• Media Releases

  • Sea-Lion Pup
  • Northern Beaches schools join Taronga to help penguins

• The Zoo

  • Series 1
    • Episode 1
    • Episode 2
    • Episode 3
    • Episode 4
    • Episode 5
    • Episode 6
  • Series 2

Black Rhino IVF

Rocket the Black Rhinoceros recovered completely from the procedure to collect her eggs. Western Plains Zoo is part of the International Rhino Foundation which is working to save this species and breed them in a few expert zoos around the world.

During the last century, the black rhino has suffered the most drastic decline in total numbers of all rhino species. Between 1970 and 1992, the population of this species decreased by 96%. In 1970, it was estimated that there were approximately 65,000 black rhinos in Africa - but, by 1993, there were only 2,300 surviving in the wild. Intensive anti-poaching efforts have had encouraging results since 1996. Numbers have been recovering and are still increasing very slowly. Nevertheless, the poaching threat remains great and anti-poaching efforts are being maintained.

Frala the Western Lowland Gorilla gives birth to Fuzu

Frala and her baby "Fuzu" are doing very well under the watchful eye of magnificent silverback, Kibabu. Fuzu has been a good size even at birth and he remains very strong, these days riding around on his mother's back. He joins older brother Fataki and older sisters Mbeli and Kimya, bringing the number of Kibabu's family up to eight.

This baby is an extremely valuable addition to world breeding programs for gorillas, helping insure against rapidly declining numbers of gorillas in Africa. Western Lowland Gorillas are endangered. The long-term survival of this species is under serious threat due to the ever-growing bushmeat trade, poaching and forest clearing.

Sea Turtle rescue

'Mac' the Green Sea Turtle

Green Sea Turtles are found in Australian waters and are only seven species of marine turtles in the world. Unfortunately their population is on the decline due to factors such as pollution and illegal fishing or tangled in fishing nets.

They male sea turtle spend all of their life at sea, the females only come to land to lay eggs. They do this on a sandy beach, and crawl to the top of the sand to dig a hole. They lay about 100 eggs and then cover them with sand. Females lay their eggs in the same place they hatched and return to the same place each year.

"Fearless" Program

The latest 'Fearless' program was a great success with all participants having great results in resolving their fear of reptiles. The next course will be a spider program .

Vet and Keeper Profiles