Taronga Western Plains Zoo facts for kids
Taronga Western Plains Zoo Logo
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| Date opened | 28 February 1977 |
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| Location | Near Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia |
| Land area | 300 ha (741 acres) |
| Coordinates | 32°16′18.8″S 148°35′14″E / 32.271889°S 148.58722°E |
| No. of animals | over 1,000 |
| No. of species | 97 |
| Major exhibits | 45 |
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, also known as Dubbo Zoo, is a very large zoo located near Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. It first opened its doors to visitors on February 28, 1977. This special zoo was created to give big animals, like elephants and antelopes, much more space to live and raise their families than they could have at the smaller Taronga Zoo in Sydney. The zoo is run by the Taronga Conservation Society, which also looks after Taronga Zoo Sydney. You can find Taronga Western Plains Zoo on the Newell Highway, just a short drive from Dubbo city.
Contents
History of the Zoo
Building a New Home for Animals
In the late 1960s, people started planning a big "plains zoo" to work with Sydney's Taronga Zoo. The idea was to create a place where large animals that live on open plains could have lots of room. This new zoo would be perfect for showing animals that mainly eat grass. After a lot of planning, a spot outside Dubbo in central New South Wales was chosen. This area used to be an army camp during World War Two. It was then changed into a huge 300-hectare zoo with woodlands and green grasslands.
Opening Day and Unique Design
Western Plains Zoo officially opened to the public on February 28, 1977. When it first opened, the zoo had 35 different kinds of animals from six countries around the world. This zoo has a special "open-range" design. Instead of tall walls and fences, it uses hidden ditches called moats to separate the animals from the visitors. This clever design makes it feel like you are right there with the animals in their natural home! It was also the first new zoo built in Australia in 60 years.
Special Visitors and Awards
In 1992, Queen Elizabeth II visited Western Plains Zoo. Two years later, in 1994, the zoo won a big award: "Best Major Tourist Attraction." This was a huge honor in Australian Tourism! In 2006, the newspaper The Daily Liberal reported that British comedian John Cleese visited the zoo to help raise money for a new home for the Greater One-Horned rhino.
A New Name for the Zoo
On January 21, 2009, the zoo changed its name to Taronga Western Plains Zoo. This change was made to help people understand that the zoo is part of the important work done by the Taronga Conservation Society Australia.
Amazing Animals at the Zoo
Taronga Western Plains Zoo is home to many different animals from all over the world. They are grouped by where they come from or what kind of animals they are.
Primate Islands
These islands are home to some of the zoo's clever primates!
- Ring-tailed lemur
- Ruffed lemur
- Siamang
- White-handed gibbon
- Spider monkey
Africa Zone
Step into Africa and see some of its most incredible creatures!
- Cape hunting dog
- Black rhinoceros
- Scimitar oryx
- African lion
- Dromedary camel
- Ostrich
- Barbary sheep
- Rothschild's giraffe
- Common hippopotamus
- Southern white rhinoceros
- Grant's zebra
- South African cheetah
- Forest buffalo
- Bongo
- Sitatunga
Asia Zone
Discover animals from the vast continent of Asia!
- Persian onager
- Asian elephant
- Sumatran tiger
- Indian rhinoceros
- Asiatic water buffalo
- Asian small-clawed otter
- Banteng
- Fallow deer
- Przewalski's horse
Australia Zone
Meet some of Australia's unique native animals!
South America Zone
See a giant from South America!
Children's Zoo
This fun area has animals that kids love to see up close!
