Taronga Zoo Sydney is proud to announce the birth of five African Lion Cubs – the first lion cubs to be born at Taronga Zoo Sydney in 18 years. The five cubs who arrived in mid-August, are now five weeks old, and growing every day. 

In a first for Taronga, the public will be able to meet the new pride and support Taronga’s important conservation work with a brand-new cub cam, which is launching just in time for the spring school holidays. The Taronga TV cub cam is available for a limited time only for a tax-deductible donation of $7, allowing the public to watch the youngsters grow, all while supporting their cousins in the wild. 

The five cubs – three females and two males - were born to experienced mum Maya and first-time dad Ato on Thursday 12 August, which in a sweet turn of events also happened to coincide with Ato’s fourth birthday.

Carnivore Unit Supervisor Louise Ginman said the new pride are in good health and going from strength to strength. “Maya is a very attentive, nurturing and relaxed mother. Her labour went off without a hitch and we couldn’t be happier with the maternal behaviours that we are observing”.

“Now weighing between 5-6kg compared to approximately 1.5 kg at birth, each cub is growing and developing beautifully with mum Maya ensuring each cub is suckling and feeding well,” said Louise. 

Since their birth, the keepers have been closely monitoring the cubs via CCTV cameras in their specialised maternity den, and from today, the public will be able to join them via Taronga TV’s brand-new cub cam.

“In a first for Taronga, we are giving our community access to meet these five precious cubs and bringing them along on the journey from the very beginning. From when they start finding their feet, to when their paws touch grass for the first time – our community will be right there with us” said Cameron Kerr, CEO, Taronga Conservation Society Australia. 

“As a not-for-profit zoo, one the best ways the public can support our two Zoos and our critical conservation work is by tuning in to Taronga TV’s brand-new cub cam. With a donation of just $7 you are supporting our work at Taronga’s two zoos and our on-the-ground work in Northern Kenya -one of six native homelands of the African Lion” said Kerr.

African Lions are currently classified as vulnerable in the wild, with their population continuing to decrease due to human-animal conflict, habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade and poaching. 

“Taronga’s pride of lions are such amazing ambassadors for their wild counterparts as they help to raise awareness for their species and bring to the forefront the threats facing them in the wild,” says Carnivore Unit Supervisor Louise Ginman.

“Maya has been an invaluable contributor to the regional breeding program of the African Lion, and with less than 20,000 African Lions remaining in the wild, every cub really does count” said Louise.  

At the moment, the cubs are finding their feet behind the scenes in their nursery den, but soon enough they will be meeting milestones like their first health check, meeting their father Ato and eventually making their public debut later this year.

“We cannot wait to hear the pitter-patter of paws as the cubs start investigating and finding their way around their brand-new home at Taronga’s African Savannah Precinct, but that is still a little while off! Fingers and toes crossed our Zoo community will be able to witness this moment as well!” said Louise.

Despite both Taronga’s two Zoos being closed, the critical conservation work never stops and for a small tax-deductible donation of just $7 the public can now access Taronga TV’s brand-new cub cam and continue to support Taronga's vital conservation work and help save Lions in the wild.

To access Taronga TV’s cub cam head to www.taronga.org.au/cubcam. As Sydney’s only not-for-profit zoo Taronga is delighted to continue fostering connections between both wildlife and people. 

Humphrey the koala joey was born to mum Willow and is estimated to be just over 12 months old

Koala joeys stay in their mother’s pouch for up to 6 months, it is only from around that age that they begin to emerge and attach themselves to their mother’s back

Humphrey is the first koala joey born at Taronga Zoo Sydney in over a year

This is mum Willow’s fifth joey, she is a remarkable mum and has been invaluable in contributing to Taronga’s Koala breeding program

Humphrey is far too big for mums pouch now, but as you can see does enjoy a cuddle or two or a ride on mums back

Humphrey is growing in confidence every day and hitting milestones like developing the strength the jump from branch to branch within his exhibit

Although Taronga is currently closed, guests can tune in to Tarongatv.com to get their daily dose of animal antics!

Every day until the end of lockdown, Taronga TV will be pumping out a packed schedule of amazing animal content, including keeper talks, live animal streams and exclusive behind-the-scenes sneak peeks to showcase what the animals get up to behind closed doors

Tune in now Taronga TV now at tarongatv.com  

While winter school holidays plans across NSW have been thrown into chaos, a few Marine Keepers from Taronga Zoo Sydney have still taken to time to welcome and celebrate the month of June and spread some much-needed laughter and joy around the zoo. To mark the occasion, Taronga’s waddle of little penguins were treated to some very n-ice enrichment! Kindly donated by Sydney Fish Market, keepers created a mini winter wonderland within the little penguin's exhibit. As little penguins are found natively along the southern coastlines of Australia this isn’t something they would experience in the wild. For never actually seeing snow, keepers explained that the little penguins were quite brave, tapping their little flippers over the ice and investigating their new environment.

A rare short-beaked echidna puggle has emerged at Taronga Zoo Sydney.

The puggle is estimated to be about seven months old and was born to experience mum Ganyi. 

It is very rare to get up close to echidna puggles as they spend the first couple of months of their life in a deep burrow that their mum makes.

Echidnas, although iconic, are unusual animals known as monotremes – mammals that lay eggs.

Despite being warm-blooded, their young puggles are hatched from eggs and mothers produce milk for their puggles in their makeshift pouch.

This little puggle, which is yet to be named is progressing well, currently weighing in at 1.7kg and displaying natural behaviours like foraging and digging.

At around seven months of age puggle mums with continue with their own life and leave the puggle to fend for itself.

This is the 10th puggle to be born at Taronga Zoo Sydney since the development of the echidna breeding facility.

Taronga's ridiculously cute tree kangaroo joey 'Taro' has finally decided to fully emerge from his mother's pouch. At 10 months old and weighing just under 2kg, the little late bloomer was a touch hesitant in venturing out of his mum Kwikal's pouch earning himself the nickname 'pouch potato'.

Taking inspiration from the joey's nickname, keepers have settled on the name 'Taro' for the youngster, which is a form of sweet root vegetable, one of his favourite treats popular in his native homeland of Papua New Guinea. 

Taro has become incredibly active and confident over the last couple of weeks. Guests will have the opportunity of witnessing Taro exploring and attempting to climb to the tops of trees in the final days of the school holidays. 

Guests can also take advantage of their “Dine and Discover” vouchers and receive $25 off the purchase of their Zoo ticket and animal encounters as well as $25 off any food and beverage purchase. To find out more and book your tickets, please head to www.taronga.org.au/buy-tickets 

Taronga Zoo Sydney is celebrating the birth of a critically endangered male François’ Langur, one of the world’s rarest monkey species, who has arrived just in time to delight guests these school holidays. At just over three weeks old, the adorable new arrival is doing well and has been named Manchu by his Primate Keepers – which means pure in a local Chinese dialect.

Like all François’ Langur babies, the little one was born with vibrant orange fur, an incredible contrast to his mother Meli and the rest of the troop who are all black in colouring. It is believed that colour distinction makes it easier for adults to identify and look out for infants. 

“It is not uncommon in François’ Langur communities for other female monkeys to lend a hand raising infants. This is known as allomothering, and it lets mum have a break but also benefits the development of the infant as they are exposed to experienced members of the troupe,” says Primate Supervisor Mel Shipway. 

“François’ Langur babies develop quite quickly, and we have already witnessed Manchu attempt to climb and move independently from mum. He is also starting to show patches of black fur across his body and some white stripes on his face, so we aren’t too sure how long he will be orange in colour, all infants develop at different rates”, says Shipway.

“Langurs are lesser-known species of monkey, but they are beautiful and vibrant creatures, we would love guests to come see this adorable new addition to the Taronga's primate family” says Shipway

The birth of Manchu brings the total number of Langurs at Taronga Zoo to 11. While the monkeys can be lightening fast as they move through the exhibit, the group are fed daily at 9.30 am, 12 pm and 2.45 pm which make great viewing times.  

François’ Langurs are a critically endangered species found in China and Vietnam and continue to be heavily poached for traditional medicines and face habitat loss through mining and deforestation.

With an estimate of only around 1,500 individuals left in the wild, this species like many other primates are in trouble. The birth of this male at Taronga is great news for François Langurs, as he will be an incredible ambassador for his species and wild relatives.

Manchu joins many new arrivals these Easter School Holidays including Birubi the Long-nosed fur seal pup, Humphrey the koala joey, a Tree Kangaroo joey, seven Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys and of course Amalie an Australian sea lion pup!

Guests can also take advantage of their “Dine and Discover” vouchers and receive $25 off the purchase of their Zoo ticket and animal encounters as well as $25 off any food and beverage purchase. To find out more and book your tickets, please head to www.taronga.org.au/buy-tickets 

Taronga Zoo Sydney’s three-month-old long-nosed fur seal pup Birubi made her official debut at Taronga’s Seal Bay this week, just in time for the Easter School Holidays.

Birubi was born on December 21, 2020, to first-time mum Keke and was the first long-nosed fur seal pup to be born at Taronga in over twenty years. Just over three months old, Birubi has gone from strength to strength, with her size more than doubling since birth. Guests will have the pleasure of watching her find her flippers and may even be lucky enough to witness her take her first swim as she is now officially on display at Taronga’s Seal Bay!

Although she may be pint-sized, the little pup has a very confident personality and always has, according to keepers. “She loves to follow all of us around and is so intrigued by new people and items,” says Keeper Lindsay Wright. “It has been such a pleasure to watch Keke become a mother to Birubi, it is so crucial that they continue to be advocates for their wild counterparts,” says Wright.

Before conquering the depths of Taronga’s Seal Bay, seal pups need to master a few natural behaviours, which includes learning how to swim. Thus, Birubi and mum Keke has been spending most of their time off display in Taronga’s purpose-built pupping nursery. This facility has an adjustable floor which allows keepers to lower or increase the depth of the water. This allows the pup to grow in confidence with swimming before they are exposed to deeper waters.

Like most babies, Birubi will require some downtime to rest and re-energise. The best time to see her exploring and investigating her new environment is between 9.30 am-12.30 pm at Taronga’s Seal Bay.

Birubi joins a number of new arrivals these Easter School Holidays including Humphrey the koala joey, a Tree Kangaroo joey, seven Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys and of course Amalie an Australian sea lion pup!

Guests can also take advantage of their “Dine and Discover” vouchers and receive $25 off the purchase of their Zoo ticket and animal encounters as well as $25 off any food and beverage purchase. To find out more and book your tickets, please head to www.taronga.org.au/buy-tickets

Taronga Zoo Sydney is proud to announce the emergence of a brand new and ridiculously cute 8-month-old Koala joey named Humphrey!

Now not to be mistaken, the Koala joey was not named after Humphrey B. Bear. The little one was actually named by one Taronga’s very generous foundation members, who for many years have supported Taronga’s ongoing conservation and threatened species work.

Humphrey and mum Willow are reported to be doing incredibly well, with Senior Koala Keeper Laura Jones revealing that the joey “is already beginning to attempt to eat eucalyptus leaves and is hanging on really tight to mums back”.

Humphrey and mum Willow are out on display at Taronga Zoo Sydney’s brand new Koala Encounter Exhibit which has recently moved across from Taronga’s Koala Walkabout. For your chance to meet Humphrey and Willow, guests can book their encounter at Taronga’s onsite retail store whilst on their next visit to Taronga Zoo Sydney.

Taronga Zoo Sydney is thrilled to announce the birth of four Bolivian Squirrel Monkey babies, bringing the total number of Squirrel Monkey babies born this season to an impressive seven.

The seventh and final Squirrel Monkey birth took place last Thursday 21 January while the other three babies were welcomed into the world in late December and early January.

All seven babies are reported to be doing extremely well, with the eldest three starting to look very similar to their mums in both size and confidence. “The three eldest monkeys have become extremely active and more confident, especially in the last few weeks. They are starting to spend less time attached to their mums and are constantly exploring, climbing and swinging around their exhibit,” said Primate Keeper Scott Brown.

So far Taronga’s primate keepers have been able to identify the first five babies as males, but considering their young ages, agile nature and protectiveness of their mums, keepers are yet to determine the sex of the youngest two monkeys.

“Once we can properly identify the sex of the two recent births, we will begin the naming process. We already have quite a few names in mind, but they aren’t concrete yet so watch this space!

“All seven squirrel monkeys are available to view on exhibit, so keep an eager eye out for the youngsters perched on their mum’s back or for the older monkeys as they begin to play and explore on their own,” said Scott.

The Squirrel Monkey exhibit is one of the first exhibits to see on arrival, located next to the Taronga Institute of Science and Learning. Keepers perform a daily feed at 12 pm which is the best time to catch a glimpse of the new arrivals.

As a proud not-for-profit conservation-based zoo, guests who choose to visit Taronga are choosing to help secure a shared future for wildlife and people by contributing to Taronga’s conservation efforts.

Taronga Zoo Sydney is delighted to announce the emergence of an adorable Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo joey, just in time the for the last week of the summer school holidays. The new arrival also coincides with a very special offer, with 50% off the full price of adults, children and concession tickets until the end of the month.

The new male joey, who is yet to be named, is approximately 28 weeks old and has only just begun popping his head and shoulders out of mum Kwikila’s pouch. He will remain close to mum for the time being before he is weaned at around 18 months of age.