Taronga Western Plains Zoo, formerly known as (and still commonly referred to as) Western Plains Zoo and commonly known as Dubbo Zoo, is a large zoo near Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. It opened to the public on 28 February 1977,[1] to provide more living and breeding space for large animals such as elephants and antelopes which needed more space than was available at the restricted Sydney site. The zoo is run by the Taronga Conservation Society (formerly Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales), along with Taronga Zoo Sydney. Western Plains Zoo is located on the Newell Highway in west Dubbo about 5 km from the city.
In the late 1960s, plans to develop a large plains zoo to complement Sydney's Taronga Zoo were established. The new zoo would provide breeding facilities particularly suited to the large plains dwelling animals and to fulfil a need for an open range facility for the display of mainly grazing animals. After considerable planning and preparation, a site on the outskirts of Dubbo in central West New South Wales was chosen. Formerly an army camp during World War Two, the site was transformed into a 300 hectare zoo of woodland and irrigated grasslands.
Western Plains Zoo opened to the public on 28 February 1977. When the zoo opened, it contained 35 different animals from six countries. The zoo is an open-range design, with walls and fences replaced by concealed moats which divide the animals from the visitors. This creates the impression of actually being with the animals in the wild. It was also the first zoo to be built in Australia in 60 years.
In 1994 Western Plains Zoo was awarded as the Best Major Tourist Attraction, the highest honour in Australian Tourism.
On 26 September 2006, The Daily Liberal published an article announcing British comedian John Cleese was visiting the zoo "in order to raise money for a new Greater One-Horned rhino exhibit".[3]
Name changeedit
The zoo changed its name to Taronga Western Plains Zoo on 21 January 2008, citing the need to draw attention to the work of the Taronga Conservation Society Australia.[4]
Zoo friendsedit
Zoo Friends was an organisation which offered support in form of volunteers and fund raising for both Taronga Zoo Sydney and Western Plains Zoo. Members were eligible to volunteer to help at the Zoo. In 2009 the organisation was disbanded and all assets donated to the Taronga Conservation Foundation. Taronga Zoo Sydney now runs its own volunteer program.
^Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales (12 May 2008). . Taronga Conservation Society Australia. Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
^ abNorth, Bill (18 February 2008). . Daily Liberal. Archived from the original on 12 March 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
^. Daily Liberal. Archived from the original on 12 March 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2006.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Official website
Zoo Friends, a supporter of the Zoo, offers membership and volunteer opportunities
January 01, 1970
taronga, western, plains, formerly, known, still, commonly, referred, western, plains, commonly, known, dubbo, large, near, dubbo, south, wales, australia, opened, public, february, 1977, provide, more, living, breeding, space, large, animals, such, elephants,. Taronga Western Plains Zoo formerly known as and still commonly referred to as Western Plains Zoo and commonly known as Dubbo Zoo is a large zoo near Dubbo New South Wales Australia It opened to the public on 28 February 1977 1 to provide more living and breeding space for large animals such as elephants and antelopes which needed more space than was available at the restricted Sydney site The zoo is run by the Taronga Conservation Society formerly Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales along with Taronga Zoo Sydney Western Plains Zoo is located on the Newell Highway in west Dubbo about 5 km from the city Taronga Western Plains ZooTaronga Western Plains Zoo logo32 16 18 8 S 148 35 14 E 32 271889 S 148 58722 E 32 271889 148 58722Date opened28 February 1977 47 years ago 1977 02 28 LocationNear Dubbo New South Wales AustraliaLand area300 ha 741 acres No of animalsover 1 000No of species40 Major exhibits45Websitetaronga wbr org wbr au wbr taronga western plains zoo Contents 1 History 1 1 Name change 1 2 Zoo friends 2 Animals 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editIn the late 1960s plans to develop a large plains zoo to complement Sydney s Taronga Zoo were established The new zoo would provide breeding facilities particularly suited to the large plains dwelling animals and to fulfil a need for an open range facility for the display of mainly grazing animals After considerable planning and preparation a site on the outskirts of Dubbo in central West New South Wales was chosen Formerly an army camp during World War Two the site was transformed into a 300 hectare zoo of woodland and irrigated grasslands Western Plains Zoo opened to the public on 28 February 1977 When the zoo opened it contained 35 different animals from six countries The zoo is an open range design with walls and fences replaced by concealed moats which divide the animals from the visitors This creates the impression of actually being with the animals in the wild It was also the first zoo to be built in Australia in 60 years Queen Elizabeth II visited the Western Plains Zoo in 1992 2 In 1994 Western Plains Zoo was awarded as the Best Major Tourist Attraction the highest honour in Australian Tourism On 26 September 2006 The Daily Liberal published an article announcing British comedian John Cleese was visiting the zoo in order to raise money for a new Greater One Horned rhino exhibit 3 Name change edit The zoo changed its name to Taronga Western Plains Zoo on 21 January 2008 citing the need to draw attention to the work of the Taronga Conservation Society Australia 4 Zoo friends edit Zoo Friends was an organisation which offered support in form of volunteers and fund raising for both Taronga Zoo Sydney and Western Plains Zoo Members were eligible to volunteer to help at the Zoo In 2009 the organisation was disbanded and all assets donated to the Taronga Conservation Foundation Taronga Zoo Sydney now runs its own volunteer program Animals editAfrica Addax African lion African wild dog Barbary sheep Black rhinoceros Bongo Cheetah Dromedary camel Eland Giraffe Helmeted guineafowl Hippopotamus Meerkat Ostrich Plains zebra Scimitar horned oryx Southern white rhinoceros Americas Black handed spider monkey Galapagos tortoise Asia Asian elephant Asian small clawed otter Banteng Blackbuck Fallow deer Greater one horned rhinoceros Indian peafowl Persian onager Sumatran tiger Takhi White handed gibbon Australia Eastern grey kangaroo Emu Koala Platypus Quokka Red necked wallaby Short beaked echidna Swamp wallaby Tasmanian devil Western quoll Madagascar Black and white ruffed lemur Ring tailed lemurGallery edit nbsp Visitor road nbsp Elands nbsp African wild dog nbsp White rhinoceros nbsp White rhinoceros nbsp Plains zebra nbsp Ostrich nbsp Giraffes nbsp Cheetah cubs nbsp Lion nbsp Meerkat nbsp Scimitar oryx nbsp Bongo nbsp Galapagos tortoise nbsp Persian onager nbsp Dromedary camel nbsp Asian elephant nbsp Sumatran tiger nbsp Asian small clawed otter nbsp Banteng nbsp Przewalski s horse nbsp Koala nbsp Ring tailed lemur nbsp Blackbuck femaleSee also editJim Lacey General manager of the Western Plains Zoo from 1988 until 1992 2 Taronga Zoo SydneyReferences edit Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales 12 May 2008 Our History Taronga Conservation Society Australia Taronga Western Plains Zoo Archived from the original on 7 October 2009 Retrieved 22 March 2010 a b North Bill 18 February 2008 Death of zoo pioneer Daily Liberal Archived from the original on 12 March 2008 Retrieved 21 February 2008 Guess Who s Coming to Dubbo Daily Liberal Archived from the original on 12 March 2008 Retrieved 26 September 2006 Hunstdale Justin 21 January 2008 Western Plains Zoo name change Australian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 25 January 2008 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Taronga Western Plains Zoo Official website Zoo Friends a supporter of the Zoo offers membership and volunteer opportunities Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Taronga Western Plains Zoo amp oldid 1214701153, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
