2 ANNUAL REPORT 2014–2015

The Hon. Mark Speakman SC MP

Minister for the Environment and Heritage

Parliament House

6 Macquarie St

SYDNEY NSW 2000

Dear Minister

It is with great pleasure that we present the 42nd 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 2015 in accordance with Section 20 and 37 of the Zoological Parks Board

Act 1973 (NSW) (as amended) and the Annual Report Statutory Bodies Act 1984 (NSW)

(as amended).

Yours sincerely

Len Bleasel AM Cameron Kerr

Chairman Director and Chief Executive

Overview

Taronga Conservation Society Australia (Taronga) operates Taronga Zoo in Sydney and Taronga

Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. Taronga is also a leader in the fields of conservation, research and

environmental education.

Taronga is constituted under the Zoological Parks Board Act 1973 as a statutory authority owned

by the people of New South Wales (NSW) and administered by the Minister for the Environment

and Heritage.

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 recognize Taronga Conservation Society Australia as the official name, to better

describe the work of the organisation.

ContactBradleys Head RoadMosman NSW 2088

PO Box 20Mosman NSW 2088

Tel: 02 9969 2777Fax: 02 9969 7515

Open 9.30–5.00pm (Sept–Apr) Open 9.30–4.30pm (May–Aug)

taronga.org.au

ContactObley Rd Dubbo NSW 2830

PO Box 831Dubbo NSW 2830

Tel: 02 6881 1400Fax: 02 6884 1722

Open 9.00–4.00pm

taronga.org.au

3A FUTURE FOR THE WILD

Table of Contents

Chairman’s Report ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................8

Director and Chief Executive’s Report .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................10

Appointed Board ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................12

Senior Management Team and Organisational Chart ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15

Year Brief – Research and Conservation Science in Australia .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................18

Year Brief – Our Global Reach ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................20

Year Brief – Visitation...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................22

Year Brief – Financials .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................24

Tangible Conservation Outcomes .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................28

Animals in Our Care ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................34

Visitor Experience & Learning ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................40

Financial Sustainability ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................46

Our People & Organisational Effectiveness .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................54

Glossary .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................62

Index .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................63

Statutory Financial Statements – Taronga ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................64

Appendices ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 116

4 ANNUAL REPORT 2014–20154 ANNUAL REPORT 2014–2015

A Shared Future Wildlife and People

An injured wombat joey is hand-raised by keepers. PHOTO: JEFF DARMANIN, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

We believe that all of us have an obligation to

protect the world’s precious wildlife, not just in

our lifetimes, but for generations of the future.

Our Zoos create experiences that delight and inspire

lasting connections between people and wildlife. We

aim to change lives and make conservation champions

eager to engage with their communities to

value the wildlife in their care, and around the world.

Our enterprises range from operating a frozen

gene bank for the Great Barrier Reef, to building

homes for orphaned Chimpanzees in the Congo

and transforming Australian school children into

conservation heroes.

Our conservation breeding programs for threatened

wildlife help a myriad of species , from tiny vibrant

Corroboree Frogs to majestic Asian Elephants.

We work in partnerships to support 35 research and

conservation projects across Australia, and a further

35 programs around the globe.

Our Zoos are not-for-profit organisations. We pay no

dividends, and any surplus is put straight back into

support and care for wildlife.

At Taronga Zoo and Taronga Western Plains

Zoo, we believe that wildlife and people can

share this planet.

5A FUTURE FOR THE WILD 5A FUTURE FOR THE WILD

6 ANNUAL REPORT 2014–20156 ANNUAL REPORT 2014–2015

our Strategic Direction

7A FUTURE FOR THE WILD

Our vision is to secure a shared

future for wildlife and people. Our strategic plan defines our unique role, and the way we contribute to wildlife conservation, science and learning.

SymbolPlatypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

OpenedOctober 1916

Site28 hectares

AnimalsNumber of Animals: 4,003Species/sub-species: 326

SymbolGiraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)

OpenedFebruary 1977

Site788 hectares

AnimalsNumber of Animals: 535Species/sub-species: 67

Tangible

Conservation

Outcomes

Animals in

Our Care

Financial

Sustainability

Visitor

Experience

& Learning

Our Values

Be supportive and enthusiastic

Accept and take responsibility

Show dignity and respect

Innovate and take initiative

Clear and simple

Commitment to Taronga’s WHS,

animal welfare and customer

service charters.

Our Role

Our role in conservation is 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.

Wildlife

We breed, manage and care for

wildlife, and undertake research,

to deliver tangible conservation

outcomes.

Our Vision

To secure a shared future for wildlife and people

People

We create unique, dynamic

and engaging learning experiences

to positively influence and

change behaviours.

Our People & Organisational Effectiveness

Families interacting with a fascinating Green Iguana.

PHOTO: LORINDA TAYLOR