Taronga Zoo Shows Us What’s Really Scary this Halloween

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: October 30, 2020 11:45 pm

A greater bilby with its pumpkin at Taronga Zoo Sydney

Photo Credit: Taronga Zoo Sydney

Taronga Zoo Sydney has used Halloween to bring awareness to some of the scary threats facing animals in the wild. Their resident greater bilbies, Sumatran tigers, western lowland gorillas and Tasmanian devils were treated to pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns inscribed with the threats they face.

Greater bilbies Tanami and Kwoba along with Gunner the Tasmanian Devil made short work of their pumpkins. The gorilla family and the Sumatran tiger cubs explored their jack-o-lanterns to find high-value food rewards inside.

Halloween presents the perfect opportunity to provide interesting enrichment to the zoo’s animals and spread Taronga Zoos message.

A gorilla with its pumpkin at Taronga Zoo Sydney

Photo Credit: Taronga Zoo Sydney

Nick Boyle, Divisional Director of Welfare, Conservation and Science Keeper at Taronga Zoo said, “While lots of talk this Halloween will be on phobias and fears, we’re talking about what’s really scary and that’s extinction in the wild. We are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction and in Australia alone, more than 1,700 species and ecological communities are known to be threatened or at risk of extinction.”

“With such a dire future facing so many species around the world, I call on everyone to think about how they can tread lightly on this planet, from the products they buy in the supermarket through to recycling their old electronics and mobile phones.”

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A Sumatran tiger with its pumpkin at Taronga Zoo Sydney

Photo Credit: Taronga Zoo Sydney

“We all have a role to play in securing a shared future for people and wildlife and one of best ways you can support us to deliver vital conservation work around the globe is by planning a visit to either of our two zoos,” said Boyle.

Learn more about Taronga Zoo on their website – Taronga Zoo Sydney

A Tasmanian Devil with its pumpkin at Taronga Zoo Sydney

Photo Credit: Taronga Zoo Sydney