EnergyAustralia Great Southern Oceans

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Taronga Zoo's expansive EnergyAustralia Great Southern Oceans exhibit gives visitors a thrilling opportunity to meet the creatures of our coastlines.

Australian Sea-lions, Australian Fur-seals, New Zealand Fur-seals, Californian Sea-lions, Leopard Seals, Penguins and Pelicans live in unique exhibits, emulating their natural habitats and offering spectacular viewing for visitors.

EnergyAustralia Great Southern Oceans plays a vital part in marine conservation through public education about these precious creatures and their natural habitats, research, breeding and field conservation.

Visitors can come face-to-face with a swimming seal as they peer through the glass windows of a simulated Submarine Research Station into huge pools.

Little Penguins seem to ‘fly' through the water when seen through viewing windows at the bottom of their custom-designed pool where they swoop and glide playfully through the water.

Special climate change workshops are available for school groups to learn how they can make a difference to marine wildlife through everyday choices. Students learn about the impact of pollution on marine mammals and how to ensure their survival for future generations.

Children and adults alike enjoy the magnificent natural behaviours and skills of Taronga's Seals in the new Seal Discovery Theatre, seating over 950 people in a shaded amphitheatre.

The seals and sea-lions will surge through the water as they begin to show just how specialised the are for their aquatic life.

This area is also home to the only Leopard Seals in zoos in the world where people can appreciate their awesome power and intelligence.  

Rescued after being marooned in Australia far from their Antarctic home, the animals are now and part of vital international research on pack-ice seals and climate change by Taronga's  internationally-recognised Australian Marine Mammal Research Centre (AMMRC).

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AMMRC is based at the zoo and its scientists regularly travel to Antarctica to undertake a season of further research.

Visitors can enjoy interactive experiences with experienced marine biologists and learn about the most up-to-date marine conservation and climate change developments from AMMRC's work.

Recently Little Penguins have been bred at Taronga Zoo to be released into the wild and support local colonies where wild populations have been under threat.

The zoo is also the only one in the world to exhibit Fiordland Penguins after three of this remote and rare species from New Zealand's south island were found injured on Australian shores.

Mr Munro, the sociable and striking male Fiordland Penguin is participating in a planned breeding program for this species at the Great Southern Ocean's exhibit.

He and two female companions, Milford and Chalky, have already proved popular with visitors who are intrigued with the birds' bushy yellow eyebrow feathers.

The 1.2 hectare  exhibit invites visitors to immerse themselves in the natural splendour of our oceans.

With a lot of help from the most magnificent ambassadors on the planet, it is sure to leave a lasting impression about the precious wildlife of our Southern Oceans and ways we can all act to protect them in the future.

Roar and Snore Twilight video gallery Taronga Zoo Shop