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

Zoological Parks Authority ANNUAL REPORT 2012
Overview
Executive Summary
Highlights
Service 1: Community Engagement
and Awareness in Conservation
Perth Zoo promotes conservation
messages to the community. This is
achieved by providing educational
programs and publications, interpretation
and information services that educate and
encourage the community in conservation.
Perth Zoo maximises visits to the Zoo by
providing a quality and unique ‘value for
money’ attraction in ecologically themed
botanic gardens. The Zoo’s commercial
activities are also underpinned by
conservation messages.
In 2011‐12, Perth Zoo:
• Recorded its highest ever attendance figure
with 640,642 visitors, up from 611,793 in
2010‐11 (a 4.7% increase) in a climate of
continuing consumer uncertainty.
• Maintained its attractiveness as an affordable
day out with 95% of surveyed visitors
describing the Zoo as being extremely good
or quite good value for money.
• Received the silver award in the Major
Tourist Attraction category at the annual
State Tourism Awards in November 2011.
• Substantially finished the second and
final stage of the Perth Zoo solar energy
project, with the construction of the solar
pergola adding 452 solar panels to the
303 panels already installed across various
Zoo buildings. Jointly funded by the State
and Federal Governments as part of the
Perth Solar City program, the installation
will provide up to 30% of the Zoo’s current
electricity needs.
• Recorded strong public support for its
role in educating people about animals
and conservation as well as a growing
awareness of the Zoo’s fundraising role,
with 96% of surveyed visitors believing the
Zoo educates visitors about conservation
problems facing wildlife and 94% of visitors
believing the Zoo has an important role in
the community.
• Opened a new savannah outlook tower
and giraffe feeding experience for visitors.
Limited to small groups each day, the guided
tour has been extremely popular attracting
3,197 visitors in just over six months.
• Undertook $4.3 million worth of capital
works including major upgrades to
the Australian wetlands, penguin and
baboon exhibits.
• Provided formal on-site discovery and
learning programs to 58,616 children
and adults and delivered 78 off-site Zoo
to You talks to groups in the community
(2,460 people).
Giraffe feeding from savannah outlook tower
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