Taronga Conservation Society Australia

Congratulations to our very own Work Health and Safety Specialist Jason Dearmer who was recognised last weekend as Dubbo’s 2025 Citizen of the Year in the annual Australia Day Awards. It’s well deserved; Jason has spent countless years volunteering for organisations like Cancer Council NSW and local sporting clubs, just to name a few. He used his speech to encourage others to volunteer for a cause they care about (you can read some of Jason's speech below). We are incredibly proud of the many volunteers that enrich our Taronga community, but we’re also proud of the many Taronga people who choose to donate their time outside of work to make our wider Dubbo community a better place to live. Congratulations Jason, and thanks for everything you do! “Right now, though, our community needs support more than ever. We need your skills, your time, your compassion – because these are the resources that will help us grow, connect, and thrive. Whether you can give an hour a week or a day a month, it all counts. Every bit of your contribution matters. “And I want to emphasize this: you don’t have to be a hero to volunteer. You just need to be willing – willing to lend a hand, to listen, to show up. Because when we come together, we don’t just help others. We create connections – connections with each other, with the land we live on, and with the world we’re all a part of. “So, I’m asking you today: How will you help? “Every single act of service, no matter how small, has a profound impact. The small moments of kindness and effort add up in ways we can’t always see, but they matter. “And here’s something I want to share with you: When we give our time and energy to others, we receive so much more in return. We gain joy, purpose, new skills, and, most importantly, new friendships. These are the unexpected rewards of volunteering. “But don’t just take my word for it. Try it for yourself. Find a cause that speaks to you. Maybe you’ll choose to support the youth in our community, your local sporting club, help care for our environment, volunteer at our incredible Taronga Western Plains Zoo, or visit patients at the hospital. Whatever you choose, I promise you’ll experience the incredible joy that comes from giving back. “Thank you all for being here today and for considering how you can make a difference. Our community is stronger when we all contribute, and I look forward to seeing what we can do together.” Jennifer Cowley OAM Bridget Bartlett Daily Liberal #volunteering #community

Late last year, we were thrilled to welcome BBC Click presenter Nick Kwek who was eager to understand how our scientists are working to protect the Great Barrier Reef 🌊 Check out the segment below to learn more about this vital conservation effort! 👇

Do you have an innovative environmentally-focused initiative waiting to be hatched? 🐣🌳 Check out the Hatch: Taronga Accelerator Program 2025, supported by LG Electronics Australia Pty Ltd 💥   📩 Applications for this year's program close in 1 week! More information and how to apply at the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/gNVcCD_D #ForTheWild 🌱

A breakthrough for coral conservation! 🌊 🪸 Taronga’s reproductive biologists, in partnership with the Australian Institute of Marine Science, have successfully fertilised coral eggs using cryopreserved coral sperm—a game-changer for preserving the Great Barrier Reef and reefs worldwide. Listen to Taronga's Manager of Conservation Science, Justine O'Brien, discuss this incredible achievement in her recent interview with ABC Radio Sydney 👇

Double your donation and save Koalas 🐨🐨 Koalas have called Australia home for more than 20 million years. It’s difficult to imagine the land down under without Koalas, however this much-loved species is facing an uncertain future if we don’t make a change.  Habitat loss remains the greatest threat to these beautiful marsupials. With suitable environments shrinking, and forests only able to support finite number of Koalas, populations are being fragmented, making it harder for Koalas to find food and breed. Disease and climate change events such as drought and bushfires have also had a devastating impact. But we are doing something about it! Visa, our Principal Partners, have played an incredible role in supporting our conservation programs for this threatened species. It’s with further vital funding that our field monitors and research of this critical five-year conservation work can continue to ensure a safe future for this precious and iconic species. We are delighted to have Visa on board for a dollar match for our Christmas Appeal. To find out more information and to donate, head to https://lnkd.in/guzNRtUv

A major win for native wildlife 📢   We are proud of Taronga’s forensic team who has been given an honourable mention by EarthRanger in their 2024 Conservation Technology Award 💥   Now in its fourth year, the Conservation Technology Award recognises organisations across the globe who are advancing the field of conservation through technology-driven solutions and changing the ways we protect and coexist with wildlife 🌏   Taronga’s dedicated forensic team, led by Wildlife Conservation Officer Dr Phoebe Meagher, has been instrumental in developing cutting-edge technology to identify illegally trafficked native wildlife 🔬   Illegal wildlife trade is one of the top contributors to biodiversity loss globally and in Australia. Reptiles, birds and other native species are smuggled through the post in the illicit wildlife trade industry. When detected by Rapiscan Systems scanners at Australia’s borders, seized parcels are brought to the Taronga Wildlife Hospital by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) Environmental Crime Investigators for unboxing where the team has cared for more than 100 seized reptiles. Together with our UNSW partners, the development of the ground-breaking pXRF scanner which utilises elemental signatures in keratinous tissues (quills, hair, scales, scutes and fur), has been a huge step forward in helping to identify if native reptiles have been bred in private setting or taken from the wild, and contribute to arrests and convictions.   At Taronga, we believe that we all have the Power to Protect wildlife. Learn more about Taronga’s conservation work here: https://lnkd.in/gUeRuDVK   #ForTheWild #ConservationTechAward🌱

A look back at #WAZA2024 ✨   We recently had the immense honour of hosting the 79th Annual World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) conference at Taronga Zoo Sydney, on Cammeraigal Country.   250 of the world’s leading conservation experts gathered to explore the theme of ‘Transforming Zoos and Aquariums for 2050’.   Taronga’s leadership in conservation, education, sustainability, and animal welfare provided the perfect backdrop for this important event. During the conference, Taronga’s specialised experts engaged in impactful discussions with global colleagues on vital topics such as habitat destruction, biosecurity, species conservation, and the role of zoos in supporting biodiversity and addressing environmental challenges. Speakers including Nardi Simpson, Adam Spencer, Nesha Ichida, Tegan Taylor and many more inspired us all with their insights and vision for the future 🌏   At Taronga, securing a shared future for wildlife and people is at the core of everything we do. The dedication and passion displayed by everyone at WAZA reaffirmed that through collaboration, we can work towards a brighter future for our planet 🤝   A special thank you to WAZA President Karen Fifield MNZM MInstD for the opportunity to host this remarkable gathering and foster meaningful conversations that will drive positive change for our shared future 💚   #ForTheWild 🌱

Today is International Volunteer Day, a day to highlight the vital role volunteers play in addressing the world’s challenges ✨ 🎊 This year, Taronga celebrated 50 years of volunteers. For half a century, volunteers have played an integral role at Taronga, through supporting our teams to improve animal welfare, to engaging with and educating students and guests, creating positive and lasting memories that they pass on to their families and friends, and ultimately sharing Taronga's conservation, science and education initiatives and projects which are all for the wild. Volunteers have the power to strengthen communities and create positive change, and across our two sites at Dubbo and Sydney, we see this happening every day. Today and every day, we share our gratitude for our volunteers. With their valuable contribution, we are able to continue working towards our vision for a Shared Future for Wildlife and People 💚 #ForTheWild 🌱

Today is officially #WildlifeConservationDay - although, in our books, that's everyday 🌏 This world calendar day raises awareness around wildlife extinction, endangerment, global wildlife trafficking and poaching. Across both our sites in Sydney and Dubbo, Taronga plays a vital role in global conservation, leading vital programs that help restore ecosystems around the world, and protect wildlife and the planet’s most endangered species. Through our conservation efforts, education programs, and community engagement, we're working hard to ensure a Shared Future for Wildlife and People and it's at the heart of everything that we do. We have and continue to; 💚 Commit to the conservation of 11 critical 'Legacy Species', including Regent Honeyeaters, Greater Bilbies, Southern Corroboree Frogs, Platypuses, and Marine Turtles 🔬 Collaborated on developing technology to assist with identifying illegally trafficked wildlife 🌳 Share expertise in wildlife and recovery habitat programs for species including Chuditch, Bellinger River Turtles, Plains Wanderers and much more 🌊 Using cryopreservation technology to protect the Great Barrier Reef 🩺 Building a new Wildlife Hospital that will allow our veterinary team to better meet the increasing demand to respond to wildlife crises and allow us to share knowledge and ensure future generations of wildlife carers We're not-for-profit, so every dollar spent at Taronga goes back into support our wildlife conservation work Learn more about Taronga's conservation commitments here: https://lnkd.in/gZZ_qq_i #ForTheWild 🌱