Taronga Talks

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Growing up in Sydney’s pristine Northern Beaches, Wendy Gleen used to wake up to blue-tongued lizards, diamond pythons, koalas and a brilliant dawn chorus. Then one day she realised – houses had replaced animals and the birds had stopped singing… and nobody else seemed to notice. As Senior Keeper in Taronga Zoo’s Australian Fauna division, Wendy challenges you to step through the ‘magic portal’ and once again open your eyes to the diverse, wild world around you.

"Taronga is part of my family, with lots of loved ones and support… As you can probably tell, I’m a conservationist first and foremost, that’s my mission in life. It’s the little things that matter –  biodiversity. The Zoo just provides this wonderful vehicle to be able to communicate those issues in lots of different ways. To be part of that change is very exciting."

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We were honoured to welcome the incredible Dr. Jane Goodall to Taronga this month for an intimate conversation at Taronga’s wonderful Institute of Science & Learning. With almost 60 years of chimpanzee research at Gombe National Park in Tanzania, coupled with first-hand knowledge of global issues facing our future generations, Dr. Jane shines a light on the choices we can all make to secure the future that our planet desperately needs. Her message is one of hope, unity and inspiration – that together we will secure a shared future for wildlife and people.

"If you start acting locally to clean up your own river, take plastic from the ocean or lake shore, to planting trees, to reforest, to educate the youth. Then you realise, ‘I’ll do my bit here, but now I know that young people in all these other countries are doing the same sort of thing’. So then you get hope. Because then you realise, I alone can do nothing, but together we can make a difference."

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Signed up and ready to join the Royal Australian Air Force, Maz Boz never thought a ‘Keeper for the Day’ experience at Taronga Zoo would change his life forever. He was so blown away by the people and magic of Taronga that he immediately changed his career, joining Taronga as a volunteer keeper. Today, Maz continues to pursue a fulfilling vocation as a Carnivore Keeper – enriching the lives of Meerkats, Sun Bears and Red Pandas in his care whilst inspiring Taronga Zoo Guests every day.

"The biggest thing is community… I’m so proud to be part of Taronga’s community not just in Australia, though internationally. We have people visiting from so many different cultures who still learn, engage and walk away knowing the role they play in protecting the environment and wildlife."

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With up to 600 animals attending Taronga Western Plains Zoo Wildlife Hospital in any given year, no two days are the same for Senior Veterinarian Dr. Benn Bryant. From annual health checks of Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s mega-vertebrates like Giraffe, to saving local injured wildlife, Benn works tirelessly to achieve the optimal welfare and health of every animal. Growing up in suburban Sydney suburbs, Benn credits his love of animals to formative farming experiences, along with his admiration of veterinarian hero, James Herriot. Today, Benn extends his own veterinarian expertise from Dubbo to conservation efforts abroad, helping to successfully breed the critically-endangered Sumatran Rhinoceros in Indonesia.

"Taronga has been a very big part of my life for the last 20 years or so. Taronga is a big part of the community out here in Dubbo as well… it’s really allowed me to pursue what’s been such a gratifying, interesting and nourishing career, within the context of working towards the common goal of conservation." 

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  The strong bond between a Keeper and their animal is hard-won, yet the most valuable tool available for animal training and enrichment. Danielle Fox knows that, like all good relationships, trust and rapport is earnt over time. From the diligent Californian Sea Lion to the cruisy New Zealand Fur Seal, Danielle adjusts her training approach to suit both the species and character of each individual. As Unit Supervisor of Marine Mammals, Danielle Fox feels privileged that her animals chose to accept her – and that together they inspire thousands of people to live for the wild. 

"For me personally, Taronga is a means of connecting people to animals and inspiring others to care about wildlife just the way that I do... getting them up close to the animals, getting them to experience what we experience, getting them to know what we know and inspiring them."     

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As far back as he can remember, Paul Davies always wanted to be a Zoo Keeper. His childhood visits to Whipsnade Zoo in England cemented both his love of animals and awe of the zoo keeping profession. When life took an unexpected turn during his teens, Paul sought travel – first moving to Scotland before his big move to Australia. Thirty-six years later, Paul counts himself lucky to work as a Senior Australian Fauna Keeper at Taronga Zoo. Caring for native species like feathertail gliders, long-nose bandicoots, bettongs and potoroos in Taronga Zoo’s Nocturnal House, Paul Davies uses creativity to reveal the animals right on your doorstep.       

 "I never wanted to be anything else but a Zookeeper. And I still am, I have to pinch myself sometimes…Taronga has been everything to me. It’s been my one rod that has always been there for me no matter what’s happened in my life… I feel in many ways we still are this big family."  

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Looking after the world’s fastest mammal, one of the world’s slowest animals and Africa’s most efficient predator is all in a day’s work for Taronga Western Plains Zoo Keeper Jordie Michelmore. Having joined Taronga Zoo’s ‘Youth at the Zoo’ program (YATZ) at 14 years-old, Jordie’s passion for animals keeps her chasing every opportunity – from relocating to Dubbo to look after Cheetahs, Galapagos Tortoise and African Wild Dog, to working with the Northern Rangelands Trust in Kenya to protect endangered wildlife.    

"To go from volunteering as a little YATZ kid at 14 to now working as a Keeper… it’s such a special community to be a part of. I’ve met some of the most amazing people at both zoos… they’re the most passionate, driven people and the things they’re all individually doing for wildlife and conservation is really inspiring."  

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 Though scaly and scary to some, Michael McFadden has always loved reptiles. His Honours degree first led him to Taronga Zoo, where he seized an opportunity to work in the Reptile House. Now Unit Supervisor for Herpetofauna, Michael is living out his childhood dream of not only working with reptiles and amphibians – but saving many critically endangered species from extinction. From breeding and releasing the tiny Southern Corroboree Frog back into Kosciuszko National Park, to conducting field research of the mighty Komodo Dragon in Indonesia, Michael shares his passion for the ‘unsung heroes’ of the animal world.   
"I certainly wouldn’t say Taronga is ‘just a job’ – I’d say it’s anything but that. It’s one of those things that’s a lifestyle, it’s a family and it’s also your passion… You’re working with so many like-minded and passionate people towards the same goal of protecting threatened species." 

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The ocean was her first love… the salt, the spray, the waves. When her cat dragged a tiny naked bird into her home one day, Libby Hall fell in love again. Protecting and caring for injured wildlife, watching them grow stronger and releasing them back into their habitats became her life’s calling. As Manager of Taronga’s Wildlife Hospital, Libby shares raw glimpses into the trials and triumphs of life on the edge of tragedy, the hope of rehabilitation and the catharsis of release.   

 "Taronga is a constant source of inspiration. The people that work there are my family. The animals that live there… every day I see them and think, ‘WOW, they’re just so amazing!’ When you get to know them, their personalities and how they interact with the other animals… they just still fill me with wonder."  

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From early morning bird-watching with his father in country Victoria, to watching tadpoles turn into turtles as a boy, Matt Kettle was always fascinated with wildlife. An unexpected friendship with a Zimbabwean falconer stirred his great love of birds early in his career. He spread his wings with a 12-month opportunity to create Taronga Zoo’s QBE Free-flight Bird Show. 22-years (and two children) later, he still calls Sydney home. As Unit Supervisor of Free-flight Birds, Matt invites you to look up and appreciate the beautiful, buoyant birdlife in your own backyard.  

 "I feel like Taronga has offered me so many opportunities beyond just working with animals. I feel very lucky to be able to be paid to work in something that’s brought me a lot of joy… a lot of satisfaction."