Keeper Activities

Keeper Activities

Free with your Zoo entry.

Learn about the fascinating animals that call Taronga home from our expert Keepers with our Keeper Talks.

Buy your tickets to Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo ahead of your visit.

Keeper activity timetable

Plan your visit with the full keeper activity timetable and get the best chance to see your favourite animals up close at Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo.

Please note that some Keeper Activities are weather dependent.

View the timetable

9.25am

Map ref. 16C

Black Rhino keeper talk, daily during Easter long weekend and NSW school holidays*

9.30am - 10.00am

Map ref. 21F

Ring-tailed Lemur feed, daily during Easter long weekend and NSW school holidays*

10.30 am 

Map ref 10K

Hippo feed 
Daily 

11.20am

Map ref. 9G

Cheetah keeper talk
Tues, Thurs, Sat & Sun only

11.30am

Map ref 9Q

Otter Keeper Talk, daily 

12.00pm

Map ref. 9J

Asian Elephant keeper talk

12.25pm

Map ref. 10N

Tiger keeper talk
Mon, Wed & Fri only

12.40pm - 12.55pm

Map ref. 2R

Meerkat keeper talk at the Waterhole, during Easter long weekend and NSW school holidays* 

12.30pm - 1.00pm

Map ref. 21E

Spider Monkey feed

12.50pm 

Map ref. 9R

Greater One-horned Rhino Keeper talk

(NSW School Holidays and Weekends only)

2.10pm

Map ref. 16V

Tasmanian Devil keeper talk 

2.25pm

Map ref 19B

African Wild Dog feed

2.45 

Map ref 21M 

Platypus Rescue HQ Keeper Talk
Weekends and school holidays  

* School holiday activities will run daily from 29 March to 28 April 2024.

Ring-tailed lemur
Ring-tailed lemur

Ring-tailed lemur Feed

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is home to two groups of Ring-tailed Lemurs, a breeding group near the Savannah picnic ground and a bachelor group at the Savannah Lake. Learn more about these cheeky primates at our Keeper Talk!

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Ring-tailed lemur
Black Rhino calf, Pampoen
Black Rhino calf, Pampoen

Black Rhino keeper talk

Did you know that the Black Rhino’s horns are made of the same protein as our hair and nails? Watch and learn about these solitary animals as they enjoy their morning meal.

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Black Rhino calf, Pampoen
Asian Small-clawed Otter
Asian Small-clawed Otter

Otter keeper talk

Meet our family of Asian Small-clawed Otters including mum Jafar, dad Harry and their four busy offspring!

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Asian Small-clawed Otter
Cheetah mother Kyan with her cubs
Cheetah mother Kyan with her cubs

Cheetah keeper talk

Catch up with our Cheetahs while they enjoy their meaty brunch. Watch our Cheetah feed, as you learn about their extraordinary speed, unusual colour variations, and unique social hierarchy.

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Cheetah mother Kyan with her cubs
Asian Elephant calf Sabai
Asian Elephant calf Sabai

Asian Elephant keeper talk

Learn all about the unique characteristics of Asian Elephants from Keeper Bec and see our herd of eight elephants of varying ages, including young calf Kanlaya.

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Asian Elephant calf Sabai
Sumatran Tiger
Sumatran Tiger

Sumatran Tiger Keeper Talk

Did you know there are less than 400 Sumatran Tigers left in the wild? Learn about this critically endangered species, and what Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo is doing to help preserve their habitats.

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Sumatran Tiger
Spider Monkey baby Isadora and mother Jai
Spider Monkey baby Isadora and mother Jai

Spider Monkey Feed

Fancy having lunch with our Spider Monkey troop? Watch the monkeys as they deftly use their tails to grab food from our Keepers, before swinging away on the ropes and tree branches on their island home.

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Spider Monkey baby Isadora and mother Jai
Meerkat
Meerkat

Meerkat talk

Meet our Meerkat mob at feeding time as they munch on insects, fruits, and vegetables. You’ll learn how their social dynamics work, who’s the boss of this troop and just how good their eyesight is.

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Meerkat
Greater one-horned Rhino
Greater one-horned Rhino

Greater One-horned Rhino Talk

He looks prehistoric but isn’t a dinosaur! Meet Greater One-horned (or Indian) Rhino Dora and hear from Keeper Tarryn as she explains some of the differences between the different rhino species. 

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Greater one-horned Rhino
Tasmanian Devil. Photo: Tony Britt Lewis
Tasmanian Devil. Photo: Tony Britt Lewis

Tasmanian Devil Keeper Talk

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is home to three females, Pecorino, Philus and Mija all have different markings, which allow keepers and guests to identify them.

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Tasmanian Devil. Photo: Tony Britt Lewis
Galapagos Tortoise.
Galapagos Tortoise.

Galapagos Tortoise keeper talk

Did you know that Galapagos Tortoises can live up to 150 years? Watch and learn all about these remarkable animals during this informative talk.

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Galapagos Tortoise.
Platypus Rescue HQ
Platypus Rescue HQ

See a Platypus at Platypus Rescue HQ

The world’s largest purpose-built platypus conservation and research centre, Platypus Rescue HQ, is now open! See a platypus at Dubbo Zoo for the first time in our history.

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Platypus Rescue HQ