At Last…the Toronga Zoo, Sydney!

One of the glaring omissions in my tour of Sydney is a visit to Toronga Zoo, on the north side of the harbor. Last Thursday, one of our Year Three Classes had a field trip to the zoo, and I tagged along to see the park.

It is not a large zoo, nor is it a small one. It opened in 1916, according to the wonderful archway over the entrance (1). I love all the old sculptural elements on the fascade (2-3). There were also some fun new art elements (4-5). The zoo sits almost opposite the Sydney Opera House so you can get wonderful views of the city while visiting the park (as you will see). There is also a ferry stop as it sits right on the shore.

First stop: a rare Komodo Dragon (6-7). He was in a large sandy pit. I don't think that I would want to tussle with him!

Afterwards, I headed to see the giraffes. I was told by a zoo keeper that they have excellent vision and that's why they get such a nice view of the city (8-11). She explained that if one were wearing a bright colored shirtand walking around the Opera House, the giraffess would be able to pick him or her out! Isn't that incredible? I just love how graceful and elegant they seem.

I briefly stayed for the seal show and was glad they did not have them balancing a beach ball on their snout (12). They did stand on their front flippers however (13). I noticed that a koockaburra snuck in to see the show, too (14-15). I didn't mind as they always look so cheery. Perhaps it was taking in views of the city (16).

Here are some photos of the female asian elephants (17-20) and a couple of shots of the giant tortoise (21-22). A baby elelphant was also prancing around (18, 20) (always so cute). I love the fur on the top of its head! Of course, I thought of my nephew John, who recently got a job working with the elephants at the Zoo in Indianapolis! (I'm so proud!)

They have only one large cat at this zoo: the Sumatran Tiger. It looked like they must have had other big cats, but decided that they didn't have space for them as the "big cats" sign was painted over, Still, you could tell where it had been. I like that they decided it was best for the animals not to have so many.

Their tiger enclosure is ample, though not huge. To get into the exhibit, you have to take a 7 minute "flight" to Sumatra. Entering this waiting area (23), video monitors on fake windows give you the impression of taking off and flying. (We even went through a fake storm that caused a little one to start crying…Poor thing!) On the other side, you learn about the efforts to help the tiger, of which there are only 400 left in the wilds of Sumatra. Then you get to meet three of the tigers (24-30).

Impressively large cats, though they are not as big as the Siberian Tiger. At one point one of the felines just plopped down right next to the glass! I couldn't resist a selfie (or two) (29-30)! Doesn't it look like there's no glass between us? I felt a connection, especially as she leaned back trying to lay her head on my shoulder (30). (Or maybe she was trying to eat my head which looked like a ripe melon!)

The meerkats were cute, and you get very close to the animals (31-33). And then it was feeding time at the gorilla exhibit. Before they came out, I found my feathered friend again, following me…or looking for a hand out (34). Here is a view of all the apes (35) and then close ups of the young ones (36-37) and some of the females (38) including one with a real tiny infant in her arms (39). Here is the adult male, called a silverback for obvious reasons (40-41).

Then I was off to some of the exhibits of native wildlife, like these fairy penguins (42-43). I am not sure what this crawfish like creature is called, but I love the unexpected blue coloring (44)! This is a "scaly-breasted lorikeet" (45-46) and this is a lyre bird (47-49). It was so funny to watch as it wandered around the ferns. I think it was jealous and thought the ferns were competing for a mate. So it lifted its tail feathers and made such a racket! It mimics sounds very well and you can hear it mimicing sounds of a camera and the metal gate opening. It almost sounded like I at a Star Wars movie. See the video link below of the same bird making other sounds. About three times he mimics the sound of a kookaburra laughing. It gives you an idea of what I experienced!

This fellow is called a dollarbird (not sure why) (50) and here are some other lovely emerald parrots feeding each other (51-53).

Out of the aviary I discovered: a tree kangaroo (54); and Australian Pelican (55); a wallaby (notice the snout is long and thin like a mouse) (56) and some kangaroos (with their more squarish noses) (57-58) all lounging and napping; some indoor. sleeping wombats (59); a snoozing, Tazmanian devil (60); a beautiful pair of regal geese (61-62); a huge emu (63-64), koala (65-66) and the amazing echidna (67).

Overall a nice zoo. I am glad I went, however, I would probably steer folks to Featherdale, as it was about $15 cheaper, closer to home, and less arduous of a walk as it is smaller and on level ground.