2011-12 ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS About Zoos Victoria 02 Our Vision and Mission 03 Becoming the World’s Leading Zoo-based Conservation Organisation 04 150 Years of History. A Future of Fighting Wildlife Extinction 05 Chairman’s Message 06 CEO’s Message 07 Major Highlights for 2010-11 08 Financial Summary 09 Our Year in Review 11 Melbourne Zoo 12 Healesville Sanctuary 14 Werribee Open Range Zoo 16 Wildlife Conservation and Science 18 Visitor and Community Development 20 Community Inclusiveness 22 Zoos Victoria Foundation 24 Our Sustainable Operations 26 Carbon Neutral 27 Our People 28 Zoos Victoria Organisational Chart 29 Corporate Plan 30 Board Profiles 31 Corporate Governance and Other Disclosure 33 Publications 39 Conference Proceedings and Presentations 40 Our Partners and Supporters 41 Financial Report 43 ABOUT ZOOS VICTORIA In 1862 set amidst a growing At Healesville Sanctuary, Werribee Open As Melbourne Zoo turns 150 years old, and city in the grip of gold rush Range Zoo and Melbourne Zoo we are Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open committed to fighting the extinction of Range Zoo accommodate more visitors and fever, Zoos Victoria’s wildlife species in Australia and overseas. greater animal needs, we are continually (and Australia’s) first Zoo, We are proud that our zoos are among improving our infrastructure and building Melbourne Zoo was founded. Australia’s most popular places to visit. new exhibits to meet visitor needs while Home to more than 300 species of providing world-class animal care. It was a humble beginning animals, ranging from native Australian with only a handful of animals, animals to local and international Our Three Zoos but over the years we have threatened species, we play an important Melbourne Zoo is the matriarch of the part in educating the community and grown our family to include Zoos Victoria family. Founded in 1862, conserving wildlife. the Zoo has always taken a ‘worldly’ view Healesville Sanctuary and We are one of the largest paying of nature and this heritage has led Werribee Open Range Zoo. attractions in Victoria, with more than the modern Melbourne Zoo to be seen We have welcomed millions of 1.9 million visitors coming to our zoos as a ‘window into the world’s wildlife’. each year. Nine per cent of our visitors people who have formed Healesville Sanctuary steeps our visitors are from overseas, with Healesville in the warmth and familiarity of the cherished memories of their Sanctuary attracting the highest Australian bushland. The hub of Zoos proport ion of international tourists. times at our zoos, amongst Victoria’s native threatened species We aim to work with our visitors breeding programs, the Sanctuary holds our incredible animals. to help them love, appreciate and want a strong connection to the Wurundjeri to save threatened wildlife in Australia culture, heritage and community. and overseas. Werribee Open Range Zoo is home to the Fostering a knowledge and love of the majestic animals of the African Savannahs natural world, from a young age, is critical and the grasslands of North America, to nurturing pro-environmental behaviour Asia and Australia. These vast plains take in future generations. We are proud visitors through the beauty and tribulations to teach some 156,000 students each of life on the open range. year, making us one of the largest non-classroom educators in the State. We are engaged in more than 60 research projects, six international conservation projects and seven Zoos Victoria’s Total Animal community conserv at ion campaigns Collection that aim to prevent wildlife extinction in Australia and across the world. The Animal Type Number of Specimens Where Our Visitors Come From hallmark of our conserv ation projects 30 June 2012 and campaigns is that they are developed where our visitors come from come visitors our where Overseas with the community in mind because Fish 251 9% we acknowledge that it is human actions Amphibian 536 Interstate that can both help or hinder the survival 5% of many species. Reptile 548 Regional We are internationally recognised for Bird 1,322 Victoria 13% veterinary, animal husbandry, research Mammal 910 Metropolitan and horticultural expertise. We are the Victoria only teaching facility (in association with Total 3,567 73% the University of Melbourne) for wildlife veterinary science in Victoria. * Not including invertebrate collection 2 ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2011-12 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 Zoos Victoria strives to be the 01 Conservation 04 People world’s leading zoo-based Conservation of threatened species Just as our animals are vital to our conservation organisation by requires more than the captive breeding journey, so are our people. We are and management of animals, it also committed to their development because taking a leading role in fighting requires us to work with our visitors and they are leading our transformation to the extinction of wildlife in the broader community so they are be the world’s leading zoo-based Australia and overseas. We do engaged, motivated and empowered to conservation organisation. save wildlife from extinction. this by focusing our efforts in 05 Financial Sustainability five key areas. 02 Animals Ensuring our long-term financial Our animals are the most important part sustainability is critical to all aspects of our quest in fighting wildlife extinction. of our operations because it enables us They engage and inspire our visitors to to make meaningful and measurable take conservation actions and this is why investments in conservation. we are working to ensure every species in our collection has conservation relevance. We are passionate about and committed to the care and welfare of every animal in our collection. 03 Visitors To inspire our visitors to take conserv- ation action means that we need to provide equally inspiring recreation and learning experiences. This is why we are committed to creating experiences that make our visitors want to save animals. 4 ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2011-12 150 YEARS OF HISTORY. A FUTURE OF FIGHTING WILDLIFE EXTINCTION In 1862, when Melbourne 150 years ago, our ancestors had very Whilst the work we have chosen can itself was only 27 years old, different reasons for establishing the zoo. seem overwhelming at times, we are Crafted on the layout of London Zoo, encouraged by the successes we have Melbourne Zoo was Melbourne Zoo was a place for entertain- celebrated so far. Some of our recent established. In its first year, ment. In our 150th anniversary year, milestones include: we are celebrating our heritage, but the zoo brought together + Having one of the largest membership firmly focused on education and fighting a collection of just programs in Australia with more than wildlife extinction. triple the number of members of your 103 animals – mostly birds. In 2008 Zoos Victoria started an import- typical AFL club ant journey to be the world’s leading We have shared Victoria’s + Welcoming more than 1.9 million zoo-based conservation organisation. journey through two world visitors in the 2011/2012 financial year No longer content to be three zoos that wars, endless development are involved in conservation, we realised + Bringing the Lord Howe Island Stick and feature in countless that our strength was in using our zoos Insect, Eastern Barred Bandicoot and the Scott’s Tree Kangaroo (Tenkile) children’s memories. We now to achieve conservation outcomes. We developed a 20 year plan to progressively back from the brink of extinction act as custodians to over shift our business model to ensure that all + Keeping the Orange-Bellied Parrot and 3,000 animals at our three our operations would deliver measurable, Helmeted Honeyeater from extinction positive conservation outcomes. We are, unique zoos. + Collecting more than 50,000 mobile after all, custodians of more than 300 phones which has raised more than animal species, some of which are extinct $100,000 for Gorilla conservation in in the wild, and many more which are at the Congo high risk of extinction. + Creating alternative livelihoods for As the Zoo celebrates 150 years, we more than 500 families in drought- look ahead to a future where we fight stricken Northern Kenya, thus reducing the extinction of species in Australia livestock’s competition with the and overseas. endangered Grevy’s Zebra for food and We are privileged to share our commit- habitat ment to conservation with over 121,000 + Diverting more than 1.5 kms of fishing zoo members. Their commitment assists line from our Victorian coastline us to do important work to save species. This work includes: + Amplifying the voice of more than 160,000 Australians calling for + Ensuring no Victorian-land based transparent palm oil labelling in native vertebrate species will become Australia extinct on our watch + Instigating the first breeding programs + Providing world-class care and housing for the Platypus and the Baw Baw Frog. to our 3,000 animals In our 150th year, we honour our members + Raising awareness of, and facilitating and supporters who have helped us action to help endangered species achieve so much for the good of our + Providing unique and engaging community and wildlife. Whether through experiences for millions of visitors donations, being a member, being an including families, schools and visitors advocate for our conservation work to Victoria or spreading the word about our zoos + Furthering our research projects and and our conservation programs, we international conservation programs.