Perth Zoo - Conservation

Conservation

The zoo participates in a number of breeding programs for endangered species, both indigenous Australian and non-native species. Programs include those of the Rothschild giraffe and white rhinoceros as well as Sumatran Tigers and Orangutans resulting in several births. Some Australian species are bred for release into managed habitat in Western Australia, whereas the international species are for increasing genetic diversification in zoo populations.

Exotic Species

Since 2006, Perth Zoo has made a significant contribution to conservation projects in the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park and the surrounding forested areas which support a rich diversity of life including a new colony of orangutans. These orangutans are part of an international program to reintroduce rescued ex-pet and orphaned Sumatran Orangutans into the wild to establish a new population of this critically endangered species. More than 139 orangutans have been released into the area and some have bred.

In November 2006, Perth Zoo released 14-year-old, Perth Zoo-born Sumatran Orangutan Temara into Bukit Tigapuluh as part of the reintroduction program. Temara was the first zoo-born orangutan in the world to be released into the wild. This was followed in 2011 with the release of the first male zoo-born orangutan, Semeru, into the wild. Perth Zoo works with the Frankfurt Zoological Society, Indonesian Government and the Australian Orangutan Project on this program and other conservation activities in Bukit Tigapuluh.

Perth Zoo contributes to the conservation of threatened species in the wild through its fundraising program, Wildlife Conservation Action. Started in 2007, funds raised have been used for the conservation of Sumatran Orangutan, Sumatran Tiger, Sumatran Elephant, African Painted Dog, Sun Bears, Tree Kangaroos, Javan Gibbons and Australian native species. More than $881,000 has been raised since the program began.

Native Species

Working with the Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth Zoo breeds threatened Western Australian animal species for release into managed areas of habitat in the wild as part of its Native Species Breeding Program. As of 2011, Perth Zoo breeds Numbats, Western Swamp Tortoises, Dibblers, Woylies and threatened WA frog species including the Sunset Frog, the White-bellied Frog and the Orange-bellied Frog.

The Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) Western Australia's mammal emblem and one of only two diurnal marsupials, the Numbat is the only Australian mammal to feed exclusively on termites. Despite the establishment of several populations by the Department of Environment and Conservation, it is still classified as Endangered by the IUCN. Perth Zoo has been breeding Numbats for release into the wild since 1986. The first successful birth was in 1993. By early 2011, 165 Numbats had been provided by the Zoo for release into protected habitat.

The Western Swamp Tortoise (Pseudemydura umbrina) is a short-necked freshwater tortoise and Australia's most Critically Endangered reptile. The Western Swamp Tortoise has only been recorded at scattered localities in a narrow, three-to-five kilometre strip of the Swan Coastal Plain. Since 1988, Perth Zoo has bred more than 500 Western Swamp Tortoises. The main barrier to the further recovery of the species is the lack of suitable habitat.

The Dibbler (Paranthechinus apicalis) is a small carnivorous marsupial found on two islands off the coast of Jurien Bay (Island Dibblers) and on the south coast of Western Australia within the Fitzgerald River National Park (Mainland Dibblers). It once had a much wider distribution, but is now classified as Endangered by the IUCN. Perth-Zoo-bred Dibblers were used to establish a new population on Escape Island in Jurien Bay. The focus has now changed to breeding dibblers from Fitzgerald River National Park for release on the mainland. By early 2011, over 500 dibblers had been provided by the Zoo for release into protected habitat.

Previous breeding programs include:

The Chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroi) or Western Quoll, is one of four quoll species in Australia and is the largest marsupial predator in Western Australia. At the time of European settlement, Chuditch occurred in approximately 70% of the continent. By the late 1980s, they had become Endangered, with less than 6,000 remaining in the south-west of Western Australia. Perth Zoo has bred more than 300 Chuditch for release in the last decade. Since the breeding program began, the status of Chuditch has been modified from Endangered to Vulnerable. This breeding program is now complete.

Shark Bay Mouse (Pseudomys fieldi) also known as Djoongari, prior to 1993 the only known population of Djoongari was on Bernier Island in the north-west of Western Australia, adjacent to the Shark Bay region and was considered to be one of Australia's most geographically restricted animals. Over 300 Perth-Zoo-bred Djoongari have been released to sites on the mainland and on islands in the north-west of Western Australia. This breeding program is now complete.

The Central Rock-rat (Zyzomys pedunculatus) Central Rock-rat is a critically endangered rodent that was presumed extinct until it was rediscovered in the MacDonnell Ranges Northern Territory in 1996. The last of the Zoo's Central Rock Rats were sent to Alice Springs Desert Park in 2007 and the breeding program closed.