennec Foxes have been observed mating, but it is unknown whether this has led to a successful pregnancy.
- Some interesting news from the labs, work to breed Yellow-spotted Bell Frogs through artificial insemination has commenced. A first for this species, though it has previously been done in Booroolong Frogs.
- There are a couple of White-breasted Ground Dove chicks in the Palm Aviary.
- The penguins that were temporarily in the former platypus exhibit near the Wildlife Retreat have moved out, and the Short-necked Turtles have moved in again.
- The pelicans were off display today due to “planned works” in their exhibit (the pool was drained).
- The underwater viewing building in GSO is being repainted.
- Zodiac, one of the male goats, has died.
- Krieger the male Tasmanian Devil has also been euthanised 27/9. Regina George and Brontë are now the on-display devils.
- Some new statues / art installations are being installed in GSO, on the path down from penguins to Seal Cove. Photos attached.

Thanks for the update.

The renovation of the elephant paddock for Indian rhinoceros has been a bigger undertaking than I expected (it’s been six months since the elephants left now). The overhaul of the infrastructure is comparatively minimal compared to what you’d expect for even Southern white rhinoceros. Nonetheless, it’ll be be nice to have Hari on site within the next month or so.

I’d love to be proved wrong, but the Fennec foxes were paired two years ago, so I don’t hold out much hope of successful breeding. The female turns nine next month and while females her age have bred, I’m inclined to believe the pair would have had success by now if they were going to. The region’s last birth of this species was in 2020, so it’d be nice to finally see some kits.

 

[Osedax]

The first episode of the new series of Taronga: Who's Who in the Zoo airs tonight at 7:30 on Channel 9! The first episode will focus on the departure of the elephants.

 

[Zoofan15]

The first episode of the new series of Taronga: Who's Who in the Zoo airs tonight at 7:30 on Channel 9! The first episode will focus on the departure of the elephants.

There’s a preview/trailer of the first episode here:

I much prefer this format (assuming it continues for all episodes) of one topic per episode. It’s a chance to go in depth into a topic versus the more superficial and repetitive format these zoo series often take of seven minutes dedicated to wildlife rescue (usually a marine animal with something stuck in is gullet); seven minutes dedicated to something mainstream (i.e. megafauna); and seven minutes dedicated to either conservation work or something they consider outside the box (recycling, browse collection etc).

 

[Jambo]

I much prefer this format (assuming it continues for all episodes) of one topic per episode. It’s a chance to go in depth into a topic versus the more superficial and repetitive format these zoo series often take of seven minutes dedicated to wildlife rescue (usually a marine animal with something stuck in is gullet); seven minutes dedicated to something mainstream (i.e. megafauna); and seven minutes dedicated to either conservation work or something they consider outside the box (recycling, browse collection etc).

Hopefully this is indeed the route they go - Taronga's old show (wild life at the zoo), would have episodes like this where they simply followed an entire storyline for the whole duration of the episode.

On the 9 website for previous seasons, they've advertised each episode with the main headline so I it's possible they're just doing the same this time around.

There was one about the chimp group receiving their routine health checks, and I was expecting an episode detailing the whole process, but instead was surprised to get about ten minutes of footage (most of it just on the health checks themselves). The rest of the episode was stuffed with a lot of filler storylines. There was one episode from the last season that spent about half the running time following a keeper distributing snow around the zoo!

 

[Zoofan15]

Elephant paddock redevelopment:

The Asian water buffalo are named Kahn, Sahasi, and Babu:

From socials:

In the six months since their [the elephants’] departure, our teams have been hard at work transforming their former habitat into Rhino Reserve, set to open this summer.

It will be home to Kahn, Sahasi, and Babu—a playful trio of Asian Water Buffalo and Hari, a four-year-old Greater One-horned Rhino.