Sydney Zoo $36 million zoo with roaming African animals planned for Blacktown

True, though as a commercial operation they are no doubt aware there is no better publicity than a baby animal. Taronga always experiences a huge surge in visitation following the birth of tiger cubs, elephant calves etc. Even the offspring of less high profile animals encourage visitors to pause longer at their exhibit and therefore spend more time at the zoo. Not to mention the merchandise sales.

Initially this won’t be an issue. This is a new zoo, opening with a decent species list and people will arrive in the droves; but two or certainly three years down the line, they will need something to draw the crowds and sustain the interest. All of the non breeding species they are acquiring have a life expectancy of at least a decade (some many more), so this is no short term scenario we’re talking about.

 

Although baby animals do bring in visitors for their cute factor...

 

Sydney Zoo has received two ostriches.
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how would this new zoo compete with the ones that are already in Sydney? what makes it different from Taronga?

 

Sydney Zoo has released another construction update mentioning that their first native animals have arrived (no specific species mentioned). Also, the nocturnal/reptile house is complete and the aquarium's tanks have been filled.
The video also shows a few of the other animal enclosures for the smaller species.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=467621277445666

 

Orangs named individually in video now: Santan, Maimunah and Dewi.

 

.......and don't forget your sunscreen!

 

This is exactly what I was thinking. It looks very uninspiring with unimaginative and dull enclosures all lined up cramming multiple large species into a not especially huge site without any natural features or apparent variation of terrain like a playmobil zoo diorama or a children’s design. Hopefully I’ll see it for myself once it opens but I’m not especially excited by anything I have seen so far.

 

I’m starting to think this zoo was oversold to us:

“Sydney Zoo will be a world-class facility that redefines the visitor experience. With safari-like landscapes and cutting-edge technology for animal welfare, Sydney Zoo is set to become Australia’s most modern and progressive zoo.”

I agree with the comments regarding the basic layouts of the exhibits; they look like something somebody built during a half ars-d session on Zoo Tycoon.

 

Sydney Zoo has announced the arrival of five Geoffrey’s Spider Monkeys. The article also mentions that one of the thirteen baboons is pregnant. Also, their primate collection will include capuchins (a new import of the species would be ideal, however they will probably source them from within the region).
Also, Sydney Zoo originally imported 12 chimpanzees in April 2019, however one of the females, ‘Melli’ died after arrival from an undiagnosed heart condition.
https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www...round-ng-264ddd71131956c33b4b7d1ec67cb484.amp

 

I can’t find any sources that mention that the baboon group are all males.
When I contacted the zoo to ask, they said that additional information would be announced about the baboon group in the coming weeks, however it never was.
(Edit: I just saw your edited message).

 

It's disappointing that another urban zoo in Australia will be housing elephants. With Melbourne and Perth both announcing that elephants will not maintained in their collection for much longer it was just Taronga that had to be convinced to move into the 21st century.
Now this. And it's private.

 

Sydney Zoo has received two dingoes.
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@toothlessjaws: I can't see why it is disappointing to keep elephants in a urban zoo PER SE. As long as there is enough room (don't know if this will be the case at Sydney Zoo though) and other needs are given, it doesn't make it worse in comparison with a "countryside" zoo.
And looking at the ecological/environmental points it could be probably even better. The ways for employees and suppliers/distributors are mostly shorter, the urban zoo is mostly better connected with public transport (while most people traveling by car to a zoo out in the bush. I don't know how the situation is now at Dubbo, but about 15 years ago, there was no train station near the park entrance).

 

Speaking to a person who was in a position to know, Taronga received a constant stream of complaints about their elephants while Dubbo received none. There is a term "social licence" which is perhaps apt in this situation. The "social licence" for elephants in urban zoos appears to be running out, at least in Australia.

 

The unfortunate thing is that it didn't *need* to be such a constrained site. The Western Sydney Parklands are, in total, more than 15 times the size of Central Park. I wonder if they couldn't have secured a slightly more spacious location.