The Sydney Traveler

Have you seen the newest arrival at Taronga Zoo? This adorable little animal is Monifa, a baby pygmy hippopotamus!
The three-week-old hippo is only as big as a piglet, which is why she can be washed in this tub! In fact, baths are one of her favourite things!
“She’s such an inquisitive little thing and loves bath time, she even turns somersaults in the water,” said the zoo’s hippo keeper Renae Zammit.
Monifa means “I am lucky” in Nigerian, and it’s a pretty apt name! Wild pygmy hippos are under threat due to dwindling habitats and opportunistic hunters. Isn’t it wonderful that we …read more

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There’s a new baby at Taronga Zoo! Mahale, a male Western Lowland gorilla, was born on August 18. The adorable little boy made his public debut this week. The proud parents are the zoo’s oldest female, Moila, and the tribe’s leader Kibabu.
“With gorillas under intense pressure from jungle clearance and the bush meat and pet trades, as well as diseases like Ebola, this is a great result from one of the world’s most respected breeding groups,” said the zoo’s director Guy Cooper.
“It is a tribute to our keepers’ great husbandry skills, and provides a level of insurance and understanding of …read more

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I’ve insisted I needed to go to Taronga Zoo for some time. But something always seemed to come up, and my plans were put on the backburner. So when my husband committed to going with me last Sunday, I wouldn’t allow the rain to dampen our spirits. Umbrellas in hand, we got out there had a whole lot of fun.
Most people wait for clear skies and sunshine to see the zoo. I know I used to. But honestly, if you can manage it a grey day is the way to go. The weather scares the crowds away, so you don’t …read more

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Taronga Zoo’s newest arrival, a baby chimpanzee, is now on show. The female chimp was born last Wednesday after a 45-minute labour. Check out the gorgeous photos here!
The adorable little bundle is the first daughter born to Shiba, an experienced mum of three boys.
Taronga Zoo has more male chimps than females, so the birth of this little girl has extra significance zoo spokesperson Mark Williams told AAP.
“Having another female opens up another genetic line,” Mr Williams told AAP.
“That helps us manage the genetics … so that in the long term we have a genetically sustainable group, one that is not …read more

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There’ s a new reason to treat the kids to day out at Taronga Zoo these school holidays, with the birth of a gorgeous male Western Lowland gorilla last Saturday. The tiny new addition was born to proud mother Frala and father Kibabu.
“We are all extremely pleased with the safe arrival of this very special little baby,” said the primate unit supervisor, Louise Grossfeldt, on the zoo’s website. “We are always very excited around the time a baby gorilla is due, but also a little anxious because we hope for it to all go well. For it to be so …read more

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