2009-10 Zoos Victoria Annual Report
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2009-10 ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS 02 About Zoos Victoria 03 Our Vision and Mission 04 Becoming the World’s Leading Zoo-based Conservation Organisation 05 Chairman’s Message 06 CEO’s Message 07 Major Highlights for 2009-10 09 Financial Summary 12 Melbourne Zoo 14 Healesville Sanctuary 16 Werribee Open Range Zoo 18 Wildlife Conservation and Science 20 Visitor and Community Development 22 Community Inclusiveness 24 Zoos Victoria Foundation 26 Our Sustainable Operations 28 Our People 32 Key Performance Indicators 33 Corporate Governance and Other Disclosure 34 Board Profiles 40 Publications 41 Conference Proceedings and Presentations 42 Our Partners and Supporters 43 Financial Report ABOUT Zoos Victoria is an important social, economic and cultural asset for Victorians. Each of our three great ZOOS VICTORIA zoos – Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo – offers unique and exciting wildlife and conservation experiences. Where Our Visitors Come From Our total collection includes more than Friends of the Zoos Ltd 2,700 animals ranging from popular native Friends of the Zoos Ltd is an independent, Australian animals to rare and threatened non-profit organisation established species from both here and overseas. to support Zoos Victoria and wildlife We are one of the largest paying attractions conservation. in Victoria, with more than 1.7 million visitors FOTZ Ltd has been operating for 30 years coming to our zoos each year. About 11 per providing financial and in-kind support to cent of our visitors are from overseas with Zoos Victoria. Healesville Sanctuary attracting the highest proportion of international tourists. FOTZ Ltd provides vital non-financial support through volunteer workers. Some 160,000 students visit a Zoos Victoria FOTZ volunteers are active across all Zoos property each year, making it one of the Victoria properties as guides, information largest non-classroom educators in the State. officers and general supporters for Zoo We aim to be the leading authority on captive visitors and staff. animals and a major facilitator of wildlife knowledge leading to conservation action. Zoos Victoria thanks FOTZ for their continuing commitment, dedication and Zoos Victoria is internationally recognised for support for the three zoos and wildlife its veterinary, animal husbandry, research conservation more generally. and horticultural expertise. We are the only State teaching facility (in association with Zoos Victoria Friends of the Zoos the University of Melbourne) for wildlife Members veterinary science. Zoos Victoria offers membership to We are continually improving existing Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and infrastructure and building new exhibits to Werribee Open Range Zoo. As of 1 July meet visitor needs while providing world- 2009 Zoos Victoria became responsible class animal care. for the management of membership. A key focus of 2010-11 will be to develop Our Three Zoos a Membership Business Plan to grow Melbourne Zoo is a ‘window to the world’ membership and improve retention rates. of wildlife that provides an immersive animal As of 30 June 2010, 84,549 Victorians are experience and encourages people to act to Zoos Victoria Friends of the Zoos members protect and enhance the world’s wildlife and enjoying unlimited access to our three zoos, habitats. free access to some interstate zoos, as Healesville Sanctuary showcases the well as discounts and the latest information wonder of the Australian bush and its wildlife, about zoo happenings in the quarterly incorporating aspects of Indigenous culture. magazine ‘Zoo News’. Werribee Open Range Zoo provides an open-range adventure featuring grassland How to Become a Zoos Victoria Friends of the Zoos Member animals of Africa, North America, Asia and Australia. To become a member visit zoo.org.au/fotz call 9285 9325 or visit the membership office Zoos Victoria’s Animal Collection beside the front entrance at Melbourne Zoo. Animal Type Number of Specimens 30 June 2010 Fish 78 Amphibian 398 Reptile 499 Bird 1058 Mammal 744 Total 2777 * Not including invertebrate collection 2 ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2009-10 VISION AND MISSION Our Vision To be the world’s leading zoo-based conservation organisation. Our Mission To galvanise communities to commit to the conservation of wildlife and wild places by connecting people and wildlife by: Opening the door to exceptional wildlife encounters that reach beyond the boundaries of our properties Leading the way by communicating and demonstrating the role of conservation and research in all we do Catalysing action through inspiring experiences that motivate participation leading to conservation and sustainability outcomes. BecoMinG THE WorlD’S leaDinG zoo-baseD conservation orGaniSation In 2009, Zoos Victoria adopted 02 Animals a new strategic direction to We will ensure that every animal in our transform the organisation collection has conservation relevance. over 20 years into the We will strive to be a world leader in animal care and wellbeing and actively advocate world’s leading zoo-based for the conservation of wildlife. conservation organisation. Zoos Victoria is embracing a much larger 03 Visitors and more active role in conservation. We will provide innovative wildlife We will specialise in the captive holding recreation and learning experiences that and management of threatened species inspire visitors to take conservation actions and in influencing behaviour changes that make a measurable and positive within communities to support wild difference. populations and their habitats. To achieve this vision we have identified 04 People five key action areas: We will support our staff’s development to ensure they and the organisation as a 01 Conservation whole can transform Zoos Victoria into a Our focus will be on wildlife conservation zoo-based conservation organisation. and community conservation. We will work to conserve threatened species in Australia 05 Financial Sustainability and broad-based habitat conservation We will ensure the long-term financial in our international priority regions, and sustainability of all our operations to we will harness public action behind our improve the value of our assets so we conservation effort. can deliver an increased investment in conservation. 4 ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2009-10 CHairMan’S MessaGE Becoming a zoo-based conservation The Beads for Wildlife program at Werribee organisation involves Zoos Victoria living Open Range Zoo takes beads made by up to its conservation and sustainability women in the Melako Conservancy in Kenya principles across all the myriad aspects of and sells them in zoo retail outlets. This has zoo operations. earned the women $50,000 in alternative revenue so far, reducing their reliance on One year into our 20-year transformation domestic livestock which compete with this exciting strategic shift has already native wildlife for food and water. begun to deliver results. From the way we select and care for our animals, to Sustainability extends to our finances and the exhibits we open, our management we are working hard to build the long-term of the bottom line and our contribution to financial sustainability of all our operations conservation efforts here and abroad. so we can maintain and improve the value of assets and make meaningful investments in Acting locally, Zoos Victoria is expanding conservation. its capacity to save priority threatened species by bolstering recovery programs for This financial model focuses on the Tasmanian Devils at Healesville Sanctuary performance of individual business units where an ‘insurance’ population is being with surpluses invested in conservation, established to support the disease plagued staff development and asset renewal. wild-born animals in Tasmania. Our zoos serve as ‘windows’ to the conservation work of the organisation, Healesville Sanctuary is making real strides and in this way, as a source of revenue to towards saving the Helmeted Honeyeater. support these vital efforts. This year, a third independent colony was released back into the wild in a real While our primary objective is conservation, turnaround in the survival saga of Victoria’s we are also keen to build lasting native bird-emblem. relationships with local communities and provide opportunities for Indigenous people. Globally our efforts are also bearing fruits A major thrust for 2010 will be the launch of in Papua New Guinea, South-east Asia a Reconciliation Action Plan that will see a and Sub-saharan Africa and in 2009-10 we renewed focus on opportunities to celebrate extended our international conservation Indigenous culture at all three properties. effort with an additional two programs. A major focus will be putting into action Zoos Victoria is putting into action our the development plans for our three zoos commitment to becoming a true leader and that will deliver even greater conservation Australian authority on captive animals, the outcomes that will enable us to be major facilitator of wildlife knowledge leading recognised as a leading conservation to broader conservation action. organisation. Becoming a zoo-based conservation We have made important inroads in our organisation is also about inspiring first year of a 20-year strategy, and will people to take action and making it easy keep building on our strong start to be a for individuals to get involved. Our Don’t world-leading zoo-based conservation Palm us Off campaign at Melbourne Zoo organisation. is advocating for the labelling of products with palm oil to help save species such as the orang-utan and Sumatran Tiger. This campaign was a highlight of 2009-10 with more than 130,000 people signing our petition telling us they want palm oil Andrew Fairley labelled on food products. The campaign Chairman also inspired a Private Members Bill now Zoos Victoria Board before Federal Parliament advocating for 12 August 2010 this change. ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2009-10 5 CEO’S MessaGE The 2009-10 financial year is the first full Significant progress has been made this year of our new strategic direction that is year to expand and diversify our revenue seeing Zoos Victoria play a much larger and base.