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

Zoological Parks Authority ANNUAL REPORT 2012
Agency Performance – Report on Operations
Directorate Reports
Community Engagement Directorate continued
The adjoining Australian Wetlands and Penguin
Plunge exhibits were closed for an extended
period during the year to enable repair and
refurbishment works following damage sustained
in the 2010 hail storm. This major project – which
included the replacement of the entire overhead
netting and support infrastructure, and a new
visitor boardwalk – required the transfer of all of
the exhibit animals for the duration of the work.
The baboons were also off display during an
upgrade of their exhibit.
To reduce the impact of the capital works and
help people plan their visits, the Zoo provided
advance information on its website and social
media channels as well as at the main entrance
about exhibits under renovation. Additional
daily visitor experiences were also provided to
help offset any disappointment resulting from
essential capital works.
Actions resulting from customer feedback
included a review of service levels provided
by our third party service providers (food and
beverage, amusement rides and entertainment
providers). Customer comments and
satisfaction in relation to food and beverage
improved in 2011-12, potentially as a result of
this work. The Zoo’s annual market research
conducted in March/April 2012 showed a
significant increase in visitor satisfaction with
the quality, price and variety of food provided
by the café.
Horticulture
The horticultural team is responsible for the
maintenance and development of the Zoo’s
botanical collection and also plays an important
role in exhibit design, habitat simulation and the
provision of animal fodder.
Horticultural components of capital projects
in 2011-12 included: renovation of the outdoor
baboon exhibit area; re-landscaping of the
Australian Wetlands exhibit; renovation of the
bird-attracting garden next to the marquee
site; development of a new garden around
the savannah outlook tower; and garden
renovations around the new solar installation.
During the year, Perth Zoo was invited to add its
plant collection details to the Botanic Gardens
Conservation International (BGCI) website
(http://www.bgci.org/global/) – the world’s
largest plant conservation network. BGCI is
an international organisation focused on the
world-wide conservation of threatened plants,
the continued existence of which are intrinsically
linked to global issues including poverty, human
well-being and climate change.
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A Melbourne Zoo horticulturist visited and
worked with Perth Zoo staff during September
2011. The visit provided the opportunity
to exchange ideas and learn from another
Zoo’s methods.
Twenty visiting US Navy personnel volunteered
their services to assist with landscaping in the
Rainforest Retreat as well as assisting with work
at the Zoo’s Byford property where fodder is
grown for various animals.
Perth recorded another very hot summer with
eight separate heat waves which is twice the
usual number. As a result, the Zoo saw the
increasing impact of climate extremes on its
non-endemic trees and there were a number
of large limb drops and numerous smaller ones
over summer. The Zoo undertakes a tree risk
management program and trees are regularly
assessed by horticultural staff and expert
aboriculturalists. Where necessary, limbs are
removed and, in extreme circumstances, a tree
may need to be removed.