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Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, NSW is one of Australia's greatest open range zoos and home to incredible creatures from all over the world, including rare and endangered animals like the Black Rhinoceros and the Cheetah! Explore by bike, cart, foot or car and discover the many different animals roaming our wide open plains.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo plays an important role in wildlife conservation here and around the world, and your support helps us continue this vital work.

Animal Spot

Meerkat

Meerkats have a tan to grey coat with broken dark brown patches across their back and sides and dark circles around their eyes. They are found in the dry parts of Southern Africa and live in a burrow which is home to the whole Meerkat troop. The troop is made up of different family groups and usually consists of about 20 animals.

Meerkats eat any small food such as insects, spiders even scorpions and centipedes! Meerkats stand on their hind legs while their tail forms a tripod as support, keeping a look out from a high point for any predators. Their eyesight is so good that they can spot an eagle when it is only a spot on the horizon! If an alarm is given by the guards, the whole group dive for cover in the burrow.

Keeper Profile

Keeper Jackie Stuart

My first keeper job has been at Taronga Western Plains Zoo and I have been working here for four years. I care for a variety of animals on a daily basis including Giraffe, White Rhino, Hippo and Zebra to name a few.

I love my job as I really like being a part of something bigger than myself or the Zoo. I educate visitors about the plights animals are facing in the wild and the small things that we can do to help them.

Over the four years that I have been at the Zoo I have had so many fantastic moments. I felt really special when I found two healthy new born Przewalski’s Horse foals born only a few days apart, I have a soft spot for these animals.

Zoo News

White Rhino calf born at the Zoo

We had a delightful sight on the morning of Tuesday 14 May 2013, when we arrived at work to find a little male White Rhino calf in the night yards with his mother Mopani.

Click here to find out more!

Babies Galore

There has been a number of breeding successes at Taronga Western Plains Zoo over the past couple of months with births in the Eland, Barbary Sheep and Addax herds.

Click here to plan your visit to Taronga Western Plains Zoo today!