Annual Report 2011–2012 Our Commitment to aShared Future A mark in ink, still the simplest way to put your name to a letter, a petition, to a contract, to a cause. Our cause is the wild. We believe that we all, humankind and animals, have a future together. We believe in a world that we can share, a world where all our wild species can make a comeback. Where the wild can remain wild. And we believe that for this future to become reality, one species must lead us there… ours. Justine Powell with Sumatran Tiger cub Kembali. Photo; Rick Stevens. In June 2012, we gathered prints from many of our animals and shared them in a public statement for the wild. We also invited staff, We the undersi ned volunteers and visitors to pledge their support for the wild by adding their own handprint believe that humans and animals alongside the prints of our animals. With this simple action, hundreds of people joined us on our journey to secure a shared future can share this planet... for wildlife and people. Nicole Whitfi eld helps visitors make their mark for the wild. 4 Annual Report 2012 Taronga Conservation Society Australia 5 Overview Contents Taronga Conservation Society Australia (Taronga) operates Taronga Zoo in Sydney and Taronga Our Vision, Role and Values 6 Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. Taronga is also a leader in the fi elds of conservation, research and Chairman’s Report 10 environmental education. Appointed Board 12 Director and Chief Executive’s Report 14 Taronga is constituted under the Zoological Parks Board Act 1973 as a statutory authority Senior Management Team 16 owned by the people of New South Wales (NSW) and administered by the Minister for the Organisational chart 17 Environment and Heritage. Year in brief – Financials 18 Amended legislation in 1992 defi ned Taronga’s responsibilities in education, conservation, research Year in brief – Visitation 20 and recreation (see Appendix 1). A minor amendment to the Act in 2008 formally recognised Taronga Tangible Conservation Outcomes 24 Conservation Society Australia as the offi cial name, to better describe the work of the organisation. Animals in Our Care 38 Financial Sustainability 48 Visitor Experience and Learning 62 Our People and Organisational Eff ectiveness 74 Glossary 84 Index 84 Financial Statements 86 Appendices 149 Symbol Symbol The Hon. Robyn Parker MP Platypus Giraff e Minister for Environment and Heritage (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) (Giraff a camelopardalis) Parliament House Macquarie St Opened Opened Sydney NSW 2001 October 1916 February 1977 Site: 28 hectares Site: 788 hectares Animals Animals Dear Minister, Number of Animals: 4,988 Number of Animals: 452 Species/sub-species: 322 Species/sub-species: 70 It is with great pleasure that I present the 39th Annual Report of the Taronga Conservation Society Australia. The report includes Contact Contact the statement of accounts, for your presentation to the NSW Bradleys Head Rd Obley Rd Parliament. This report also covers in full, the Taronga Conservation Mosman NSW 2088 Dubbo NSW 2830 Society Australia’s activities for the year ended 30 June 2012 PO Box 20 PO Box 831 in accordance with Sections 20 and 37 of the Zoological Parks Mosman NSW 2088 Dubbo NSW 2830 Board Act 1973 (as amended) and the Annual Report Statutory Bodies Act 1984 (as amended). Tel: 02 9969 2777 Tel: 02 6882 5888 Fax: 02 9969 7515 Fax: 02 6884 1722 Yours sincerely, Hours Hours 9:30am – 5:00pm 9:00am – 4:00pm daily (September – April) www.taronga.org.au 9:30am – 4:30pm (May – August) Len Bleasel AM www.taronga.org.au Chairman Powerful Owl ‘Nangaw’. Photo; Bobby-Jo Clow. 6 Annual Report 2012 Taronga Conservation Society Australia 7 Taronga’s strategic plan defi nes the long-term goal of the organisation (our vision), the unique role Taronga plays in the world of conservation (our role) and the way we will conduct our work Our (our values). Vi ion, Our Vision is to secure a shared future for wildlife and people s Our Role Our 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 eff orts we protect Clear and simple endangered species, increase understanding of wildlife and Commitment to Taronga’s WHS, animal & Values inspire community action. welfare and customer service charters. Wildlife People We breed, manage and care for wildlife, We create unique, dynamic and engaging and undertake research, to deliver tangible learning experiences to positively infl uence conservation outcomes. and change behaviours. Tangible Visitor Our People & Conservation Animals in Financial Experience Organisational Outcomes Our Care Sustainability & Learning Effectiveness Corroboree Frog. Photo; Rick Stevens. r FoT e Suhmatran Tiger… … we’ve bred three new cubs at Taronga Zoo and with four fi eld conservation programs in Indonesia, we are working hard to protect vital tiger habitat. Sumatran Tiger cub Kartika. Photo; Rick Stevens. 10 Annual Report 2012 Chairman’s Report 11 I am proud to present the 39th Annual Report of the Taronga Conservation Society Australia. 2011/12 has been another groundbreaking year for Taronga, with important milestones reached both within and outside the grounds of our two Zoos. Some of the most signifi cant of Taronga’s achievements in the past 12 months are reported below. In the second last year of the current Master Plan, Taronga, together Taronga has also continued to successfully breed critically with the NSW Government, invested more than $8.9 million endangered reptiles and amphibians. The Blue-tailed Skink and in capital development and maintenance. This investment will Listers Gecko, both of which are endemic to Christmas Island help deliver improved experiences at both Zoos for more than and may already be extinct in the wild, are being successfully C r 1.6 million visitors each year. Signifi cant projects completed bred at Taronga Zoo. The colony at Taronga Zoo represents one hai man's include the Taronga Zoo Chimpanzee Sanctuary redevelopment of the last chances to reintroduce these species and establish and Taronga Western Plains Zoo Ring-tailed Lemur breeding facility. populations in their natural habitat. Taronga also continues its breed and release programs for Corroboree Frogs and The impact of the Master Plan on the visitor experience at Taronga Green-and-golden Bell Frogs, both of which are essential for and Taronga Western Plains Zoos was recognised in 2011, with the survival of these species. both sites nominated for NSW Tourism Awards. Taronga Zoo won e the 2011 NSW Tourism Award for Best Major Attraction, cementing Taronga Western Plains Zoo celebrated an important milestone, ort its place as the premier tourist attraction in the state, whilst its 35th birthday, on 28 February 2012. The Zoo makes a signifi cant R contribution to the local community in Dubbo, and has grown Taronga Western Plains Zoo was acknowledged as a fi nalist in the Best Attraction and New Tourism Development categories. from strength to strength in its 35 years. I look forward to reporting on more new and exciting developments in the Zoos 36th and Taronga’s fundraising arm – the Taronga Foundation – raised future years. $11.2 million in 2011/12. Funds raised enable the development of world class facilities at the Zoos, but also provide crucial support I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow Board for research and conservation programs in Australia and overseas. members for their guidance and advice during the year. I would This year the Foundation established the Taronga Conservation particularly like to thank those members who joined the Board Science Initiative to support research on wildlife ecology, in 2011/12 and those whose tenure on the Board expired at the behaviour, reproduction and health. The Initiative has already end of the fi nancial year. been well supported and will ensure that Taronga continues Most importantly, I thank each and every staff member for their to play an increasingly dynamic role in global wildlife research. contribution over the past 12 months. Taronga’s achievements The Foundation also committed more than $160,000 in grants both within and outside zoo grounds are a direct result of their to 14 fi eld conservation projects that promote wildlife, ecosystem dedication and enthusiasm. I would also like to thank Taronga’s and human health, involve direct species action or reduce confl ict volunteers who contribute in excess of 100,000 hours each year between wildlife and local communities. across the two zoos, and Taronga’s sponsors, whose support Conservation breeding programs continued, with Taronga and is crucial to our success. Taronga Western Plains Zoos celebrating a number of signifi cant births. Three Sumatran Tiger cubs born in August 2011 were a particular highlight. With between 300 and 400 left in the wild, Taronga’s cubs are a signifi cant contribution to the global population of this critically endangered species. Equally important was the birth of an Eastern Bongo calf, of which there are as few as 75 left in the wild. Len F Bleasel AM Chairman Taronga Chairman, Len Bleasel AM, speaking at the Zoofari Black & White Lemur Ball, November 2011. Photo; Ben Symons. 12 Annual Report 2012 Appointed Board 13 Section 6 of the Zoological Ms Jennifer Cowley (5) Councillor Greg Matthews (5) Marketing Committee (6) Parks Board Act 1973 Representing the local community Representing Dubbo City Council. Chair – Mr Steven Crane stipulates the criteria in Dubbo. Member of the Marketing Member of the Wildlife Conservation, Monitors all marketing activities under which members are Committee. Ms Cowley is an active Health and Welfare Committee. including communications, appointed to the Board.