Come Face To Face With Marine Giants
Sun Herald
Sunday December 16, 2007
Taronga Zoo's new exhibit brings you within a whisker of the clapping creatures of the Antarctic, writes Laura Parker.
Taronga Zoo's marine mammals are celebrating Christmas in style in their new home - the Great Southern Oceans Exhibit.The 1.2-hectare exhibit will open its doors to the public in late January, and will allow underwater and face-to-face viewing of Taronga's little penguins and Fiordland crested penguins as well as a range of seal species including Australian sea lions, Australian fur seals, New Zealand fur seals, Californian sea lions and the only leopard seal in the world to be cared for in a zoo.Great Southern Oceans will combine conservation, research and education programs about the marine giants, while providing some of the world's finest breeding and display facilities.Visitors will have the chance to see the animals in beach and ocean habitats. New deep pools, an Antarctic research submarine offering panoramic underwater viewing and a discovery theatre are sure to be big hits with visitors.For the first time, zoogoers will be able to meet the seals in the new seal encounter pools, where trainers will be on hand to talk about how the giant creatures behave in the wild. The little penguin breed-for-release program will continue in the new penguin breeding grounds with public viewing through clear glass.For more details on opening days and times of the Great Southern Oceans Exhibit phone the zoo on (02) 9969 2777.Also at Taronga this summer, you can say hello to the two new dingo pups in residence - Basil and Matilda, who have moved from the Dingo Discovery and Research Centre in Victoria.The QBE Free Flight Bird Show has just welcomed a new member to its show, Leslie the Andean Condor. Leslie showed off her impressive three-metre wingspan when she debuted in the show last October. She will be joined by another new stablemate, Gabby the wedge-tailed eagle, who this summer will be flying in the show for the first time.Visitors looking for a larger-than-life experience can see Taronga's five Asian elephants dunking each other in the deep pool, throwing dust from their dirt mounds over themselves and playfully scattering mud from their wallows over unsuspecting visitors. Meanwhile, Taronga's long-legged giraffe youngster, Jimiyu, will be celebrating his first summer at Taronga Zoo.He arrived in late August in a special road convoy from Dubbo's Western Plains Zoo to join Taronga's four female giraffes, Hope, Nyota, Andara and Zaraffa, in their home with its famous harbour view.
© 2007 Sun Herald