Taronga Zoo Sydney has officially reopened to the public, offering guests the chance to reconnect with their favourite animals and nature, enjoy time safely with family and friends and even meet some new faces with the arrival of Giraffe mother and Calf, Kito and Ebo, from Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Taronga’s top priority is to ensure guests are safe, resulting in some changes to the usual guest experience. Following advice provided by the NSW Health Department and the State and Federal Government, daily visitor numbers will initially be lower than normal capacity, and guests, including zoo friends, will need to register their visit online before attending the Zoo.
The QBE Free Flight Bird Show and Seals for the Wild (powered by Red Energy) presentation will operate with reduced audiences, while keeper talks will not resume at this time but can be viewed online at TarongaTV.com. Hygiene measures including extra sanitizing stations, signage encouraging social distancing and increased cleaning have also been put in place throughout the zoo.
Taronga Conservation Society Australia CEO Cameron Kerr said that it was an exciting step for Taronga to welcome back guests and that safety continued to be a top priority: “Our guests really are the heart and soul of our zoo community, so, after nine long weeks without them, we are beyond excited to open our gates to the public and have a few surprises waiting for them.
“We’ve been working hard to make sure our Zoos are safe for guests and have made some changes to the zoo experience. While a visit today might be a little different to what guests have always known, I have no doubt that with the animals and keepers ready and waiting, guests will be delighted by the amazing experiences we have to offer,” said Kerr.
For the first time in more than twenty years, guests to Taronga Zoo Sydney will be able to see a Giraffe calf on their next visit, with six-month old Ebo and mum Kito making the trip from Taronga Western Plains Zoo during the closure to join Jimiyu and Zarafa in a brand new Giraffe Exhibit overlooking Sydney Harbour.
Since arriving last week, Ebo and Kito have become comfortable with the new members of their herd and made themselves at home in their new exhibit, which is three times longer than Taronga Zoo Sydney’s original space and will allow the Giraffes to gallop from one end of the exhibit to the other.
NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean said it was great news for Sydney to see Taronga reopen its doors to the public.
“Taronga has, and always will be a place of joy for the community, a place where people can connect with amazing wildlife and enjoy nature. It’s been an incredibly tough start to the year and this is a great way to lift our communities spirit. I encourage everyone to plan a visit to Taronga, either in Sydney or in Dubbo – and to say a warm welcome to the new residents,” said Kean.
For more information about Taronga’s reopening, ticket sales and the safety measures in place, please visit our website: taronga.org.au
