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

Zoological Parks Authority ANNUAL REPORT 2012
Overview
Executive Summary
Chairman’s Report
It has been a year of significant activity for
Perth Zoo in terms of achievements, major
projects completed, conservation outcomes and
a record number of people through our gates.
Despite consumer uncertainty and major exhibit
renovations, the Zoo attracted 640,642 visitors
in 2011‐12 – the highest attendance figure in its
114 year history.
This was a significant turnaround from last
year when visitor numbers dropped 3.7% to
611,793 amid global economic uncertainty and
falling consumer confidence. In this challenging
environment, the Zoo has been proactive in
developing value-added initiatives for visitors
including special events and activities and
attractive school holiday programs.
The high number of visitors was achieved
despite some extreme weather with eight heat
waves in Perth and unavoidable disruption due
to essential capital works projects.
An extensive renovation of the Australian
wetlands and penguin exhibits, which required
the transfer of all the exhibit birds for the
duration of the work, was completed as was
the upgrade of the Baboon exhibit.
The solar energy project was a major
undertaking in 2011‐12 with a 102m long “solar
pergola” – the centrepiece of the second and
final stage of Perth Zoo’s solar installation –
constructed along the northern perimeter road
ready for commissioning in July 2012. The Zoo
now houses the largest solar installation in Perth.
Conservation highlights included further
translocations of Perth Zoo bred or reared
native animals, the first successful breeding of
White-bellied Frogs and Sunset Frogs, and the
release of another Perth Zoo-born orangutan
into a protected rainforest in Sumatra as part of
an international reintroduction program.
Sunset Frog
The Zoo supported 40 animal species
management programs, with Perth Zoo staff
coordinating 11 of these programs including
the global program for the critically endangered
Javan Gibbon and regional programs for African
Painted Dog, Ring-tailed Lemur, Western
Swamp Tortoise and Short-beaked Echidna.
The Board would also like to acknowledge the
appointment of Perth Zoo’s Chief Executive
Officer Susan Hunt to the World Association
of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Council. Ms
Hunt was appointed in 2012 to represent the
region on the Council. The goal of WAZA
is to fully realise the huge potential of zoos
and aquariums throughout the world to
contribute to species and habitat conservation
and sustainability.
In addition to its contribution to regional
breeding programs, conservation medicine,
research and education, Perth Zoo raised over
$305,000 for wildlife conservation in 2011‐12.
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