Reflections on World Environment Day ????

This World Environment Day, the United Nations is calling on everyone to be an active part of #GenerationRestoration and join the global movement to restore our lands, build drought resilience and combat desertification. By restoring ecosystems, we can slow the triple planetary crisis: the crisis of climate change, the crisis of nature and land loss, and the crisis of pollution and waste.

At Taronga, we are driven by our belief that that all of us have a responsibility to protect the world’s precious wildlife, not just in our lifetimes, but for future generations.?In 2016, Taronga launched its Legacy Species – dedicating the next decade to the conservation of ten critical species.?Below are just a snapshot of wildlife and conservation programs that demonstrate the?critical role that they play and highlight the importance of protecting every aspect of our ecosystems – from wildlife, waterways, greenery and everything in between, it all intersects to create a delicately balanced network.

Greater Bilbies – the ecosystem engineers

Once found on 70% of the Australian mainland, sadly the only remaining Greater Bilby wild populations are fragmented and restricted to areas in the Northern Territory, Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia and an isolated population also lives in south-western Queensland.

Bilbies play an important role as ecological engineers. They shape the landscape and provide habitats for other species. The survival of Greater Bilbies is mainly threatened by loss of habitat, land clearing and competition with introduced species and predation.

As one of Taronga’s Legacy Species, we are committed to returning bilbies to NSW and supporting their recovery nationally. Through breeding, translocation, the establishment of a 110-hectare feral predator free sanctuary at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo and the release of ten bilbies bred in Dubbo into Sturt National Park in north-eastern NSW in 2020, the outlook for the vulnerable species has vastly improved. The reintroduction of the species at Sturt National Park comes after more than 100 years after the bilby was declared extinct in NSW. In 2022, the population boomed to 60 individuals.

Corroboree Frogs – the ecosystem indicators

Taronga's insurance populations are a lifeline for the Corroboree Frogs, two of Australia’s most critically endangered species. The Southern Corroboree Frog is found only within the Mount Kosciuszko National Park in the Snowy Mountains of NSW. The Northern Corroboree Frog is only found within Brindabella and Fiery Ranges in NSW/ACT.

The presence or absence of frogs can indicate the health of a particular ecosystem. Chytrid fungus is a disease which has impacted on frog populations globally and has been identified as the primary cause of decline in frogs worldwide. Spread through water or direct contact with other frogs, the fungus does not cause immediate death and spreads quickly among frog species and bodies of water. The impact of exotic plants smothering breeding grounds and the introduction of feral animals also pose threats to the Corroboree Frog.

As well as being an iconic Australian species, Corroboree Frogs are important components of our natural heritage. They contribute to the richness of the alpine ecosystem in which they're found, even as tiny tadpoles, removing the algae from ponds and keeping water crystal clear, which benefits other aquatic plants and animals.

As part of a National Recovery Program, Taronga's breeding and release of hundreds of frogs and thousands of eggs to increase wild population numbers in Kosciuszko National Park and Brindabella National Park are paving the way to successfully saving the species.

Platypus – the ecosystem casualties

The Platypus is Taronga’s emblem and a true Aussie icon. These cryptic and elusive species are often hidden from public view but changes to their natural environment and the impacts of climate change are wreaking havoc on this national treasure.

The diversion of stream and river flows, deteriorating water quality, accidental drowning in nets and traps, bank erosion and land clearing has significantly impacted the survival of these amazing monotremes. Platypus play an important role in the food web and ecology of Australian freshwater ecosystems.

Earlier this year, we opened Platypus Rescue HQ at Taronga Western Plains Zoo is the largest purpose-built platypus conservation centre in the world. The centre combines a research centre, rescue and rehabilitation facilities and a pre-release area to prepare recovered platypus into the wild. Platypus Rescue HQ allows us to continue developing our breeding program and build our ever-growing knowledge library of this incredibly secretive species.

Taronga Habitat Positive – restoring ecosystems

Taronga is embarking on an ambitious project to rewild 5,000 hectares of Box-gum grassy woodlands, providing critical habitat for animals like Koalas, Regent Honeyeaters, and Spotted-tail Quolls. In a mass-scale project, Taronga Habitat Positive will utilise innovative practices such as planting climate resistant seeds for the regeneration of the woodland areas ensures the long-term viability of the areas. In turn, this creates habitats and the right conditions for species to not only survive but thrive.

Our environment can only thrive if we actively care for it. At Taronga, we are driven by our mission to act for the wild. We’ve seen first-hand the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires on our wildlife and environment, our Wildlife Hospital Teams in Sydney and Dubbo constantly see wildlife cases that have been impacted by human activity – all of this reinforces our belief that we all have a responsibility to protect the world’s precious wildlife, not just in our lifetimes, but for the generations of the future.??

So, what can you do??

Some easy and simple steps that we can all take is to make better choices and minimise plastic use. At Taronga, we've eliminated over 80 per cent of single-use plastics onsite, with a target of diverting 90 per cent of operational waste from landfill by 2025. This has been achieved by offering paper and reusable alternatives to plastic bags, banning balloons from both sites and at events since 2009, removing individual condiment packages in favour of refillable stations, and much more.

This World Environment Day, take a moment to reflect on how you can contribute to looking after our planet. Share your tips in the comments – we’d love to hear them! ?