The Zoo (Australian TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | 3 February 2008 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Melissa Doyle (narrator) |
The Zoo represents the Australian version of a documentary originally produced in New Zealand, centering on the staff at Taronga Zoo, located in New South Wales. The narration is provided by Sunrise co-anchor Melissa Doyle, delivering an inside look at both animal care and the daily workings of the zoo.
The inaugural season, consisting of six episodes, was broadcast on Sundays from 3 February through 9 March 2008. The second season moved to a Tuesday 7:30 pm slot, airing from 21 October to 18 November 2008. This scheduling was retained for the third season, which began on 12 May 2009. Season four debuted with a special hour-long episode titled Miracle At The Zoo, highlighting the arrival of the elephant calf Pathi Harn on 12 April 2010.
Miracle at the zoo
The premiere episode of the fourth season concentrated on Taronga Zoo’s milestone—the first birth of an elephant calf named "Pathi Harn"—and followed its initial growth stages. Broadcast on 12 April 2010, this special attracted the highest viewership figures within the series, leading the night’s ratings and achieving the largest audience since the show's second season.
Awards
- 2010 – Logie Awards – Most Popular TV Presenter – Melissa Doyle
Series ratings
| Season | Episodes | Timeslot | Average audience | Yearly ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 6 | Tuesday 7:30pm | 1,688,000 | #4 |
| 3 | 9 | Tuesday 7:30pm | 1,475,000 | #12 |
Series 3
| # | AU Air Date | Timeslot | Viewers (m) | Weekly Rank (#) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 May 2009 | Tuesday 7:30pm |
1.418 | #9 |
| 2 | 19 May 2009 | 1.476 | #8 | |
| 3 | 21 May 2009 | 1.465 | #12 | |
| 4 | 2 June 2009 | 1.472 | #9 | |
| 5 | 9 June 2009 | 1.470 | #9 | |
| 6 | 16 June 2009 | 1.487 | #9 | |
| 7 | 23 June 2009 | 1.341 | #14 | |
| 8 | 30 June 2009 | 1.519 | #11 | |
| 9 | 7 July 2009 | 1.618 | #6 |
Series 4
| # | AU Air Date | Timeslot | Viewers (m) | Weekly Rank (#) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 April 2010 | Monday 7:30pm |
1.507 | #8 |
| 2 | 19 April 2010 | 0.861 | #57 | |
| 3 | 26 April 2010 | 0.952 | #41 | |
| 4 | 3 May 2010 | 0.951 | #43 | |
| 5 | 10 May 2010 | 0.615 | #90 | |
| 6 | 17 May 2010 | 0.921 | #50 | |
| 7 | 24 May 2010 | 0.890 | #56 | |
| 8 | 31 May 2010 | 0.792 | #64 | |
|
9 |
7 June 2010 |
0.866 |