Zoological Parks Authority - Parliament of Western Australia - The ...

Zoological Parks Authority ANNUAL REPORT 2012
Agency Performance – Report on Operations
Chief Executive’s Report
Internal planning and review have been a
focus of the Zoo over the year with a review
of the Zoo’s Strategic Plan, Zoo partnerships
and a number of internal programs, and the
progression of all-of-zoo planning with the
Zoo Board.
Market research indicating ongoing consumer
uncertainty underscored the importance of
continual review of our approach and of the
Zoo experience.
Initiatives in 2011‐12 included our new savannah
outlook tower and giraffe feeding experience,
interactive school holiday programs, special
events and the launch of the free Perth Zoo
iPhone App.
We were also fortunate to have some
significant animal births including orangutans,
giraffe, Nepalese Red Panda and African
Painted Dogs.
Our work with the Frankfurt Zoological Society
supporting the Bukit Tigapuluh Landscape
Conservation Program in Sumatra continued
with another Perth Zoo orangutan joining
the Sumatran Orangutan reintroduction
program at Bukit Tigapuluh in November
2011. This was supported by the ‘Lend
a Hand’ public awareness campaign on
orangutan conservation.
Inside the Zoo, the renovated wetlands, penguin
and baboon exhibits were reopened and on the
Windsor Park boundary of the Zoo the huge
“solar pergola” took shape adding 452 solar
panels to the Zoo’s solar energy system. Perth
Zoo now has a total of 755 solar panels with a
power rating of 237.4kW.
Despite consumer uncertainty, 95% of Perth
Zoo visitors surveyed in 2012 described the
Zoo as being extremely good or quite good
value for money. Perth Zoo also continued
to rate extremely highly in terms of public
satisfaction, with 98% of surveyed visitors being
happy or very happy with assistance provided
by Zoo staff and 99% satisfied or extremely
satisfied with the assistance from our Zoo
Docent volunteers. I acknowledge this excellent
customer focus from all Zoo staff and from our
many volunteers.
Perth Zoo is an active member of the World
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)
and during the year I was honoured to be
appointed to represent this region on the
WAZA Council. Perth Zoo has also been
chosen by WAZA as one of 20 zoos globally
to pilot a visitor awareness program for the
United Nations Decade for Biodiversity. As a
member of the global steering committee for
this project, I will assist with the rolling out of
the program over the next year or so to help
raise community awareness of biodiversity
conservation.
Looking ahead, work has begun on an upgrade
of our front entrance and playground area
providing further improvements for families and
all Perth Zoo visitors.
Susan Hunt PSM
Chief Executive Officer
Giraffe calf and mother
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