Securing a Shared Future for Wildlife and People
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The Bigger Picture Securing a shared future for wildlife and people ANNUAL REPORT 2012–2013 2 Overview Taronga Conservation Society Australia (Taronga) operates Taronga Zoo in Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. Taronga is also a leader in the fields of conservation, research and environmental education. Taronga is constituted under the Zoological Parks Board Act 1973 as a statutory authority owned by the people of New South Wales (NSW) and administered by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. Amended legislation in 1992 defined Taronga’s responsibilities in education, conservation, research and recreation (see Appendix 1). A minor amendment to the Act was undertaken in 2008 to formally recognised Taronga Conservation Society Australia as the official name, to better describe the work of the organisation. The Hon Robyn Parker MP Minister for the Environment and Heritage Parliament House 6 Macquarie St SYDNEY NSW 2000 Contact Contact Dear Minister Bradleys Head Rd Obley Rd It is with great pleasure that I present the 40th Mosman NSW 2088 Dubbo NSW 2830 Annual Report of the Taronga Conservation Society PO Box 20 PO Box 831 Australia, which includes the statement of accounts, Mosman NSW 2088 Dubbo NSW 2830 for your presentation to the NSW Parliament. This report covers in full the Taronga Conservation Tel: 02 9969 2777 Tel: 02 6882 5888 Society Australia’s activities for the year ended 30 Fax: 02 9969 7515 Fax: 02 6884 1722 June 2013 in accordance with Section 20 and 37 of www.taronga.org.au www.taronga.org.au the Zoological Parks Board Act 1973 (NSW) (as amended) and the Annual Report Statutory Bodies Act 1984 (NSW) (as amended). Yours sincerely Len Bleasel AM Chairman 3 Contents Page Chairman’s Report 8 Director and Chief Executive’s Report 9 Appointed Board 10 Senior Management Team and Organisational Chart 13 Year in Brief – Research and Conservation Science in Australia 16 Year in Brief – Our Global Reach 18 Year in Brief – Visitation 20 Year in Brief – Financials 22 Tangible Conservation Outcomes 26 Animals in our Care 34 Visitor Experience and Learning 40 Financial Sustainability 50 Our People and Organisational Effectiveness 60 Glossary 68 Index 69 Statutory Financial Statements – Taronga 70 Statutory Financial Statements – Taronga Division 115 Appendices 138 A Shared Future for Wildlife and People Taronga is deeply committed to wildlife conservation, science and learning. At Taronga and Taronga Western Plains Zoos we bring people and wildlife together for positive outcomes by creating inspiring and educational visitor experiences. Our conservation breeding programs are helping to secure a future for endangered and critically endangered species including the Eastern Bongo, Sumatran Tiger and Tasmanian Devil. But what you see when you visit Taronga’s two Zoos is just the tip of the iceberg – it is only part of The Bigger Picture. As part of a 360-degree approach to conservation, we work closely with partners in Australia and globally to support wildlife and habitat conservation projects around the world; from community-based conservation of Madagascar’s spiny forest, to wildlife protection units on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. We are also conducting ground-breaking scientific research to help protect wildlife including Australian frog species and the world’s coral reefs. At Taronga, we see The Bigger Picture: a shared future for wildlife and people. Wedge-tailed Eagle ‘George’. PHO TO: BOBBY-JO CLOW Our Strategic Direction O ur vision is to secure a shared future for wildlife and people. Taronga’s unique role and the way we will conduct our work in supporting wildlife conservation, science and learning are defined by our Strategic Plan. Our Vision To secure a shared future for wildlife and people O ur Role O ur Values Our role in conservation is to create Be supportive and enthusiastic direct and positive connections Accept and take responsibility between wildlife and people. Show dignity and respect Innovate and take initiative Through our efforts we protect Clear and simple endangered species, increase understanding of wildlife and Commitment to Taronga’s WHS, animal inspire community action. welfare and customer service charters. W ildlife People We breed, manage and care for wildlife, We create unique, dynamic and undertake research, to deliver and engaging le arning experiences tangible conservation outcomes. to positively influence and Symbol Platypus change behaviours. (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Opened October 1916 Site 28 hectares Animals Number of Animals: 3,752 Species/sub-species: 348 Tangible Visitor Conservation Animals in Experience Financial O utcomes O ur Care & Learning Sustainability O ur People & Organisational Effectiveness Symbol Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) Opened February 1977 Site 788 hectares Animals Number of Animals: 535 Species/sub-species: 76 8 Chairman’s Report At our Zoos we have celebrated a number of significant births this past year. Perhaps the I am proud to present the 40th Annual Report most important of these was the birth of a male of the Taronga Conservation Society White Rhinoceros calf ‘Macheo’, at Taronga Australia. 2012/13 marked the completion of Western Plains Zoo. ‘Macheo’ was born from Taronga’s 12 year $221 million Master Plan ‘Mopani’ who had been pregnant when the Zoo redevelopment partnership with the NSW lost 4 White Rhinoceros to an unknown illness Government, an important milestone in the last year and in this regard, his birth is a tribute organisation’s history and achievement for to the keepers and veterinary staff at the Zoo. the people of NSW. Some of Taronga’s New arrivals at Taronga Zoo included three significant achievements in the past 12 Fennec Fox kits, Komodo Dragon hatchlings months are reported below. transferred from the USA and a two year old In the final year of the Master Plan, Taronga female Sun Bear who has been paired with and the NSW Government together invested Taronga’s male. more than $12 million in capital development I would like to thank the members of the Board and asset maintenance at Taronga and Taronga for their support and assistance over the past 12 Western Plains Zoos. At Taronga Zoo, months. I would particularly like to thank Ms construction commenced on the Lemur Forest Gae Raby who retired in June 2013 after 13 Adventure which is scheduled to open in years of service to Taronga and welcome new December 2013 as one of the Zoo’s most Board members Dr Kersti Seksel, Councillor John interactive and engaging visitor experiences. Walkom and Councillor Roy Bendall. Taronga also re-launched the Taronga Centre function spaces after completion of a $750,000 At the conclusion of another successful year, I capital development upgrade. acknowledge the tireless work of Taronga and Taronga Western Plains Zoo staff. Their passion At Taronga Western Plains Zoo, the Zoofari and enthusiasm is critical to the Zoos’ success Lodge Main House refurbishment has revitalised and the creation of positive connections the Zoo’s premium accommodation product and between wildlife and people. I also acknowledge the construction of Billabong Camp has created the efforts of Taronga volunteers who help a brand new overnight experience for visitors to deliver wonderful experiences for our visitors and enjoy. These developments will support enrichment for the animals in our care. Taronga’s activities in field conservation, conservation science and education by delivering a commercial return. Overnight experiences are also an important opportunity to engage visitors in the work Taronga is currently doing to help secure a shared future for Len Bleasel AM wildlife and people. Chairman The Taronga Foundation, established in 2000, raised $11 million. Funds raised will help support over 30 in-situ conservation projects in Australia and around the world, and conservation science and education projects. The vision and generous support of Taronga Foundation donors has also enabled Taronga to leverage nearly $1.9 million in scientific grants via the Taronga Conservation Science Initiative. Projects funded by the Initiative include studies on frog immunity to chytrid fungus to help conserve endangered species in NSW, and the Great Barrier Reef Coral CryoReserve at the Wildlife Reproductive Centre at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. 9 Director and Chief at Mt Pilot National Park, Victoria, during the year. Over 1,100 Southern Corroboree Frog eggs Executive’s Report were also produced at Taronga Zoo, a significant 2012/13 has been an important year for number of which were released into fenced, Taronga. At both sites, and beyond the chytrid-free enclosures in Kosciuszko National grounds of our two Zoos, we have Park and artificial chytrid-free pools at breeding expanded our commitments in education, sites within the National Park. research and conservation science whilst At Taronga and Taronga Western Plains Zoos, continuing to deliver engaging and 159,325 students were involved in Taronga learning inspiring experiences for visitors. programs. This included 1,114 students from Total attendances at Taronga and Taronga Western Sydney who participated in the Endanger Western Plains Zoos increased by 2.4% to 1.7 Ranger program, a NSW Government election million in 2012/13. The increase in attendances commitment and immersive overnight education was driven by the ‘Dinosaurs in the Wild’ program at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Over 350 experience at Taronga Zoo which resulted in a students were also enrolled in courses run by the 6.8% increase in year on year visitation from Taronga Training Institute including Animal Studies, November to January. With nearly 450,000 Captive Animal Management and Tourism, and 24 visitors, ‘Dinosaurs in the Wild’ made it the postgraduate students from 9 universities busiest summer period ever for the Zoo. supervised on site and in the field. Throughout the year, Taronga has continued its As I do each year I would like to thank Taronga support of organisations working around the world Chairman, Len Bleasel AM, and the Board for to identify and reduce key threats to endangered their support and guidance.