Taronga Zoo Still the Most Popular Experience in Zoo
There are few things I enjoy more than a day at Taronga Zoo, so I was thrilled to hear the wildlife park has taken out the title of most popular Sydney experience for the fourth consecutive year.
A giraffe at Taronga Zoo, Sydney
“This result proves that people are interested in our work for wildlife and that conservation is fascinating and exciting. It also makes us uniquely positioned to educate and inspire the community about conservation issues and hopefully positively influence their attitudes and behaviours,” said Taronga’s General Manager Marketing and Commercial Operations, Paul Davies. “As far as we know, no other zoo or tourist experience across Australia has ever received this level of support.”
The zoo received almost 1.5 million visitors in the last financial year. International visitors make up more than a quarter of those numbers. While their interest in Australia’s unique wildlife is behind those figures, I’d say there are many more tourists like me who visit to see the baby animals. In the last year the zoo enjoyed the birth of Australia’s first elephant calf Luk Chai, along with a rare Francois Langur monkey, a pygmy hippo, and endangered Corroboree frogs.
Taronga’s emphasis on animal care also makes it something special. I remember visiting zoos in America and feeling so sad watching big cats pacing in concrete cages, and other animals living in artificial surrounds. You get a sense at Taronga that the animals there are truly happy, free from predators and lapping up the attention they receive from zoo staff and visitors.
How long has it been since you’ve visited Taronga Zoo? If you’re a tourist this wildlife park is not to be missed, and if you’re a local it’s worth another look.
Trading hours: The zoo is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm
Location: Taronga Zoo (map)
Address: Bradleys Head Road, Mosman
Public transport: Catch a ferry from Circular Quay or bus from Wynyard Station
Parking: On site parking costs $15
Cost: Adult passes are $43, children are $21, and kids under four are free
Website: http://www.zoo.nsw.gov.au
Image source: Trav Media
