Taronga Zoo Is Opening Australia’s First Wildlife Specialist Teaching Hospital This Year

Taronga Zoo is taking wildlife care out from behind the scenes, with Australia’s first specialist wildlife veterinary teaching hospital set to open in Sydney in late 2026.

The new Taronga Wildlife Hospital will replace the zoo’s existing facility, which has been caring for wildlife since the 1970s, with a state-of-the-art hub dedicated to treatment, rehabilitation, conservation and veterinary training.

And in a first for visitors, you’ll actually be able to watch some of that work unfold.

Jump to:

• What’s Inside Taronga Zoo’s New Wildlife Hospital?
• Why Is Taronga Building A New Wildlife Hospital?
• When Will Taronga Wildlife Hospital Open?

What’s Inside Taronga Zoo’s New Wildlife Hospital?

The new hospital will feature modern surgical facilities, specialised rehabilitation and recovery spaces for wildlife including marine turtles, reptiles and amphibians, expanded quarantine facilities and an onsite pathology lab.

It’ll also be home to Australia’s first Zoo Nutrition Centre, dedicated to managing the diets of Taronga’s animals.

Perhaps most interesting for visitors are the public viewing galleries, where zoo guests will be able to safely watch animal health checks, veterinary procedures and conservation breeding work in action. The hospital will become one of the first experiences guests encounter when arriving at Taronga Zoo.

Why Is Taronga Building A New Wildlife Hospital?

Taronga is already NSW’s largest provider of wildlife veterinary services, with its Sydney and Dubbo hospitals collectively treating around 1,500 sick, injured or orphaned native animals each year.

The new facility will increase capacity to rescue, treat and rehabilitate wildlife while also operating as a specialist teaching hospital for veterinary practitioners, students and wildlife carers—strengthening NSW’s ability to respond to future wildlife emergencies.

The project is backed by $40.7 million from the NSW Government and $40 million in philanthropic support, taking the investment to more than $80 million.

When Will Taronga Wildlife Hospital Open?

The Taronga Wildlife Hospital is scheduled to open in late 2026 at Taronga Zoo Sydney.

Once complete, the facility will give visitors a rare window into the work of Taronga’s veterinary teams while providing specialist care for hundreds of animals each year.

Image credit: Taronga Zoo | Website