Taronga Talks

Hayden Turner
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Working at Taronga Zoo is more than just a job – for us Taronga means family. From Sydney to Dubbo to beyond, Taronga’s people all have amazing untold Zoo stories that will touch your heart and open your eyes.

  1. Mother of Tigers with Louise Ginman

    10/07/2024

    Mother of Tigers with Louise Ginman

    Send us a text 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. "Every single person has got such a passion for Taronga, and if they didn’t they wouldn’t be there… almost half of my lifetime I’ve been at Taronga and – it is my life. I love what I do. The day that I don’t love what I do is the day that I’ll leave, and I haven’t left yet!"

    1h 4m
  2. Song and Story with Col Hardy OAM

    10/07/2024

    Song and Story with Col Hardy OAM

    Send us a text We were honoured to welcome respected Brewarrina Elder and Australian country music legend Col Hardy OAM to the Taronga Talks studio, for a very special conversation. Col’s incredible journey to Taronga is carried by his love of music and sacred connection to the land and wildlife. As Education Officer for Taronga’s ‘Animals of the Dreaming’ Zoomobile program, Col now travels all around NSW to bring Dreamtime stories and native animals to life for the next generation – using his musical talent to engage and inspire. "I remember when I was a young fella many years ago, my Dad brought me down one time and I said, ‘I want to go to Taronga’, and he brought me over. I just love it because – there’s just something about it. I think when everyone talks about zoos, Taronga is always number one – it’s in a beautiful spot right on the beach, with all the beautiful animals and reptiles – they are all so special."

    1h 4m
  3. Inquiry and Closure with Dr. Lydia Tong

    10/07/2024

    Inquiry and Closure with Dr. Lydia Tong

    Send us a text With an interest in anatomy, the weird and wonderful, and a lifelong affinity with animals – the writing was on the wall for Dr. Lydia Tong to devote her career to science. As Veterinary Pathologist at Taronga Wildlife Hospital, Lydia acts as the ‘Zoo’s Coroner’ – investigating the lives and deaths of animals. She gathers information that helps to improve the welfare of animals in Taronga’s care, and even help fight the illegal trade of animals in the wild. Her passion for science and inquiry makes a difference – from providing understanding and closure following mysterious animal deaths, to making discoveries like the elusive gender traits of echidnas. "When it comes to the work I do every day – each one of my patients is like a precious, rare book… During necropsy, you’ve got two days to ‘read and preserve’ that book to have it in the future, so you don’t lose the valuable lesson the animal has given us. They really do Taronga an incredible service by being with us, helping to educate millions of people, so we make sure to return that privilege in what we do."

    1h 14m
  4. Radical Optimism with Belinda Fairbrother

    10/07/2024

    Radical Optimism with Belinda Fairbrother

    Send us a text Staying positive and solutions-focused keeps Belinda Fairbrother tackling huge global challenges like climate change, every day. Spending her formative years at play in the Aussie bush, Belinda acquired a love and curiosity of nature and animals that led to her studying Environmental Science – and travelling as far as Antarctica – to learn how to protect them. As Community Conservation and Engagement Manager at Taronga Zoo, Belinda works tirelessly to create magic moments that connect Taronga’s guests with animals, and to inspire people to Act for the Wild. "I am radically optimistic, generally, I try not to dwell on the hardship and the challenges… For me, it’s about surrounding yourself with people who are positive and solutions-focused and collaborating. It even comes from having a walk through the Zoo and having those connective moments with an animal to remind myself, ‘Yes, that’s why I do this."

    1h 2m
  5. Tusk Training with Anthony Dorrian

    10/07/2024

    Tusk Training with Anthony Dorrian

    Send us a text  Every second weekend during his teens, Anthony Dorrian would help his father with Taronga Zoo’s food and manure runs. He jumped at every opportunity to learn and grow as a keeper – first at Taronga Zoo Sydney, then at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, before working abroad in England and Ireland. With over 35 years’ experience, Anthony shares his love of ungulates (hooved animals) as Senior Keeper at Taronga Western Plains Zoo – pioneering techniques in Hippopotamus dentistry that continues to amaze guests.   "More than 2/3 of my life has been spent in Taronga – it is a big chunk of my life and a big story of my life. But Taronga is also a big part of my family. I have a very personal connection to the organisation having spent 18 years at Taronga Zoo and now 17 years at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. It really is a family connection."

    50 min
  6. Reaching High with Jimmy Sanders

    10/07/2024

    Reaching High with Jimmy Sanders

    Send us a text From caring for stray dogs to rehabilitating native wildlife at WIRES, Jimmy Sanders was born with an innate love of nature. Taronga Zoo’s Chimpanzee Talk inspired him to pursue a career as a Zoo Keeper – unlocking his passion for ungulates (hooved animals) and his life’s calling to protect the iconic Giraffe. As Senior Ungulate Keeper at Taronga Zoo Sydney, Jimmy has high hopes for a shared future for Giraffe and people – inspiring individuals to support community-centred conservation projects in Africa. "Taronga is my life – I live and breathe Taronga and conservation. Taronga has taught me everything I know about conservation. I owe my future and my past to Taronga Zoo... I wouldn’t be where I am now and I wouldn’t be where I’m about to go. For me, I couldn’t be more honoured or proud to be part of the Taronga family."

    51 min
  7. Pride Life with Bruce Murdock

    10/07/2024

    Pride Life with Bruce Murdock

    Send us a text Bruce Murdock’s earliest memory of connecting with animals occurred when he was very young, during a pony ride. He knew he wanted to live his life around animals. Starting small with a ‘free-range’ pet rabbit, Bruce sought out learning experiences that brought him closer to wildlife. Despite advice to the contrary, Bruce was determined to make a career from zoo-keeping. Fast forward 29 years, today Bruce proudly manages a team of passionate keepers and volunteers at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. With between 600-800 animals under his portfolio as Precinct Manager, Bruce shares insights on his diverse role and the complexities of pride life for Lions. "Taronga means passionate people – I get to work with so many people in so many areas with their own passion, drive and direction of where they want to go and where to take the organisation in the future. Taronga is all about its people... It’s so important as collectively we make the difference, we don’t do it individually, but as a team zoo-wide."

    1h 7m
  8. Taking Nature's Course with Dr. Jane Goodall

    10/07/2024

    Taking Nature's Course with Dr. Jane Goodall

    Send us a text 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."

    46 min
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About

Working at Taronga Zoo is more than just a job – for us Taronga means family. From Sydney to Dubbo to beyond, Taronga’s people all have amazing untold Zoo stories that will touch your heart and open your eyes.

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  • Creator
    Hayden Turner
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
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    © 2024 Taronga Talks
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