Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Infobox zoo
zoo_name=Taronga Western Plains Zoo
logo=Taronga Western Plains Zoo Logo.pnglogo_width=150px
logo_caption=Taronga Western Plains Zoo Logo


image_width=
image_caption=
date_opened=28 February 1977
date_closed=
location=Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
area=300 Hectares
coordinates=
num_animals=
num_species=82
employees=
exhibits=45
website=http://www.zoo.nsw.gov.au/

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, formerly and commonly known simply as Western Plains Zoo, is a large zoo near Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. It opened to the public on 28 February 1977, [cite web | author = Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales | title = Western Plains Zoo | work = Taronga and Western Plains Zoo | publisher = Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales | date = 2007 | url = http://www.zootopia.com.au/content/view.asp?id=53 | accessdate = 2007-09-11] 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

Western Plains Zoo is located near the Newell Highway in west Dubbo about 4 km from the city.

Zoo Friends is an organisation which offers support in form of volunteers and fund raising for both Taronga Zoo and Western Plains Zoo. Members are eligible to volunteer to help at the Zoo. More details at [http://www.zoofriends.org.au http://www.zoofriends.org.au]

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" [cite web|url=http://dubbo.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=general&story_id=512279&category=general&m=9&y=2006|title=Guess Who's Coming to Dubbo?|accessdate=2006-09-26] .

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. [cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/westernplains/stories/s2143104.htm?nsw|title=Western Plains Zoo name change|last=Hunstdale|first=Justin|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2008|accessdate=2008-01-25]

Queen Elizabeth II visited the Western Plains Zoo in 1992. cite news |first=Bill|last=North|title=Death of zoo pioneer |url=http://dubbo.yourguide.com.au/news/local/general/death-of-zoo-pioneer/1184921.html |work= Dubbo Daily Liberal |publisher=|date=2008-02-18 |accessdate=2008-02-21]

Animal Listing

Free-Ranging Animals

*Indian Peafowl
*Australian Pelican
*Black Swan

Primate Islands

*Ring-Tailed Lemur
*Ruffed Lemur
*Siamang
*White-Handed Gibbon
*Spider Monkey

Africa

*Cape Hunting Dog
*Black Rhinoceros
*Scimitar Oryx
*Dromedary Camel
*Ostrich
*Barbary Sheep
*Giraffe
*Common Hippopotamus
*White Rhinoceros
*Grant's Zebra
*Cheetah
*Forest Buffalo
*Asian Elephant
*African Elephant
*Bongo
*Sitatunga

Eurasia

*Persian Onager
*Tiger
*Indian Rhinoceros
*Asiatic Water Buffalo
*Asian Small-Clawed Otter
*Sambar Deer
*Banteng
*African Lion
*Nilgai
*Indian Antelope
*Chital Deer
*Fallow Deer
*Wapiti
*Przewalski's Horse

North American Bison

*American Bison

Australia

*Emu
*Red-Necked Wallaby
*Koala
*Wedge-tailed Eagle
*Red Kangaroo
*Dingo
*Western Grey Kangaroo
*Swamp Wallaby
*Whiptail Wallaby
*Eastern Wallaroo
*Yellow-Footed Rock Wallaby

outh America

*Maned Wolf
*Guanaco
*Alpaca
*Brazilian Tapir
*Patagonian Cavy
*Grey Rhea
*Galapagos Tortoise
*Collared Peccary

Children's Zoo

*Slender-tailed Meerkat
*Malleefowl
*Short-beaked Echidna
*Peaceful Dove
*Common Wombat
*Common Blue-tongue Lizard

ee also

*Jim Lacey - General manager of the Western Plains Zoo from 1988 until 1992.
*Taronga Zoo

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.zoo.nsw.gov.au/ Official website]
* [http://www.zoofriends.org.au/ Zoo Friends, a supporter of the Zoo, offers membership and volunteer opportunities]