Taronga Zoo

 

 

 

 

The Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales opened the first public zoo in New South Wales in 1884 at Billy Goat Swamp in Moore Park, on a site now occupied by Sydney Boys High School and Sydney Girls High School. Inspired by a 1908 visit to the Hamburg Zoo, the secretary of the zoo, Albert Sherbourne Le Souef, envisioned a new zoo based on the bar-less concept.^[6] After realising that the Moore Park site was too small, the NSW Government granted 43 acres (17 ha) of land north of Sydney Harbour. A further 9 acres (3.6 ha) were later granted in 1916, and the zoo at its current site opened to the public on 7 October 1916.^[7]

The "Rustic Bridge" was opened in 1915 and was one of Taronga Zoo's earliest landscape features. It was the main way in which visitors could cross the natural gully that it spans. Early photographs show it as a romantic pathway secluded by plantings. The rustic effect was created by embedding stones in the wall and like the aquarium, its design was reminiscent of Italian grottoes.

A critical review in 1967 led to a new emphasis on scientific conservation, education and preservation. New exhibits were built starting with the Platypus and Nocturnal houses, waterfowl ponds and walkthrough Rainforest Aviary. A Veterinary Quarantine Centre was built as was an Education Centre (funded by the Department of Education). Previous attractions such as elephant rides, miniature trains, monkey circus and merry-go-round gave way to educational facilities such as Friendship Farm and Seal Theatre (these latter two exhibits completed in the late 1970s).^[7]

A gondola lift (known as the Sky Safari) was installed in 1987 and updated in 2000, transporting passengers between the bottom of the park close to the ferry wharf, and to the top end of the zoo. The gondola closed on 31 January 2023 due to reaching the end of its workable life. A proposed update to create a more unforgettable and fully accessible family experience for passengers is in progress. Pending approval, the Sky Safari is scheduled to re-open in 2027-2028.^[8][9][10]

In 2000, TCSA commenced a 12-year $250 million master plan, the majority of which is being spent at Taronga Zoo. The first major master plan item was the Backyard to Bush precinct which opened in April 2003. Under the plan, the zoo received five Asian elephants from the Thailand Zoological Park Organisation for breeding purposes, education, long-term research and involvement of conservation programs. The plan has met opposition from environmental activists in Thailand, who blockaded the trucks hauling the elephants to Bangkok International Airport for their flight on 5 June 2006.^[11] The elephants along with other Asian rain forest specimens are housed in the Wild Asia precinct which opened in July 2005 (the elephants arriving from quarantine in November 2006) and aims to immerse visitors in an Asian rain forest environment (though later renamed Rainforest Trail as included species from tropical Africa).

A marine section, Great Southern Oceans, opened in April 2008. Recently, the redevelopment and restoration of the historic entrance opened, further adding to the masterplan. The chimpanzee exhibit also underwent expansion work and re-opened as Chimpanzee Sanctuary allowing its residents more space and also to assist making it easier for the introduction of new individuals by splitting the areas of the exhibit when necessary.^[12]

The Tiger Trek precinct opened in August 2017 allowing for multiple exhibits of critically endangered Sumatran tigers.

The zoo's African Savannah precinct, which opened in June 2020, was constructed as a major renovation and spatial expansion of the zoos' previous giraffe and zebra yards.

In June 2024, the Taronga Zoo opened up the Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Centre (ARC).^[13]

Zoo Friends is an annual paid membership program that provides unlimited, year round entry into Taronga and Western Plains Zoo. The membership also includes benefits such as half price parking, discounts in shops and cafes, exclusive access to events, and more.^[14]

The zoo collaborates with TAFE and its Institute of Science and Learning to offer specialized training courses. These programs focus on conservation, animal care, and wildlife management, providing hands-on education to future zoo professionals. Students gain practical experience, preparing them for careers in wildlife conservation and animal husbandry.

In February 2003, it became the second zoo in Australia to breed the platypus.^[15]

 

At 3.04 am on 4 July 2009, Thong Dee, an Asian elephant, gave birth to a male calf named Luk Chai. He is the first calf born in Australia. Thong Dee, and his father Gung, were two of the eight elephants imported into Australia to participate in the Australasian Conservation Breeding Program.

The baby elephant was a major tourist attraction, with thousands of visitors attending the zoo just to see him.^[16]

A second baby Asian elephant was thought to have died during labour on 8 March 2010. The calf's 18-year-old mother Porntip was in and out of labour over the week beforehand, after a pregnancy lasting almost two years.

Zoo keepers and veterinarians were concerned about the progress of the labour, with Porntip showing unusual movements and behaviour. An ultrasound revealed that the calf was unconscious in the birth canal, and the zoo announced on 8 March 2010 that the calf was believed to be dead.^[17][18] On 10 March 2010 at 3:27 am, the live male calf was born.^[19] He was subsequently named Pathi Harn, a Thai expression meaning "miracle".^[20] Pathi Harn's father is Bong Su, of the Melbourne Zoo, and was artificially conceived.

In October 2012, Pathi Harn critically injured his keeper by crushing her against a pole; the keeper survived.^[21]

The zoo's two remaining elephants, females Pak Boon and Tang Mo will leave in 2025 to live at Monarto Safari Park to be joined by two elephants from Perth Zoo there.

 

On 20 April 2014, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (as they were), along with their 8-month-old son, Prince George, visited Taronga Zoo Sydney to participate in an unveiling ceremony at the bilby exhibit. The bilby was eventually renamed "Bilby George" in honour of the little prince who performed his first official duty. Later, William and Kate visited the zoo again without George meeting the other animals for Easter.

On 17 January 2019, Kartika, one of the zoo's four Sumatran tigers, gave birth to three cubs, two female cubs, Mawar and Tengah Malam and one male cub Pemanah.^[22] Sumatran tigers are critically endangered, with fewer than 350 individuals alive in the wild. In total, 21 tiger cubs have been born at Taronga since 1980.^[23]

 

Taronga has been involved in numerous conservation captive breeding programs for endangered and vulnerable species for more than fifty years when the zoos management changed Taronga's trajectory away from general visitor entertainment to focus on assisting species that are threatened in their wild habitats.

For example, Taronga has been involved with the recovery program of the Regent Honeyeater for over 20 years. During that time they have bred and released over 200 of these birds into the wild, a significant contribution to their wild population. Taronga Zoo staff and volunteers have also helped with their habitat restoration by helping plant over 30000 trees in Capertee valley.^[24]

The zoo's female pygmy hippopotamus Kambiri gave birth to a female calf named Amara on 22 November 2021, who died suddenly on 24 December.^[25]

Taronga Zoo was once home to the world's only leopard seals living in a zoo. Leopard seals are native to Antarctica but on rare occasions, will come up to Australia's coastlines during the late winter months. From 1999 - 2014 Taronga housed three different leopard seals, Brooke, Sabine (females) and Casey (male). All three were found separately washed up on beaches sick, malnourished or injured. As leopard seals are from the Antarctic, it was recommended that these seals not be returned to the wild once rehabilitated as they could potentially transfer unknown diseases to the fragile wild population and cause damage to the Antarctic ecosystem.

These three contributed to important research conducted by the Australian Marine Mammal Research Centre (AMMRC), bettering the understanding of this typically remote and lesser understood species. AMMRC conducted important scientific studies using these three as subjects, including leopard seal whisker growth rate, echolocation inaudible to the human ear and the suction and filter feeding that leopard seals use to hunt krill in the Antarctic.

An entire new enclosure was built to house the leopard seals, located in the new Great Southern Ocean Exhibit which opened to the public in 2008.^[26] This exhibit now houses Australian sea lions, Californian sea lions and New Zealand fur seals.

Brooke was the first to be rescued. In 1999 Brooke was found on Garie Beach in the Royal National Park. She was underweight, dehydrated and suffering from shark attack injuries. She was taken to Taronga Zoo for rehabilitation, keepers and veterinarians at Taronga were able to nurse Brooke back to health. She was unable to be released after this due to concerns that she harboured unknown diseases. Brooke was very popular with staff and visitors, being the first of her kind on display in the world. In 2008 Brooke suddenly became less active and started refusing food and it was believed that she was succumbing to an unknown infection; on 23 May 2008 she succumbed to her illness and died. It is not known exactly how old Brooke was as she was not born at the zoo, but she was believed to be around 10 years old at her death.^[27]

Sabine was the second leopard seal to come into Taronga's care, being found on Clontarf Beach in 2007, malnourished and on the brink of death with cookiecutter shark injuries.^[28] Sabine was nursed back to health by Taronga's keepers. The exact date of Sabine's death is unknown.^[29]

Taronga's final leopard seal Casey was found in 2007 a week after Sabine was found. Casey was found washed ashore at Wattamolla, south of Sydney in poor health with a recent cookiecutter shark wound on his abdomen. Like the other two leopard seals, Casey was also unable to be released back to the Antarctic and was kept at Taronga as a permanent resident. Casey was nursed back to health; once the Great Southern Ocean exhibit opened in 2008 he and Sabine were moved there together, with Brooke dying months before it opened. Taronga Zoo hoped to encourage Casey and Sabine to mate, having the first leopard seal pup born in a zoo, but Casey was so young when he was found stranded that he never learnt his mating call. Taronga played the mating calls of mature male leopard seals for Casey in hopes that he would learn them, but Sabine died before he could learn them. In 2014 Casey's health and condition began to decline. Despite Taronga marine mammal and veterinary teams' efforts to help him Casey showed no signs of recovery. On 20 February 2014 the decision was made to euthanize him.^[30][31]

 

Taronga Zoo Sydney cares for approximately 5,000 animals from over 350 different species, many of which are threatened.^[5][32][33] They are housed in a large variety of exhibits, including:

 

 

 

Buru Nura (Kangaroo Country)

• Emu
• Kangaroo Island kangaroo
• Red kangaroo
• Red-necked pademelon
• Red-necked wallaby
• Swamp wallaby
• Tammar wallaby

Gulamanu Nura (Koala Country)

• Koala

Wuragal Nura (Dingo Country)

• Dingo

• Platypus
• Short-necked turtle

• Koala

• Tasmanian devil

 

• Northern corroboree frog
• Southern corroboree frog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Australian reed-warbler
• Barking owl ('Free Flight' bird show)
• Black-breasted buzzard ('Free Flight' bird show)
• Crimson finch
• Double-barred finch
• Gouldian finch
• Green pygmy-goose
• Lesser sooty owl ('Aussie Animals Alive' show)
• Masked finch
• Pied stilt
• Red-tailed black cockatoo ('Free Flight' bird show)
• Rufous whistler
• Southern cassowary
• Spinifex pigeon
• Star finch
• Sulphur-crested cockatoo ('Free Flight' bird show)

 

• Australian pelican
• Australian sea lion
• California sea lion
• Fiordland penguin
• Little penguin
• Long-nosed fur seal

• Red panda

 

 

 

 

 

 

• African lion
• Fennec fox
• Giraffe
• Helmeted guineafowl (free roaming)
• Meerkat
• Ostrich
• Plains zebra

• Chimpanzee
  

• Western lowland gorilla

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Sun bear

• Red junglefowl (free roaming)
• Sumatran tiger

• Bolivian squirrel monkey
• Cotton-top tamarin

 

 

• Aldabra giant tortoise
• Andean condor
• Arabian camel
• Blue peafowl (free roaming)
• California sea lion ('Seals For The Wild' show)
• Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo
• Red panda
• Ring-tailed lemur

The zoo has announced the following plans for the next decade:

• New wildlife hospital to replace old reptile center
• Asian elephants Pak Boon and Tang Mo moving to Monarto Safari Park in 2025^[34]
• Indian rhinoceros and Asian water buffalo shared exhibit (upon departure of elephants)
• Congo rainforest precinct
• Critically endangered Philippine crocodile will join the collection of the Reptile & Amphibian building

 

Taronga Zoo is currently home to a multi-male, multi-female troop of 21 chimpanzees of various ages.

 

 

 

Samaki was born in November 2001 to Shiba. Samaki and his brother Shabani were known for years by keepers as the "S boys" when Samaki acted as a supporter for older brother Shabani during various alpha challenges against previous alpha Lubutu. Samaki has now successfully taken the alpha role for himself with support in particular from Sule. Samaki is the father of Cebele.

Shabani was born in September 1994 to Shiba. Shabani is not very tolerant of the infants in the group and will occasionally redirect aggression towards the females of the group. Shabani had attempted many times to oust previous alpha male Lubutu from his position, but his lack of popularity meant the females supported Lubutu during any conflicts, now his younger brother Samaki has taken the alpha male role.

Furahi was born in February 2003 to Kuma. He is one of two adolescent males in the troop and has a close relationship with his mother, Kuma. Furahi had offered support to his mother, particularly when his baby brother Fumo was born in 2013. Furahi enjoys displaying, like the adult males in the troop and will occasionally harass the females.

Shikamoo was born in July 2003 to Sasha. Shikamoo has a close friendship with Furahi and is often seen bonding with him. Shikamoo is protective of his brother, Sule, and is popular amongst the females of the troop, particularly Kuma and Kamili. Shikamoo is the father of Fumo.

Sule was born in April 2008 to Sasha. Sule was the youngest member of the troop for five years until the birth of Fumo. Sule had often babysitting Fumo when he was smaller. He has likely learnt this behaviour from his elder brother, Shikamoo, who used to interact with Sule in a similar way. Sule has shown advanced social skills from a young age and often acts as a peacemaker during altercations. He is popular amongst the troop and enjoys showing off to the visitors. He occasionally has tantrums and flicks his hands in the air. Sule is currently the alpha male of the troop.

Fumo was born in October 2013 to Kuma. He is the oldest of the four infants in the community. Kuma has encouraged Fumo's development from an early age and he is advanced in his climbing skills. Fumo had recently begun using the artificial termite mound at a very early age. Fumo has created a good relationship with the youngest infant, Cebele.

Sudi was born in August 2014 to Shiba. Sudi has been kept under close protection from his mother, and has not been allowed the freedom to explore, Kuma has allowed Fumo.

Liwali was born in September 2014 to Lisa. Liwali was the youngest chimpanzee in the group for three years until Cebele was born in 2017. Liwali has developed a close bond with the other two infants, Fumo and Sudi, as they have grown up together.

Niambi was born in October 2020 to Naomi.

 

Lisa was born at Taronga Zoo in August 1979 to Lulu and is the highest ranking female, and the most senior Chimpanzee in the community. Lisa has had five offspring including a son Lobo who was born in June 1989 and died in November 1996, a son Lubutu who was born in June 1993, a daughter Lani who was born in May 2002 and a son Liwali who was born in September 2014. Lani has since moved zoos.

Sasha was born at Taronga Zoo in June 1980 to Spitter. Sacha has had six offspring including a son Sokwe who was born in August 1989 and died in October 1989, a daughter Kike who was born in April 1991, a son Sandali who was born in February 1996, an unnamed daughter who was born and died in September 2002, a son Shikamoo was born in July 2003 and a son Sule who was born in April 2008. Kike was exported to Perth Zoo in June 1998 and Sandali was exported to Adelaide Zoo in December 2008.

Shiba was born in May 1981 to Susie and has produced five offspring: A son, Shabani, in 1994; an unnamed male who died at birth in 1999; a son, Samaki, in 2001; a daughter, Sembe, in 2008; and a son, Sudi, in 2014. Shiba is a high ranking female in the troop and is independent and tough. Her mother, Susie, died in 1995, leaving Shiba without the maternal support Lisa and Sasha had from their mothers. Today, Shiba has support in conflicts from her two adult sons, Shabani and Samaki. She did not initially accept Lubutu's take over as alpha male in 2001 as he was only eight years old, and she likely realised his threat to her son Shabani's chances of becoming the alpha male. Shiba is fiercely protective of her offspring and access to her newborn son, Sudi, by the troop was very restricted while he was small.

Shona was born in October 1987 and is the lowest ranking adult. Shona was sterilised during the 1990s and has never produced any offspring. Shona has a good relationship with the alpha male, Lubutu, but receive little support from the other chimpanzee, including her aunt, Shiba. Shona is a small chimpanzee and is often harassed by the males. Shona has a good relationship with Kamili.

Kuma was born in December 1991 to Ficha and has given birth to three offspring, a son Furahi who was born in February 2003, an unnamed daughter who was born and died in October 2012 and a son Fumo who was born in October 2013. Kuma, then an adolescent, had a difficult time raising her first son, Furahi, due to a lack of family support. Furahi, now fully grown, and supported Kuma in raising her second son, Fumo. Kuma has made significant advances in the hierarchy. This success is due to her large size, the support of an adult son, and her ferocity. It is not uncommon to see Kuma take on the alpha or beta male and win, especially if she is defending Furahi in conflicts.

Kamili was born in September 1995 to Koko, and has had three offspring. Her first offspring, was an unnamed daughter, born in 2005, who died in 2005. Kamili gave birth again in 2013, to an unnamed son, which died after birth. Kamili gave birth to her third offspring in 2014, which died shortly after birth due to mismothering. Kamili had been separated, along with her pregnant mother, Koko, to allow the two low ranked females to raise their young in safety during the critical first weeks, but this was unsuccessful. Koko, and Kamili are often involved with conflicts within the group and receive little support from the others. In 2004, Koko and Kamili attacked Shiba's juvenile son, Samaki, who probably would have been killed, had Shiba not intervened. Kamili is close to Shona and the pair often spend time grooming each other.

Sembe was born in February 2008 to Shiba. Sembe has always been very close to her mother, Shiba, and had struggled to adjust to the birth of her new sibling, Sudi. Sembe was still riding on her mother's back at the age of six but as Shiba's pregnancy advanced, she grew less tolerant of this. Sembe often walked, one arm draped over her mother. Sembe is a feisty young female who had struggled to adjust to life within the community when her mother was fully absorbed with Sudi. Sembe lacks the social skills displayed by Sule and will have to work hard if she is to make any connections outside of her family. She remains close to her adult brothers, Shabani and Samaki and often interacts with Sule, who is two months younger. For many years, Sembe was dominant to Sule, but as they entered adolescence, the roles quickly began to reverse.

Naomi was born at Givskud zoo in Denmark. She adjusted well to her move, however is often involved in fights with members within her group.

Ceres was born at Givskud zoo in Denmark. She has had two offspring, including a daughter on 14 November 2017 named Cebele. During the time of birth, Ceres was very protective of Cebele and always made sure that she knew of her whereabouts. Cebele couldn't get very far from her mother, who was very selective about who she played with. Cebele was often seen clinging to her mother's stomach and cuddling with her mother and Fumo. Sadly Cebele died in July 2023 from an illness just a few weeks before Ceres would give birth again.

Safiri was born in May 2019 to Shiba.

Lemba was born to Lisa in May 2023.

Cekiri was born to Ceres in July 2023. She is currently the youngest Chimpanzee in the community.

Lubutu was born in June 1993 to Lisa and was the long term alpha male of the chimpanzee troop at Taronga Zoo up until his sudden death from lung failure. Lubutu took on the role of alpha male at the age of nine years after the previous alpha male, Snowy (his father) died suddenly. Lubutu was tolerant of the infants in the group and was often seen playing with them. Through his fair leadership and support from the females in the troop, Lubutu attributed to his success and lengthy tenure as a leader. At one point during Lubutu's leadership, Samaki and Shabani stood an excellent chance of taking over the alpha role. Lubutu was the father of Samaki, Furahi, Shikamoo, Sembe and Sule. He was vasectomised in 2009, as his genetics were well represented in the region. Lubutu died in December 2019.

Spitter was born at Taronga Zoo Sydney in June 1960 to Biddy. Spitter had seven offspring including an unnamed son who was born and died in January 1972, an unnamed son who was born and died in July 1973, a daughter Speedy who was born in May 1975 and died in July 1975, a daughter Sheba who was born in June 1978 and died in September 1978, a daughter Sacha who was born in June 1980, a daughter Sally who was born in January 1985 and a son Gombe who was born in December 1988 and died in May 2001. Sally was transferred to Wellington Zoo in April 1992. Spitter died in March 2022.

Koko was born in January 1972 in the wild, and came to Taronga Zoo Sydney in February 1993. She had five offspring including an unnamed daughter who was born and died in August 1994, a daughter Kamili who was born in September 1995, an unnamed daughter who was born and died in June 1999, an unnamed daughter who was born and died in February 2003 and an unnamed son who was born and died in September 2014. Koko died in May 2019.

 

The Taronga Zoo ferry services are, for many tourists, the preferred mode of travel to the zoo, providing a 12-minute ride from the city to the zoo.^[35][36] Passengers disembarking at Taronga Zoo ferry wharf, located on Bradleys Head Road, can enter the zoo via its lower entrance or connect with local Keolis Downer Northern Beaches bus services to the top entrance.

Taronga Zoo Sydney also works with various other Sydney Harbour transport operators, such as Captain Cook Cruises and Yellow Water Taxis. Both of these operators offer combined tickets/packages which include tickets covering transport fares and zoo entry.

Taronga Zoo engages in a number of conservation efforts aimed at minimising human impact and ensuring ecological sustainability, working both in Australia and internationally.

In 2016, the legacy commitment was launched, dedicating the next decade to the conservation of ten critical species, known as the Legacy Species. These species included five native to Australia, the Koala, Regent Honeyeater, Southern Corroboree Frog, Marine Turtles, Platypus, and Greater Bilby, as well as five that are on the brink of extinction in Sumatra; the Sumatran Rhinoceros, Sumatran Tiger, Asian Elephant, Sun Bear, and Sunda Pangolin.^[37]

The zoo also focuses on minimising waste, diverting 84% of waste away from landfill and towards 20 different waste streams.^[38] One main focus is on single use plastics, encouraging reusable bags, water bottles, and coffee cups on site, and distributing biodegradable bags and food packaging. As part of the Seal talk and demonstration, the zoo encourages sustainable seafood choice through the MSC label.^[39]

On the morning of 2 November 2022 at 6.40am, five African lions escaped their enclosure. Police officers were called to the zoo at around 7.00am, and no injuries were reported. The lions were returned to their enclosure with one cub tranquilized.^[40] On 1 December 2022, the ABC published CCTV footage, obtained in a Government Information Public Access request, that shows the lions escaping through a hole in a fence.^[41]

•  
  Asian small-clawed otter
•  
  Egyptian goose
•  
  Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo
•  
  Capybara
•  
  Cotton-top tamarin on Moreton Bay fig
•  
  Broad-headed snake
•  
  Ring-tailed lemur
•  
  Dingo
•  
  Binturong
•  
  Red-barred dragon
•  
  Asian elephant
•  
  Arabian camel
•  
  Fijian crested iguana
•  
  Red panda
•  
  Meerkats
•  
  Aldabra giant tortoise
•  
  Emu
•  
  Canberra grassland eared dragon
•  
  Bellinger River turtle
•  
  Red-bellied black snake
•  
  Seal seen through underwater viewing glass
•  
  Brush-tailed rock wallaby
•  
  Booroolong frog
•  
  Fennec fox
•  
  Yellow spotted bell frog
•  
  Giraffe
•  
  Little penguin
•  
  Red-tailed black cockatoo
•  
  Female Australian sea-lion during a Seals For The Wild Show
•  
  California sea-lion leaping during a Seals For The Wild Show

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Taronga Zoo.

 

Wikivoyage has a listing for Taronga Zoo.

• Taronga Conservation Society
• Taronga Western Plains Zoo
• Taronga by Victor Kelleher, a work of fiction using Taronga Zoo as its setting

• Official website