If you have visited

Taronga Zoo recently you’ll have seen some changes.

Over the past few

years we have been working on projects to better acknowledge and celebrate

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture and Country. Many stakeholders

have been involved so far – but the work of some wonderfully talented

Indigenous artists is on permanent display in the new Main Entry Plaza.

Outside the historic

building is a group of works by a collaborative team coordinated by Jane

Cavanagh of Artlandish Art and Design. The design of each piece was guided by a

young NSW artist, Adrina Kobane, and they were crafted by Tomas and Tibor

Misura. Together the works acknowledge the Saltwater People, Country and

culture of the Cammeraigal, as well as long-held sustainable practices of

Indigenous peoples right across Australia.

A goanna, angophora leaves and Regent Honeyeaters – reinforcing the connections between caring for Country and Taronga’s wildlife conservation.If you look

carefully you will see:a canoe, a fishing

line and a fish – interpreting Cammeraigal salwater culturea Red-necked

Wallaby and a Cammeraigal blade – acknowledging traditional connections to

Country; anda goanna, angophora

leaves and Regent Honeyeaters – reinforcing the connections between caring for

Country and Taronga’s wildlife conservationOnce you walk

through the entry, with its colourful multimedia Welcome Arch,

there is more to explore.

Next to the heritage

Main Entrance building there are two sets of panels. One celebrates Heroes of

Conservation – this one will be updated occasionally, currently it profiles a

couple of Taronga’s fabulous volunteers. The other reminds us of the history of

the Zoo and breadth of conservation activity that Taronga gets involved in.

A unique artwork representing one adult and one young Jabiru. The work is by artist Janice Murray from Melville Island, off the northwest coast of the Northern Territory.Closer to the

wetlands there are two more unique artworks.

The first is

Jipiyontongi, representing one adult and one young Jabiru. The work

is by artist Janice Murray from Melville Island, off the northwest coast of the

Northern Territory.

The second is

woreminner loonner (bush black woman), it is a metal casting of a Tasmanian

Devil made from bull kelp. Vicki West, a Tasmanian Aboriginal

artist, collaborated on this work with Julie Squires. Soon after it was made

the original bull kelp devil was accepted as an entrant into the 2011 Telstra

Art Award.

Together these

sculptures highlight connections between Aboriginal cultural practice and the

Taronga’s wildlife conservation work. Make sure you have a good look and feel

of these beautiful works next time you visit and read the panels to

find out more.