Our world of natural wonders ANNUAL REPORT 2009–2010 A Shared Future The Taronga Conservation Society Australia is committed to creating direct and positive connections between wildlife and people. Through our efforts we protect endangered species, increase understanding of wildlife and inspire community action. Key projects for the year included: Asian Elephant Conservation Breeding Program Strategic Plan Black Rhino Conservation Indigenous Youth Mentoring Breed to Release Conservation Programs Community Conservation Campaigns Taronga Foundation – Celebrating 10 Years Cover Image: In July 2009, Taronga Zoo welcomed ‘Luk Chai’, the first Asian Elephant to be born in Australia. His birth was followed just eight months later by Taronga’s ‘miracle’ elephant calf, ‘Pathi Harn’. With as few as 34,000 Asian Elephants remaining in the wild, their births provide a significant contribution towards developing a regional herd to safe-guard against extinction of this remarkable mammal. Photo: Bobby-Jo Vial. This page: Taronga has been involved in a joint agency Recovery Program for endangered Regent Honey-eaters for more than a decade. This year, 44 zoo bred birds were released into the wild whilst local school groups were educated about the importance of the tiny woodland bird and the need to protect their habitat. Photo: Dean Ingwersen, Birds Australia. 2 A Shared Future Taronga celebrated the arrival of the first elephant calf to be born Taronga is a founding member of the International Rhino Foundation and holds in Australasia, ‘Luk Chai’, on 4 July 2009. Photo: Rick Stevens. the largest zoo-based rhino collection in the world. Photo: Shallon McReaddie. Asian ElEPhAnT Conservation BreedIng PRogram During the year, the Taronga Conservation Society Australia celebrated the birth of the first and third Asian Elephant calves to be born in Australasia, “Luk Chai” in July 2009 and “Pathi Harn” in March 2010. Taronga is part of Australasia’s inaugural Cooperative Conservation Program for the endangered Asian Elephant, which has seen the birth of three calves in 2009/10. A fourth calf is expected to be born at Taronga Zoo in late 2010. These calves are now important ambassadors for their species and assist in raising support for orphaned elephants in Sri Lanka. Strategic PlAn The Taronga Conservation Society Australia commenced a strategic planning process in 2009 with the aim of reassessing and realigning the organisation’s activities. During the year, senior staff committed to a series of workshops and planning sessions to distil the main issues underpinning the five year strategic plan. Priorities of the plan encompass: • Animal Collection • Tangible Conservation Outcomes • Financial Sustainability • Visitor Experience and Learning These are supported by the strategic pillar ‘Our People and Organisational Effectiveness’. This year’s annual report aligns with these new priorities. Black RhIno Conservation Taronga is a founding member of the International Rhinoceros Foundation and Taronga Western Plains Zoo is home to three species of rhino – White, Greater One-horned and the critically endangered Black Rhinoceros. Our breeding program, the largest zoo-based population of these rhinos in the world, has produced 11 Black Rhino calves. Every birth is special but the arrival of the latest calf in 2010 is particularly so as she is the first, second generation Black Rhinoceros to be born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. TARONGA CONSERVATION SOCIETY AUSTRALIA Annual Report 2010 3 Taronga continued its commitment for Tasmanian Devils, opening Taronga took action in a campaign to inform people about a new breeding centre and welcoming 12 joeys into the world. the impact of the palm oil industry on critically endangered Photo: Rick Stevens. wildlife. Photo: Bobby-Jo Vial. IndIgEnouS YouTh MEnToring Taronga Zoo’s Burbangana (a Dharug word meaning “take my hand and help me up”) program and Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s Walanmarra (a Wiradjuri word meaning ’to make strong now’) program are educational and cultural programs for young people in care with high and complex needs and is a joint initiative between Taronga and the Department of Community Services. The program emphasises and conserves culture, connection and belonging and provides a safe, happy and supportive environment for children to grow stronger and blossom through knowledge. Breed To release Conservation programs Taronga’s breed and release conservation programs include the Regent Honeyeater, Booroolong Frog, Tasmanian Devil and Corroboree Frog. During 2009 Taronga’s contribution to the conservation of the endangered Regent Honeyeater increased their wild population by 31% in Victoria. Community Conservation CampaIgnS Taronga’s community action conservation campaigns – They’re Calling On You mobile phone recycling campaign and Don’t Palm Us Off sustainable palm oil campaign – had a successful year with over 6,300 mobile phones recycled and over 10,000 supporting signatures for palm oil labelling. TarongA Foundation – celebratIng 10 Years The Taronga Foundation celebrated its 10 year anniversary this year. A record $6.59M was raised by the Foundation during the year, supporting education, research and conservation initiatives across our Zoos. 4 Who we are 09 10 Our Vision To secure a shared future for wildlife and people. Our Role in Conservation To create direct and positive connections between wildlife and people. Through our efforts we protect endangered species, increase understanding of wildlife and inspire community action. An Overview The Taronga Conservation Society Australia (Taronga) operates more than 13 conservation, research and environmental education endeavours including Taronga Zoo (TZ) in Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo (TWPZ) in Dubbo. Taronga is constituted under the Zoological Parks Board Act 1973 as a statutory authority owned by the people of New South Wales and administered under the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment. 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 recognise Taronga Conservation Society Australia as the official name, to better describe the work of the organisation. Photos: This page Brad Hunter – Daily Telegraph. Opposite page Bobby-Jo Vial. TARONGA CONSERVATION SOCIETY AUSTRALIA Annual Report 2010 5 Contents Chairman’s Report 7 Appointed Board 8 Senior Management Team 10 09 Organisational Chart 11 Director and Chief Executive’s Report 12 Highlights 13 10 Year in Brief – Financials 14 Year in Brief – Visitation 16 1 Taronga’s Animals 19 2 Taronga’s Conservation Outcomes 27 3 Taronga’s Visitor Experience and Learning 39 4 Taronga’s Financial Sustainability 49 5 Taronga’s People and Organisational Effectiveness 61 Financial Statements – Taronga Conservation Society Australia 69 Financial Statements – Taronga Conservation Society Australia Division 108 Appendices 127 Glossary 161 Index 163 6 Taronga Zoo Taronga Western Plains Zoo Symbol Symbol Platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis Opened Opened October 1916. Site 28 hectares. February 1977. Site 788 hectares. Animals Animals From the Old Moore Park Zoo, founded Exhibited in open range facilities. by the Royal Zoological Society of New The collection now contains approximately South Wales in 1881. The collection 650 animals from 91 species/sub-species. now includes approximately 4,000 animals from 349 species/sub-species. Contact Obley Road, Dubbo Contact PO Box 831, Dubbo NSW 2830 Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman PO Box 20, Mosman NSW 2088 Tel: (02) 6882 5888 Fax: (02) 6884 1722 Tel: (02) 9969 2777 Fax: (02) 9969 7515 Hours: 9.00am to 4.00pm daily Hours: 9.00am to 5.00pm daily Website: www.taronga.org.au Website: www.taronga.org.au Number of animals: 613 Species/sub-species: 93 Number of animals: 3,798 Species/sub-species: 357 The Hon Frank Sartor MP Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Parliament House Macquarie St Sydney NSW 2001 Dear Minister It is with great pleasure that I present the 37th Annual Report of the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, which includes the statement of accounts, for your presentation to the NSW Parliament. This report covers in full the Taronga Conservation Society Australia’s activities for the year ended 30 June 2010 in accordance with Section 20 and 37 of the Zoological Parks Board Act 1973 (as amended) and the Annual Report Statutory Bodies Act 1984 (as amended). Yours sincerely Leonard F Bleasel AM Chairman Taronga Conservation Society Australia TARONGA CONSERVATION SOCIETY AUSTRALIA Annual Report 2010 7 Chairman’s Report It is with much pride that I present the At Taronga Western Plains Zoo, it was 37th Annual Report for the Taronga the rhino that made headlines with the Conservation Society Australia. The past arrival of the first, second-generation 12 months have been extraordinary in Black Rhino bred in captivity in Australia. the life of Taronga, and I am very pleased Named ‘Kufara’, the newest arrival is also to report on some of our highlights. the 11th Black Rhino to be born at Taronga, as part of the world’s largest captive It has been a year of financial milestones population of these rhinos in the world. with a record number of admissions – more than 1.7 million – to our two zoos, Taronga Western Plains Zoo also welcomed an increase of 12.1 per cent on the the arrival of a female Greater One-Horned previous year. The Taronga Foundation (or Indian) Rhino which was in itself a huge also broke records raising a net total of logistical exercise, not least because she $6.6 million through fundraising efforts, weighed in excess of 1,000 kilos. With while Taronga Zoo’s retail outlets contributed the help of the Zoo’s senior veterinarian, an additional 25 per cent in revenue. Dr Benn Bryant, three year old ‘Amala’ travelled for 36 hours by plane and truck The NSW Minister for Climate Change and to arrive safely at her new home in Dubbo the Environment, The Hon Frank Sartor MP, in a healthy condition. She has joined our was a frequent visitor to, and supporter of, male Rhino, ‘Dora’, and now commences both zoos during the year.