Wildlife and the environment

Taronga zoo is unique in zoos in Sydney because of its closeness to the sea, and also the richness of animals there. There are Koala encounters, keepers' introductions and bird shows available.

Firstly, ferries from Circular Quay includes services to Taronga, making visiting the zoo more convenient.

  • Taronga Zoo Sydney is 12 minutes from Circular Quay by ferry. Sydney Ferries services depart Circular Quay every 30 minutes
  • Captain Cook Cruises operate a daily Zoo Express and all-day Hop-On, Hop-Off Harbour Explorer services departing daily from Circular Quay (Wharf 6), Darling Harbour (King St Wharf 1), Manly (Wharf 3) and Watsons Bay.

 

Features

Sea views

Taronga is famous for sea views and its closeness to the sea. Views there are unique and enjoyable.

Animals

Taronga includes multiple animals with chances of encountering and learning about them. Koalas attract attention of visitors.

Catering

Taronga includes catering and spends the income on animal welfare. The cups and bottles there are recycled for the environment.

Support and accessibility

Taronga Zoo Sydney welcomes guests and support visitors requiring assistance, like assistance dogs.

Taronga animals

 

The introductions to the animals, like this Koala introduction, increases our understanding of the animals and further support animal welfare.

There are introductions of sea animals in Australia, like the different sea lions and how sea environments differ from those in the USA,

As the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean varies in temperature and deepness. It is saltier in the Atlantic Ocean. Sea lions have been cooperating well with keepers, increasing understanding of the endangered Australian sea lion species.

Taronga views

 

The zoo is close to the sea, coinciding with the scenery of the nature Australia is a country with rich natural resources and beautiful scenery. Tourism has long been a major industry in Australia, with China and New Zealand becoming the top two sources of foreign travelers. Australia is attracting people from all over the world for the rich natural scenery and multiple diverse cultures.

 

 

Taronga visitor support

"Taronga Zoo Sydney welcomes guests with accredited and vaccinated Assistance Dogs.

 

Guide (or ‘seeing eye’) dogs to assist people with vision impairment to move around safely;
Hearing (or ‘hearing ear’) dogs to alert people with hearing impairment;
Assistance (or ‘service’) dogs, specifically trained to assist a person with a disability, to alleviate the effects of that disability.

 

Taronga has accessible parking. There are a number of accessible car parking spaces located on the ground floor of the car park which has ramp access. There is also a drop-off Taxi rank near the front entrance.  "

 

Sydney & Australian Tourism

International travelers

Australia attracts multiple international visitors nationally and globally every year. According to data, the largest group of international visitors come from New Zealand and China. The distances between Australia and China doesn't stop visitors from enjoying this unique island and its beauty.

Sydney is famous for its cultural heritages and also the beaches. The Sydney Opera House and the sea mixes so well with each other. It demonstrates a unique harmony of man-made and natural beauty. When travelling to the zoo via ferry, the Circular Quay is where you board the ship. This is also one of the most famous places in Australia for tourists.

Collected data

Personal experiences and feedback

The feedback is based on my personal experiences after visiting the zoo twice. I have also some feedback collected from social media to reflect on Taronga and tourist experiences.

Personal experiences in Taronga have been rewarding and exciting. There are different types of animals and beautiful scenery there, and the activities introduced knowledge about the animals. This is a general proficiency feedback to introducing environmental awareness and supporting tourism in Australia. These approaches are positive sides to support cultural diversity and animal welfare to visitors from all over the world.

However, when I checked the reviews and feedback on Google Map, I found a couple low marks regarding customer services. Languages barriers impact experiences of travelers from other backgrounds, and the staff services also depend on their experience and capabilities. Tourists come with different backgrounds and have different expectations when they come to visit. So personally I think language and communication is an important factor for the zoo to support visitors. Translators and related tools are essential in multiple environments. In the sea lion show, it is demonstrated in English. It might be better to also include booklets and introductions in more languages so as to help visitors understand. It. This zoo is not only a symbol in Australia, but also a famous place in Sydney welcoming animals lovers all over the world.

In general, the zoo is a very nice place to visit to see the different views and animals in Australia. The zoo is attracting visitors all over the world, facing challenges and connecting with multiple cultures.

Local places with a global connection 

Using the Taronga Zoo as an example, it demonstrates how animals connect humans together via their unique characteristics and loveliness. There are also famous zoos in my home country China, with famous animals that people liked. Like in the Shanghai Zoo, the Bengal tiger named “Brown Sugar” is attracting people coming from different places. There are different ways to attracting people to visit the zoo, some from animal encounters and some from famous animals themselves. Like in Australia, there are unique chances of touching a Koala by yourself in its native country. The uniqueness of animals in Australia differs from other places in the world. The zoo is a window for global visitors to see the unique local cultural heritage. Animals attract humans without languages and connected people together with their natural beauty.

Bibliography 

 

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2024, November 9). Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia, July 2020 | Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/industry/tourism-and-transport/overseas-arrivals-and-departures-australia/latest-release

 

 

Taronga Zoo. (2019). Taronga Zoo Sydney. Taronga Zoo Sydney | Taronga Conservation Society Australia. https://taronga.org.au/sydney-zoo