Taronga Talks

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.

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.

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.

Had she not called up to confirm her post, Louise Ginman may have never worked at Taronga Zoo. Just ten days after starting as a Carnivore Keeper, Louise first experienced the joy of welcoming Sumatran Tiger cubs to the world. Twenty-five years later as Carnivore Unit Supervisor, she is raising cubs again - this time Red Panda and Sumatran Tiger triplets! With less than 50 breeding pairs of Sumatran Tigers left in the wild, Louise's work breeding and caring for this critically endangered species is more important than ever.

Hundreds of metres of fencing forms a sanctuary for some of Australia's most vulnerable and critically endangered species. Yet how can we save Australia's Greater Bilby, Regent Honeyeater and Plains-Wanderer from behind a fence? Andrew Elphinstone sheds light on 're-wilding' and his most important conservation project yet as Taronga's Manager of Conservation and Recovery Programs.

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.

A taste of the brand new podcast from Taronga Zoo. There are so many amazing untold Taronga stories... we can't wait to share them with you! Here is a snippet from Unit Supervisor of Carnivores, Louise Ginman sharing her story about Sumatran Tigers breeding and raising cubs at Taronga Zoo.