Changes at Taronga » Taronga Zoo

Changes at Taronga
21-04-2008

I went to Taronga on Friday and noticed the following changes since my last visit (which admittedly was some time in the distant past, i.e. about six-twelve months ago), some of which I don't know the explanation for.

* GSO, obviously (I note that there are still pelicans at the top waterbird ponds though).
* Tammar Wallabies moved from tree kangaroos to Australian Walkabout (no signage though).
* Old Spotted-tail Quoll exhibit in Nightlife now occupied by bilbies (possibly there last time, can't remember). Also Eastern Barred Bandicoots back on display (in Yellow-bellied Glider exhibit).
* In Serpentaria (or "Reptile World"): Pacific Ground Boa replaces White-lipped Tree Frog; Matamata replaces Broad-shelled River Turtle (moved from Boa Constrictors); Mulga Snake replaces Taiwan Beauty Snake.
* Jungle Cats closed and removed from map. Fishing Cats (Fiddle & Cantik) moved to porcupine enclosure near lions and tigers. No explanation for where Natasha is.
* Mary the gibbon not present; signs removed.
* Old seal pools and penguin exhibit empty; no signage indicating plans for them.
* No progress on cassowary exhibit (didn't really expect that).
* Moore Park Aviary populated with Mandarin Ducks, Luzon Bleeding-heart Pigeons, Lady Amherst's Pheasants (inc. several males who don't seem to mind each other's presence), Swinhoe's Pheasants and squirrels. [Lady Amherst's no longer in Nicobar Aviary.]
* Tree Shrews: only one of the exhibits at the tree shrew house still occupied. A sign says the rest are at the Moore Park Aviary, but the signage there says nothing of the sort and I couldn't see any in there.
* New elephant enclosure near Backyard to Bush well underway. No access to the Elephant Temple.
* At Backyard to Bush, the one that used to have Mealworms now has Namib Desert Beetles. (?) The phasmids were all labelled as well, and the walk around to the chicken coop and second pig pen was closed.

That's all I can think of. It was raining quite a bit on Friday but the zoo was looking pretty good (except that the water was murky, obviously). GSO was fantastic, naturally.

21-04-2008

I can explain a couple of things youve pointed out
*Tammar Wallabies moved. New Tree Roo bought in from San diego Zoo shes really timid so this could be the reason they have been moved. The keepers are trying to get her used to them as she was not really exibited at San Diego.
*Old Spotted-tail Quoll exhibit in Nightlife now occupied by bilbies. Some of the Bilbies(males) were getting extra food dropped by the bats so they were getting fat. I think they split the males and females.
*Mary the gibbon not present. Has been move down to the Asia precinct.
* Old seal pools and penguin exhibit empty. The seal pools are heritage listed so can not be demolished. But im not sure what plans they have for them as yet.
I will try asking around about the other thins when i have the chance.

21-04-2008

Thanks. Where is Mary in the Asian precinct?

21-04-2008

couldnt find Mary today in Asian precinct anywhere? behind the scenes???

21-04-2008

I can tell you know she is NOt in the asian precint as of 3 weeks ago

21-04-2008

How many matamata do they have and have they ever bred them?

22-04-2008

There are at least two. I don't know if they've been bred.

22-04-2008

we have two males so no, mary the gibbon never was in the asian precinct, she now lives in the orang house off display in the gibbon enclosure in there.

23-04-2008

I was told she was in the Asian precinct by someone in HR, but they did say she wasnt on display.

23-04-2008

Does anyone know the plans for her [Mary], or is she retiring permanently from the public view?

23-04-2008

HR??? Theres your problem. I remember one HR worker preparing a publication on reptiles for school kids lifted her head out of the books, exclaiming "did you know some snakes have live young!!!" Just because they work at the zoo doesnt mean they know much about animals, either at the zoo or in general. I mean, how can they when some zoo keepers dont know much either

23-04-2008

I'm not being picky here, just trying to solve your "mystery". stretchedandy was told that Mary is in the "Asian precinct by someone in HR". This is correct. The orang building (where Mary is living) comes under the duristiction of the Asian Precinct (a department at the zoo).

The HR person did not say "the Wild Asia exhibit", - his/her statement was quite correct.

23-04-2008

im not being Picky here either..but isnt division/precinct two different things??? because the orangutans are certainly not in the Asian precinct, such as it is, and when it comes to divisions, arent the divisions now simplified into exotic/native fauna divisions....not geographical divisions???

23-04-2008

by the way Im getting what your saying zoopro......not that slow

23-04-2008

zoopro - do you know why she was moved? was it due to construction noise (from memory the old elephant exhibit is next door), the exhibit being used for something else or for health reasons?