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Taronga Conservation Society Australia

Published on: August 2020

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-111853

Taronga Conservation Society Australia

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (19:25):

:09 I acknowledge the incredible conservation work undertaken by the Taronga Conservation Society Australia in my electorate of North Shore. It has been a particularly challenging time for Taronga Zoo's Sydney and Dubbo locations due to the COVID-19 crisis. I know it has impacted many organisations, but I am incredibly proud of the work that the zoo does on a daily basis and the efforts staff put in to maintain support for their animals and, more broadly, their conservation work regardless of this challenge.

The team at Taronga is committed to and focused on ensuring that conservation and protecting the world's precious wildlife are at the forefront of its work. We are very lucky to have Taronga Zoo in our own backyard. It allows many of us to experience firsthand the dedicated work that is undertaken by the many volunteers and staff at Taronga. Through research, education, action and advocacy, Taronga is leading vital work that supports wildlife, habitats and communities across the globe. Taronga prioritises ecological sustainability for the protection of our natural environment and has been awarded carbon neutral certification across its zoos in Mosman and Dubbo.

The Corroboree Frog

In partnership with the Berejiklian Government and through the $100 million Saving Our Species program, Taronga Zoo has been able to breed and release more than 50,000 native animals back into the wild and save at least seven species from the threat of extinction. One such species is the southern corroboree frog, which I was lucky enough to meet and greet with the Minister for Energy and Environment, Matt Kean, last year when we visited Taronga to open the Wildlife Retreat. I knew a lot about the southern corroboree frog because of the wonderful Wiggles song . I was surprised at how teeny-tiny they are, which just shows how much we need to do to protect these tiny little creatures. The southern corroboree frog is a critically endangered species and the insurance colonies at Taronga are a lifeline for it. Taronga has been successful in releasing hundreds of frogs and thousands of eggs to increase wild population numbers in Kosciuszko National Park and Brindabella National Park.

Over the past few years, and particularly during the recent bushfire season, our native animals have been dealt a significant blow to their natural habitats. Taronga's wildlife response teams were among the first to support wildlife rescue attempts across New South Wales and Victoria—caring for fire-, heat- and drought‑impacted animals at their zoos and hospitals. Taronga is still providing emergency care for those wildlife, including the housing and care of a population of wild koalas from the Kanangra-Boyd National Park. The Wildlife Hospital is also continuing to treat numerous animals for the effects of heat, fire and drought—including wallabies, koalas, bats requiring intensive hand rearing, and platypus rescued from drying ponds in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. I was fortunate enough to be joined by the Federal environment Minister, Sussan Ley, at Taronga's Wildlife Hospital earlier this year, where we were able to see firsthand how Taronga has been providing rehabilitation and care for the native wildlife that were impacted by the bushfires.

Experts widely agree that recovery programs or breed-to-release programs will be essential to the long‑term survival of many of the species impacted by the bushfires. Taronga is a leader in delivering successful breed‑to‑release programs, with the essential combination of skills across science, genetics, behavioural management and animal husbandry required to breed small populations that can thrive in the wild. This year Taronga has been preparing to initiate new recovery programs for platypus, fish and frogs, and is doubling its efforts for existing programs for the regent honeyeater and the southern corroboree frog after the fires significantly affected their respective territories.

Taronga also engages in international conservation efforts, ensuring the successful breeding of many threatened exotic species. In particular, with as few as 400 Sumatran tigers left, Taronga is proud to be part of a regional conservation management plan for Sumatran tigers, including breeding, research, fundraising and community action to support sustainably produced palm oil. Other critically threatened species, such as the Asian elephant and the western lowland gorilla, are part of a successful breeding program as both species are experiencing rapidly declining numbers in the wild.

Taronga Zoo recently opened its new African Savannah at Mosman, with lions returning to their rightful place as kings of the savannah. Visitors can now come face to face with two male lions, Lwazi and Ato, along with other additions such as Kaya and Bwana, the new resident zebras. I thank all the expert wildlife veterinarians, nurses, carers, animal husbandry experts and scientists and the many volunteers who work across the two wildlife hospitals. Taronga is in a unique position to lead the rescue and recovery of Australia's wildlife, now and into the future.