2008-09 ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT

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WERRIBEE OPEN RANGE ZOO Werribee Open Range Zoo focuses on exhibiting African species and promoting conservation stories in an open-range setting. The zoo highlights conservation issues such as the conflict between people and animals seeking to share the same environments. Through a range of adventure options – bus, open vehicle and walking trails – visitors are encouraged to look at what can be done to preserve and restore these valuable habitats and find ways to live in harmony with wildlife. Visitors Total Visitors 2008/09 317,000 Average time spent per visit (hours) 4.1 Animal Collection Animal Type Number of Number of species specimens Invertebrate 7 106 Fish 4 27 Amphibian 3 18 Reptile 20 59 Bird 7 66 Mammal 31 229 Total 72 505 Number of injured/rescued animals brought to Werribee Open Range Zoo for specialist care and rehabilitation. 13
Key achievements Bumper birthday year Werribee Open Range Zoo celebrated its 25th birthday with a special weekend of colourful activities and entertainment, and its popularity continues to grow with a record number of visitors in 08/09 - 317,000. Additions to the zoo The number of animal species in the animal collection increased from 62 to 72 in the past year. Notably, the invertebrate and reptile species now comprise 30% of the entire collection. In May, two popular additions to the zoo family included the arrival of young giraffes, Amani and Thembi from Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. Werribee Open Range Zoo also received three female Serval cubs from Mogo Zoo. The cubs are being handraised and conditioned by zoo keepers for upcoming close encounter visitor experiences. Safari Sleepovers The zoo’s educational activities continue to grow in popularity. The new Safari Sleepovers school camp experience exceeded 1,070 participants during the first trial season. Overall visitation for Learning Experiences exceeded 32,000 visitors for the first time - an 11% increase on the previous year. Conservation Connections – Zimbabwe has also inspired more than 2,469 Australian school students to take action for African wildlife. The importance of grasslands As part of its Vision for Werribee Plains, the zoo obtained a State Government grant of $193,440 to help save some of the country’s most threatened indigenous grasslands and the endangered creatures that live in them. The grant will enable Werribee Open Range Zoo to promote education about grasslands through delivery of the Biodiversity in Schools Program to 36 schools in the Werribee Plains Region, and to establish a seed nursery for future zoo and regional grassland projects. Another winner at Werribee Werribee Open Range Zoo received the 2009 Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA) Education Award. The award recognises education excellence for the Investing in Nesting authentic learning experience, where students use their skills to construct a nest box for a chosen native species. This is the fourth ARAZPA Education Award win for Werribee and the fifth consecutive win for Zoos Victoria. Croaky Creepy Critters Two new temporary indoor winter exhibits were created – Croaky Creepy Critters (June 08) and more recently, Smugglers Beware (June 09). The Croaky Creepy Critters exhibit increased the number of visitors by 11% over a three-month period and it is expected the new exhibit will result in a similar increase in visitor numbers. Priorities for the coming year A new veterinary hospital A new veterinary hospital is being built to enhance our capacity to provide world class care to our animals. Construction is expected to begin in early 2010. Expand Melako program A major fund raising campaign is being planned to further develop and expand the Melako conservation program in northern Kenya. An official launch of the program will be held later this year and a pre-Christmas fund raiser will be held in conjunction with Beads for Wildlife, which aims to support the economy of the Northern Rangelands Trust communities to enhance in-situ conservation efforts. International partnerships Werribee Open Range Zoo is supporting actions by wildlife scouts at the Melako Community Conservancy in Northern Kenya to address an increase in illegal wildlife poaching. Melako scouts recently apprehended three suspected ivory poachers and confiscated 45kg of illegal ivory. A strong partnership has been forged with the Conservancy’s umbrella body, the Northern Rangelands Trust that provides the framework for wildlife conservation, community development and sustainable use of the area’s natural resources. Fundraising efforts have already raised more than $2,300 to provide ‘scouts’ in Melako with essential equipment and wages to continue their fight against anti-poaching activities. Our 2008/09 Snapshot Objective Achieved Comment Collection Plan aligned with No Due to the development of Zoos Victoria’s zoo’s development framework; new strategic plan, it was determined to key species have management plans carry forward this project into 2009/10 to ensure alignment with the new 20-year vision Develop new visitor experience Yes Safari Sleepovers for schools program, Croaky Creepy Critters, Smugglers Beware winter exhibits What Our Visitors Think Topic Result Description WORZ is actively involved in wildlife conservation 97% % who agree WORZ is doing an excellent job in wildlife conservation 94% % who agree WORZ shows a high standard of care for the animals 95% % response for good & very good The animals at Werribee Open Range Zoo 94% % response for look like they are in a natural setting good & very good Sweeney Research - Visitor Exit Survey January 2009. ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 17
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Page 4: About Zoos Victoria Where our visit
Page 7 and 8: Our vision To be the world’s lead
Page 9 and 10: Zoos Victoria has set out confident
Page 11 and 12: Success with threatened species The
Page 13 and 14: Our YEAR IN REVIEW The following se
Page 15 and 16: Key achievements Birth of Snow Leop
Page 17: Key achievements Valuing Indigenous
Page 21 and 22: Key achievements More healthy Tassi
Page 24 and 25: VISITOR & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Zoo
Page 26 and 27: Zoos victoria foundation The Zoos V
Page 28 and 29: OUR SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS Emission
Page 30 and 31: Our PEOPLE Zoos Victoria supports s
Page 32 and 33: Equal employment opportunities Wome
Page 35 and 36: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ZOOS VICTORIA
Page 37 and 38: Mr Nicholas Whitby BBus Nick was ap
Page 39 and 40: Board Committees The Board has esta
Page 41 and 42: Compliance with the Building Act 19
Page 43 and 44: Baker R, West M & Parrot M (2009) V
Page 45: Major partners Delaware North Cater

2008-09 ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT

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