Projects in the Wild
Perth Zoo is committed to making a lasting contribution to conservation by supporting projects that will secure long term populations of species in natural environments.
Conservation projects that are directly linked to improving the status or viability of threatened wild populations or habitats include:
- re-introduction programs;
- providing funds, equipment and skilled staff for field based projects;
- conservation-based research aimed at resolving specific problems relevant to securing/restoring wild populations or habitats; and
- conservation education aimed at changing behaviours and attitudes that impact on the conservation status of wild populations or habitats.
Projects in the wild are also known as in-situ conservation projects.
Find out more:
Reintroduction programs
Native Species Breeding Program
Perth Zoo breeds threatened native animals for release into the wild as part of broader species recovery programs coordinated by the WA Department of Environment and Conservation.
The Zoo is responsible for the development of the research into the biology of the species; production of husbandry manuals; and reproduction of the species for re-introduction.
Australian species bred for release into protected habitats the wild include Western Swamp Tortoise, Numbat and Dibblers.
Read more about the Native Species Breeding Program.
Sumatran Orangutan Reintroduction Pilot Project
In a world first, Perth Zoo’s 14-year old Sumatran Orangutan Temara has been released into a protected Indonesian national park as part of an international effort to re-establish a population of the critically endangered animals in the wild. Read more about this exciting project.
Sumatran Orangutan Open Sanctuary
Perth Zoo’s ground-breaking project to establish a Sumatran Orangutan open sanctuary at Bukit Tigapuluh National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia, is now a reality. The sanctuary opened in February 2009 and has its first residents.
The aim of the sanctuary is to provide ongoing care in a rainforest setting for rescued ex-pet and orphaned orangutans that have not been able to be successfully rehabilitated for release into Bukit Tigapuluh National Park as part of the Sumatran Orangutan reintroduction program.
The sanctuary aims to provide expert care for the resident orangutans in natural environments and to foster natural behaviours with the aim of reintroducing these animals or their offspring into the Park.
Read more about the orangutan open sanctuary here.
Staff Participation in Species Recovery
Perth Zoo staff are active participants in species recovery planning in conjunction with the Department of Environment and Conservation.
Support for Field-based Conservation Projects
Conservation of South-East Asia's Bears
Perth Zoo supports the conservation of bears in South-East Asia, including Sun Bears, through its ongoing partnership with the Free The Bears Fund and donations made by the community to the Zoo's fundraising program Wildlife Conservation Action.
Read more about the projects Wildlife Conservation Action has supported.
Zoo-funded Staff Activities
Perth Zoo encourages staff involvement in in-situ conservation. Under Perth Zoo’s Professional Development Policy, staff can be funded to work on in-situ conservation to broaden their expertise, skills and knowledge and to encourage partnerships in conservation. Perth Zoo officers have participated in conservation projects in Kalimantan, Sumatra, Peru, Zimbabwe, Panama, Queensland and South Africa.
Memoranda of Understanding
Perth Zoo provides in-kind support to in-situ conservation organisations. This includes the use of Zoo facilities; cross-promotional opportunities; signage within the Zoo; and Zoo passes for fundraising purposes. These special arrangements are set out in what is known as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
MoUs are currently held with the following organisations:
Asian Rhino Project
Australian Orangutan Project
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
Conservation Council WA
Free the Bears Fund
Gilbert's Potoroo Action Group
Painted Dog Conservation Inc.
Project Numbat
Silvery Gibbon Project
Tenkile Conservation Alliance
Zoo Peru