TARONGA ZOO HELPS SPREAD A LITTLE CHRISTMAS CHEER THIS FESTIVE SEASON

The holiday spirit is in full swing for some lucky residents at Taronga Zoo Sydney this week! Festive fun arrived in the form of handmade Christmas treats for a variety of beloved animals, including Taronga’s two Dingoes, Warrada and Kep Kep, new koala joey Eugene, and female Asian Elephants Pak Boon and Tang Mo.

At Taronga’s Nura Diya Australia, Dingoes Warrada and Kep Kep enjoyed a pile of handmade Christmas bon-bons filled with their favourite treats, like Kangaroo mince and jerky. These special surprises encouraged natural behaviours, such as jumping, foraging, and sniffing.
 

Meanwhile, in Gulamany Nura – Koala Country, a festive wreath made from eucalyptus browse and Christmas bush grown onsite at Taronga Zoo—was offered to seven-month-old koala joey Eugene and his first-time mum, Luna. The duo seemed to engage with the wreath giving it a curious sniff and little nibble. Over in the Asian Elephant Habitat, Tang Mo and Pak Boon were treated to a colourful Christmas display, including frozen baubles filled with peanuts and cocos logs—high-value treats wrapped like bon-bons. To complete the Sydney-style Christmas wonderland, keepers scattered freshly popped (unsalted, unbuttered) popcorn to mimic fallen snow, creating a spectacle that delighted both visitors and staff.
 

This holiday celebration held extra significance, as it marks the final Christmas at Taronga Zoo for Pak Boon and Tang Mo before they move to join a new herd at Monarto Safari Park early next year. These festive activities are more than just fun—they’re an important part of the enrichment provided to the 4,000+ animals at Taronga Zoo Sydney. Enrichment encourages animals to display natural behaviours, such as exploring scents or foraging for food, enriching their lives, and stimulating their natural instincts like the would display in the wild. 

Behavioural Husbandry Supervisor Brendan Host says, "We have an incredibly dedicated team of Behavioural Enrichment volunteers here at Taronga Zoo Sydney. One standout is Liz, who has been volunteering with us for over nine years and took charge the Christmas enrichment this year. My team and I work closely with our keeping departments to design unique enrichment items and explore collaborations that help us create opportunities for all our residents—big, small, and everything in between”. 

Taronga Zoo Sydney is open every day of the year, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. With exciting new arrivals, including three koala joeys and Australia’s only pygmy hippo calf, there’s never been a better time to visit Sydney’s only not-for-profit zoo with a view.