Taronga Zoo

Taronga Zoo entranceEastern Water Dragon
Taronga Zoo is the city zoo of Sydney, New SouthEastern Blue-tongued Lizard
Wales, Australia. Officially opened on October 7, 1916, itCunningham's Skink
is located on the shores of Sydney Harbour in theEastern Water Skink
suburb of Mosman. Taronga Zoo is managed by theSouthern Leaf-tailed Gecko
Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales underEastern Long-necked Turtle
the trading name Taronga Conservation Society alongHelmore Parrot Aviary
with Dubbo's Taronga Western Plains Zoo.Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo
Divided into eight zoogeographic regions, Taronga ZooYellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
is home to over 2,600 animals on 21 hectares, makingShort-billed Black-Cockatoo
it one of the largest of its kind.Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
ContentsMajor Mitchell's Cockatoo
1 HistoryGang-gang Cockatoo
1.1 Rustic BridgeBackyard to Bush
1.2 Later additions and changesSouthern Hairy-nosed Wombat
1.3 2000 MasterplanRed Kangaroo
1.4 Zoo FriendsEastern Grey Kangaroo
2 Notable EventsSpinifex Hopping-mouse
2.1 Platypus BirthHouse Mouse
2.2 Elephant BirthGuinea Pig
3 Animals and exhibitsEuropean Rabbit
3.1 Wild AustraliaSheep
3.1.1 Australian WetlandsGoat
3.1.2 Australian WalkaboutPig
3.1.3 Koala Encounters/Koala WalkaboutEmu
3.1.4 Platypus HouseBudgerigar
3.1.5 Australian NightlifeCockatiel
3.1.6 Australian Rainforest AviaryKing Quail
3.1.7 Australian Bush BirdsChicken
3.1.8 Creatures of the WollemiWild Turkey
3.1.9 Helmore Parrot AviaryChildren's python
3.1.10 Backyard to BushDiamond Python
3.1.11 Other Wild AustraliaRed-bellied Black Snake
3.2 Great Southern OceansCoastal Bearded Dragon
3.3 Moore Park AviaryLace Monitor
3.4 SerpentariaShingleback
3.5 South American AviariesEastern Blue-tongued Lizard
3.6 African WaterholeEastern Snake-necked Turtle
3.7 Chimpanzee ParkGreen Tree Frog
3.8 Gorilla ForestDainty Green Tree Frog
3.9 Wild AsiaGreen and Golden Bell Frog
3.10 Himalayan MountainsSplendid Rainbowfish
3.11 Cats of AsiaPacific Blue-eye
3.12 "Dog Row"Redback spider
3.13 Bear CanyonGolden orb-web spider
3.14 Giant TortoisesHuntsman Spider
4 TransportBird-eating spider
5 See alsoWolf Spider
6 ReferencesWhite-tail spider
7 External linksNet-casting spider
//Black house spider
HistoryDaddy Long Legs
Giraffes in front of Sydney's skyline.Desert Scorpion
Rustic Bridge in 2009.Rainforest Scorpion
The first public zoo in New South Wales opened inPraying Mantis
1884 at Billy Goat Swamp in Moore Park, on a siteBlack House Ant
now occupied by Sydney Boys High School andMeat Ant
Sydney Girls High School. Inspired by a 1908 visit to theGrasshopper
Hamburg Zoo, the secretary of the zoo, AlbertPhasmids
Sherbourne Le Souef, envisioned a new zoo based onGiant Burrowing Cockroach
the bar-less concept. After realising that the MooreAmerican cockroach
Park site was too small, the NSW GovernmentCentipede
granted 43 acres (17 ha) of land north of SydneyGarden snail
Harbour. A further 9 acres (3.6 ha) were laterMealworm
granted in 1916.Other Wild Australia
Taronga is an Aboriginal word meaning beautiful view.One of the Dingos at Taronga (2007)
Rustic BridgeRed Kangaroo
The "Rustic Bridge" was opened in 1915 and was oneEastern Grey Kangaroo
of Taronga Zoo's earliest landscape features. It wasTammar Wallaby
the main way in which visitors could cross the naturalYellow-footed Rock-wallaby
gully that it spans. Early photographs show it as aGoodfellow's Tree-kangaroo
romantic pathway secluded by plantings. The rusticEmu
effect was created by embedding stones in the wallMalleefowl
and like the Aquarium, its design was reminiscent ofSacred Kingfisher
Italian grottoes. A tunnel under the bridge that originallySouthern Cassowary
connected the Upper and Lower Aquariums has longEclectus Parrot
been blocked at both ends and is also very popular.Red Lory
Later additions and changesRainbow Lorikeet
A critical review in 1967 led to a new emphasis onPurple-crowned Lorikeet
scientific conservation, education and preservation.Red-rumped Parrot
New exhibits were built starting with the Platypus andVictoria Crowned Pigeon
Nocturnal Houses, waterfowl ponds and walkthroughDiamond Dove
Rainforest Aviary. A Veterinary Quarantine CentreCommon Bronzewing
was built as was an Education Centre (funded by theBlue-faced Honeyeater
Department of Education). Previous attractions suchRegent Honeyeater
as elephant rides, miniature trains, monkey circus andStriated Grasswren
merry-go-round gave way to educational facilities suchSaltwater Crocodile
as Friendship Farm and Seal theatre.Great Southern Oceans
In the mid-1980s, a cable car was installed that allowsLeopard Seal
visitors to view the zoo and Sydney Harbour. It runsCalifornia Sea Lion
from the bottom of the park close to the ferry wharf,Australian Sea Lion
and transports passengers to the top end of the zoo.Australian Fur Seal
2000 MasterplanNew Zealand Fur Seal
In 2000, TCSA commenced a 12-year $69 millionAustralian Pelican
master plan, the majority of which is being spent atFiordland Penguin
Taronga Zoo. The first major master plan item wasLittle Penguin
the Backyard to Bush precinct. Under the plan, the ZooMoore Park Aviary
received five Asian elephants from the ThailandNorthern Palm Squirrel
Zoological Park Organisation for breeding purposes,Mandarin Duck
education, long-term research and involvement ofLady Amherst's Pheasant
conservation programs. The plan has met oppositionSwinhoe's Pheasant
from environmental activists in Thailand, whoLuzon Bleeding-heart
blockaded the trucks hauling the elephants to BangkokSerpentaria
International Airport for their flight on June 5, 2006. TheFreshwater Crocodile
elephants along with other Asian rain forest specimensKomodo Dragon
are housed in the "Wild Asia" precinct which opened inMitchell's Water Monitor
2006 and aims to immerse visitors in an Asian rainShort-tailed Monitor
forest environment.Eastern Water Dragon
A marine section, Great Southern Oceans, opened inCoastal Bearded Dragon
April 2008.Chameleon Dragon
Zoo FriendsCentral Netted Dragon
Zoo Friends offers support in form of volunteers andTawny Crevice Dragon
fund raising for both Taronga and Western Plains Zoo.Frilled Lizard
Members are offered behind-the-scenes experiencesBasilisk
at the Zoo and unlimited Zoo entry. Members are alsoSailfin Lizard
eligible to volunteer to help at the Zoo.Green Iguana
Notable EventsRhinoceros Iguana
Platypus BirthFiji Banded Iguana
In February, 2003 it became the second zoo inFiji Crested Iguana
Australia to breed the platypus.Gila Monster
Elephant BirthAnaconda
Luk Chai at five months old.Jackson's Chameleon
At 3.04am on July 4th 2009 Thong Dee, an AsianVeiled Chameleon
Elephant gave birth to a male calf named Luk Chai. It isScheltopusik
the first calf ever born in Australia. Thong Dee is oneEastern Blue-tongued Lizard
of the 8 Elephants imported into Australia to participateNight Skink
in the Australasian Conservation Breeding Program.Hosmer's Skink
Taronga is expecting a further two calves to be bornLand Mullet
in the next two years. The baby elephant is a majorCunningham's Skink
tourist attraction, with thousands of visitors attendingGiant Cave Gecko
the zoo just to see him.Rough Knob-tailed Gecko
Animals and exhibitsTuatara
Taronga Zoo has about 340 species and over 2600Reticulated Python
individual animals. They are housed in a large variety ofAmethystine Python
exhibits, including:Green Python
Wild AustraliaBoa Constrictor
Australian WetlandsTaiwan Beauty Snake
Black-necked StorkRhinoceros Viper
Little Pied CormorantEyelash Viper
BrolgaEgyptian Cobra
Australian PelicanCorn Snake
Royal SpoonbillEastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Pacific Black DuckTaipan
Chestnut TealRed-bellied Black Snake
Blue-billed DuckBlack-headed Python
Australian Wood DuckStimson's Python
Australian ShelduckCollett's Snake
Plumed Whistling DuckFierce Snake
Water Whistling DuckDesert Death Adder
Black SwanBroad-headed Snake
Cape Barren GooseArafura File Snake
Magpie GooseStar Tortoise
Australian WalkaboutElongate Tortoise
A Peacock displays to male Red Kangaroo, 2007.Matamata
Red KangarooEastern Snake-necked Turtle
Tammar WallabyNorthern Snake-necked Turtle
Swamp WallabyBroad-shelled River Turtle
Agile WallabyRiver Cooter
Red-necked WallabySaw-shelled Turtle
EmuShort-necked Turtle
Koala Encounters/Koala WalkaboutGreen Tree Frog
KoalaRed-eyed Tree Frog
Short-beaked EchidnaWhite-lipped Tree Frog
QuokkaEastern Dwarf Tree Frog
Platypus HouseGreen and Golden Bell Frog
PlatypusCane Toad
Southern Hairy-nosed WombatSouth American Aviaries
Water RatBrazilian Agouti
Spinifex Hopping-mouseGreen-winged Macaw
Australian NightlifeSun Conure
[[Tasmanian DevilNanday Conure
Red-tailed PhascogaleBrown-throated Conure
BilbyRazor-billed Curassow
Long-nosed BandicootAfrican Waterhole
Long-nosed PotorooSun Bear
Brush-tailed BettongPygmy Hippopotamus
Common Ringtail PossumBrazilian Tapir
Squirrel GliderCommon Zebra
Yellow-bellied GliderGiraffe
Feathertail GliderBongo
Greater Stick-nest RatBarbary Sheep
Black-footed Tree-ratOstrich
Plains RatEgyptian Goose
Spinifex Hopping-mouseHelmeted Guineafowl
Ghost BatChimpanzee Park
Tawny FrogmouthChimpanzee
New Caledonian Giant GeckoGorilla Forest
Australian Rainforest AviaryWestern Lowland Gorilla
Rainbow LorikeetDe Brazza's Monkey
Musk LorikeetWild Asia
Eclectus ParrotAsian Elephant
Australian King ParrotSilvery Gibbon
Crimson RosellaFrancois' Langur
Double-eyed Fig-ParrotFishing Cat
Paradise RiflebirdBinturong
Wonga PigeonOriental Small-clawed Otter
Topknot PigeonChital
Superb Fruit-DoveMalayan Tapir
Emerald DoveGrey-headed Flying Fox
Brown Cuckoo-DoveGreen Peafowl
White-headed PigeonKalij Pheasant
Red-browed FinchGolden Pheasant
Blue-faced Parrot-FinchRed Junglefowl
Buff-banded RailChukar Partridge
Black-breasted ButtonquailKing Quail
Regent BowerbirdBuff-banded Rail
Eastern WhipbirdMandarin Duck
Noisy PittaRuddy Shelduck
Black-faced MonarchWater Whistling Duck
Pacific KoelCattle Egret
Australian Bush BirdsGlossy Ibis
(Now removed to build Walk-through Avairy)Royal Spoonbill
King QuailSacred Kingfisher
Painted ButtonquailWhite-bibbed Ground Dove
Green Pygmy-GooseLuzon Bleeding-heart Pigeon
White-browed CrakeSuperb Fruit-Dove
Banded LapwingNicobar Pigeon
Pacific Golden PloverPied Imperial Pigeon
Black-winged StiltRed Lory
Laughing KookaburraAustralasian Figbird
Sacred KingfisherRed-whiskered Bulbul
Forest KingfisherMetallic Starling
Rainbow Bee-eaterClamorous Reed-Warbler
Pheasant CoucalPekin Robin
Glossy Black-CockatooTri-coloured Mannikin
Musk LorikeetJava Sparrow
Little LorikeetKoi
Turquoise ParrotRosy Barb
Swift ParrotWhite Cloud Mountain Minnow
Superb Fruit-DoveMedaka
Rose-crowned Fruit-DoveHimalayan Mountains
Wonga PigeonRed Panda
Topknot PigeonSnow Leopard
Emerald DoveHimalayan Tahr
Bar-shouldered DoveCats of Asia
Peaceful DoveFishing Cat in Taronga (2007)
Brush BronzewingAfrican Lion
Crested PigeonSumatran Tiger
Noisy PittaBinturong
Eastern Spinebill"Dog Row"
Noisy FriarbirdDhole
Blue-faced HoneyeaterFennec Fox
New Holland HoneyeaterPygmy Hippopotamus
Striped HoneyeaterMeerkat
Crimson ChatBear Canyon
Variegated Fairy-wrenKodiak Bear
Eastern Yellow RobinGiant Tortoises
Hooded RobinAldabra Giant Tortoise
Grey Shrike-thrushAndean Condor
Black-faced Cuckoo-ShrikeThe Taronga Zoo ferry wharf
SilvereyeThe latest addition to Taronga Zoo is the newly
Clamorous Reed-Warblerawaited Meerkat pups.
Eastern WhipbirdTransport
Diamond FiretailThe Taronga Zoo ferry services are, for many
Red-browed Finchtourists, the preferred mode of travel to the
Plum-headed Finchzoo.[citation needed] Passengers disembarking at the
Double-barred Finchferry wharf, located on Bradleys Head Road, can
Chestnut-breasted Mannikinenter the zoo via a cable car or connect with local
Satin BowerbirdState Transit bus services. Sydney Ferries offers
Regent Bowerbirdcombined "ZooLink" tickets covering ferry fares, park
White-browed Woodswallowentry and cable car ride.
Creatures of the WollemiSee also
PlatypusWikimedia Commons has media related to: Taronga
Short-beaked EchidnaZoo
Brush-tailed Rock WallabyWestern Plains Zoo
Australasian GrebeTaronga by Victor Kelleher, a work of fiction using
HardheadTaronga Zoo as its setting
Masked LapwingReferences
Bush Stone-curlew^ adb online
Little Pied Cormorant^ The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances
Laughing KookaburraPollen, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990,
Sacred KingfisherPublished in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8, page 181
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo^ National Multimedia
Gang-gang Cockatoo^ Daily Telegraph staff (July 25, 2008). "Taronga Zoo's
Scaly-breasted Lorikeetnew seal and sea lion show has a messages". The
Eastern RosellaDaily Telegraph.
Superb Parrot^
Red-rumped ParrotExternal links
Rose-crowned Fruit-DoveOfficial website
Wonga PigeonZoo Friends, a supporter of the Zoo, offers
Brush Bronzewingmembership and volunteer opportunities
DollarbirdDaily Telegraph feature-section on Taronga
Australasian FigbirdZoov  d  e
Noisy PittaSydney landmarks
Superb LyrebirdBuildings and Structures
Black-faced Cuckoo-ShrikeConvention and Exhibition Centre  Finger Wharf 
White-browed BabblerHyde Park Barracks  Queen Victoria Building 
Satin BowerbirdObservatory  Mint  Opera House  Harbour Bridge 
Regent BowerbirdSydney Tower  Town Hall  War Memorial  The
Striped HoneyeaterToaster  Kirribilli House  Parliament House  World
Regent HoneyeaterSquare  World Tower  General Post Office (No.
Diamond Firetail