ZV Mag - Autumn/Winter 2021

CONTEMPORARY THINKING ON WILDLIFE & ZOO-BASED CONSERVATION

ISSUE #10 AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

ZOOS VICTO RIA MAGAZINE

Guardians of the bandicoots The dogs with an important job

Rescue and rehabilitation Tech in conservation An enduring legacy

Thank you so much for your support and commitment to helping us fight wildlife extinction.

Your generosity helps care for animals across our three zoos: Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo, and also helps us protect threatened species for a future rich in wildlife.

We would greatly appreciate if you could take the time to complete our short survey. We want to know more about you, and what you think about Zoos Victoria and our work. We’d like to understand: ° what’s important to you ° how you’d like us to communicate with you ° how you would like to read future editions of ZV magazine.

We appreciate that your time is precious, and the survey will only take a couple of minutes to complete. Please be assured that your responses will remain private and confidential.

WE VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK. HAVE YOUR SAY IN OUR SURVEY. Once you complete the survey, you’ll go into a draw to win one of three behind-the-scenes experiences at Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo.

Take the survey today.

You can complete the survey by opening your phone camera and hovering it over the QR code (left). Or click the link surveymonkey.com/r/ZV-supporter-survey-2021 and it will take you straight through to the survey.

Thank you once again for generously giving your time and support to Zoos Victoria.

CONTENTS

Hello!

The past few months have shown us how much the community has missed visiting our zoos. After the steep challenges of 2020, all our supporters – whether donors, members or visitors – have been grateful that we are open again, and we have been thrilled to keep sharing with you our fight for wildlife and exemplary care for animals.

We have much to be excited about as we look forward to the upcoming expansion of Werribee Open Range Zoo, in particular the enhancements to our vet facilities so we can be prepared for future emergencies, and the relocation of our Asian Elephant herd in 2024.

In the field, we are continuing to focus on recovering from the devastating bushfires of 2019/20, which are still so vivid in our minds. Into 2021, we are humbled by the support we continue to receive both locally and internationally from donors, funders and partners into our Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund.

As well as these stories, we highlight some other conservation work taking place in our three zoos and in the field.

Also, on the opposite page, you’ll find a link to a short survey, which we would love you to complete. Through this survey, we hope to learn more about you and gain insightful feedback about how you interact with our zoos.

Thank you for the generous support you give to Zoos Victoria. We know that it is only with your support that we can continue to plan for a future rich in wildlife.

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Canine Guardians The dogs protecting our critically endangered species

14 Luk Chai

Welcoming our new arrival to the herd

04

Rescue and rehabilitation

08

A uniting cause

20

Digital technology

Plus Dr Jenny Gray / CEO, Zoos Victoria

17 Beyond Mega Zoo 18 An enduring legacy 3

AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

CONSERVATION

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AFTER THE BUSHFIRE

Recovery and release

Following the Black Summer bushfires, Zoos Victoria rescued and rehabilitated dozens of injured and burned koalas. Senior Veterinarian Dr Leanne Wicker shares what it takes to nurse these furry patients back to health.

WORDS Justin

Meneguzzi

ILLUSTRATION Phil

W

Constantinesco

hen Dr Leanne Wicker, a Senior Veterinarian from the Australian Wildlife Health Centre based at Healesville Sanctuary, arrived at Mallacoota’s Mudbrick Pavilion, she didn’t know what to expect. Just moments before, she had stepped off an Australia Defence Force evacuation plane and driven straight into town, passing through smouldering bushlands that had been engulfed by the Black Summer bushfires a week earlier. The sky was still orange and a persistent haze hung in the air.

The Mudbrick Pavilion, which usually houses weddings and music concerts, had become a makeshift wildlife shelter. Dr Wicker walked into a hall filled with animals evacuated from the bushfires by members of the community.

Animals found fleeing the heat, smoke and fire – including birds, possums, koalas, feather-tailed gliders and more – were treated for problems such as burnt paws and faces, smoke inhalation, dehydration, hunger and eye injuries caused by smoke.

“It’s often the case after a bushfire that there isn’t much wildlife because they don’t survive,

but we had so many coming in,” recalls Dr Wicker, who was part of a specialist team of first responders sent to Mallacoota to assist community efforts treating wildlife affected by the devastating bushfires.

Immediately, Dr Wicker and her team went to work triaging wildlife and organising treatment.

Without access to anaesthetics, X-rays or blood-testing facilities, they needed to draw on their extensive veterinary experience to assess each animal.

One of the most important questions Dr Wicker considers when assessing injured wildlife is whether the animal will not only survive but be able to thrive in the wild after treatment.

Sadly, some had to be euthanised because their injuries were too great, but nearly half of the animals that presented to the Mudbrick Pavilion during the weeks it was up and running were able to be released quickly after receiving first aid. And as time went on, more animals recovered and were released back into the wild.

“Koalas can be challenging to treat,” explains Dr Wicker. “They have a really specific diet – they only eat eucalyptus leaves, and they use their highly dexterous fingers and long claws to pull the tastiest leaves towards them so that they can eat. When we are treating burns, we have to be really aware of this – if they can’t use

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FACT FILE Name Koala Class Mammalia Status Vulnerable

Region East coast of Australia in forest regions in QLD, NSW, VIC and SA AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

CONSERVATION

Our vets check the health of the koalas a month after returning to the wild.

their paws properly, they can’t eat.”

With so much of the surrounding forest burnt and the remaining leaves dry and smoky, the team supplemented the koalas’ diet and provided much-needed fluid to keep them hydrated, by feeding them specially blended eucalypt smoothies.

While so many lucky animals were cared for and released from the triage unit, some were too badly injured, and the team knew that they really needed more specialised care if they were going to be released back to the wild. Over time, koalas were evacuated to Healesville Sanctuary and Melbourne Zoo, where they could receive ongoing care.

Each koala was settled into its own spacious enclosure where it could be closely monitored. They all received frequent check-ups, initially every two to three days to inspect, treat and bandage their burns.

Blood tests were done regularly, and their faeces were dutifully collected, examined and weighed every day to monitor their health.

Gradually, the days between check-ups

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became longer and, when the koalas were ready, they were moved into larger enclosures to give them more space. Some moved into the Zoo’s spacious semi-wild pre-release enclosures, while others were sent to Phillip Island Nature Parks.

One of the biggest challenges for Dr Wicker and her team was finding enough leaves to feed these enthusiastic eaters. “Koalas consume huge amounts of gum leaves and need to be fed twice a day,” she says. “Our team had to go out and find enough gum leaves to feed them. Our plantation was stretched to its limit.”

Releasing the koalas back into the East Gippsland region required careful collaboration between Zoos Victoria and its partners, including finding suitable habitats in places where the bush had recovered.

Dr Wicker says the moment she stepped back and watched one of the rehabilitated koalas leap from its crate and bound up a tree was incredibly rewarding. Each koala is fitted with a radio and GPS collar so it

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Above Dr Leanne Wicker and her team are monitoring the progress of koalas released back into the wild.

IMAGES: JO HOWELL, ALEX STORER, ROHAN BILNEY

Watch it here

AFTER THE BUSHFIRE

AN UPDATE ON DONATIONS

We don’t know what the long-term impact is. A lot of work is being done now to understand other species that have been affected...

In the wake of the Black Summer bushfires, Zoos Victoria established its Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund, with 100 per cent of donations going towards supporting the wildlife affected by the bushfires. To date, the initiative has received more than $9.9 million in donations, with contributions pouring in from around the country and internationally.

Zoos Victoria CEO, Dr Jenny Gray, says the funds will be used to not only recover from the Black Summer fires but also prepare for future emergencies. One of the key lessons for conservationists was recognising a shortage of skilled staff and facilities available to treat injured wildlife.

“Very few vets and nurses have experience dealing with wild animals, so it’s a unique skillset. We’ve increased training with staff to ensure there are more people available to assist with treating wildlife. We’re also expanding our capacity to care for wildlife by building more facilities,” says Dr Gray.

A centrepiece of the fund is a $1.84 million koala hospital in partnership with RSPCA Victoria at Werribee Open Range Zoo, which is due to begin construction in 2021 and will increase the Zoo’s capacity to care for wildlife by up to 400 per cent. A large eucalypt plantation has already been planted to provide a critical food source for koalas and wildlife.

“Another focus is on supporting species that were particularly affected by the fires. We’re recruiting specialists to help with habitat research so we can determine the best way to help these animals,” says Dr Gray.

Some of these species include the Eastern Bristlebird, which has a small population in East Gippsland. The entire population was evacuated ahead of the fires and then reintroduced when it was safe to do so. The Giant Burrowing Frog lost a significant portion of its habitat to the bushfires, and the Zoo is increasing its capacity to house these frogs until they can be restored.

Dr Gray says the team has been humbled by the outpouring of support from the community, which has made all of these initiatives possible.

DR LEANNE WICKER / SENIOR VETERINARIAN FROM THE AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE HEALTH CENTRE

can be closely monitored for up to 35 days after release. This GPS data helps vets to understand how the animals are moving in the environment and decide whether it’s the right habitat for them.

The trees in East Gippsland are slowly growing back, wearing “fluffy green pyjamas” as Dr Wicker describes them. While birds and young banksia trees can be seen in some areas, others remain quiet.

“We don’t know what the long-term impact is.

A lot of work is being done now to understand other species that have been affected, such as the Smoky Mouse and Eastern Bristlebird. We need to think holistically and invest in initiatives that will have the biggest impact on biodiversity and the environment,” says Dr Wicker.

SUPPORT THE BUSHFIRE FUND Learn more about the Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund or make a donation on our website zoo.org.au/fire-fund

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research project is one of the wildlife welfare activities identified in the Victoria Government-led Bushfire Biodiversity Response and Recovery Plan. This monitoring and research program is funded by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, International Fund for Animal Welfare and Zoos Victoria’s Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund; and in-kind support from Phillip Island Nature Parks, EcoPlan Australia and Parks Victoria.

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AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

COMMUNITY

A uniting cause We speak to two donors supporting Melbourne Zoo’s Sumatran Tigers.

WORDS Alegria

Alano

IMAGE

Gus Goswell

APRIL ALBRECHT April Albrecht is a lifelong animal-lover who has fuelled her passion for wildlife with visits to Melbourne Zoo. She recalls first visiting as a child in the 1930s and returning for jazz nights in the 1970s, but her most memorable experience was an excursion with her retirement village.

“At the time I was sponsoring a Jaguar and a Clouded Leopard, so it was arranged that I went behind the scenes. The keeper called the Clouded Leopard out – apparently, they’re very shy. But she came out and I gave her a bottle.

I’ll always remember that experience. It was a real thrill,” says April.

Cats are April’s favourite animals, with tigers – which she describes as “handsome” – taking top billing in her heart. “I think the tiger is really just a wonderful animal. It would be a shocking thing for any of them to disappear,” she says.

Conservation is one of the reasons April has supported Melbourne Zoo for about 30 years and returned as an animal adopter in 2006. She is now a Conservation Partner, at Fighter level, and a member of the Future Hands Fellowship having left a gift in her will. “It’s awful to think that the younger generations will not have the joy of seeing a lot of these animals,” says April.

As a lifelong visitor and avid supporter, April has seen the evolution of Melbourne Zoo for the better. She’s happy to see the difference her help is making.

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SUMATRAN TIGER

Vicki Redwood shares a love of animals with her sisters – something they picked up from childhood family holidays in the Jamieson area.

“We were brought up literally surrounded because we were outside all the time. So, animals were just a part of our lives,” explains Vicki.

She continued to seek out wild experiences in her adult life and has been lucky enough to swim with manatees in Florida and see Cheetahs in Africa. Vicki also enjoys learning about animals with her family at the Zoo. She recalls a recent outing to Melbourne Zoo to celebrate her mother’s birthday. “We all went – a pack of extended family, the grandchildren, great-grandchildren. She just adored it and made lovely memories,” she says.

Vicki has been donating to the Zoo since 2003.

Each year, she chooses an animal to adopt as a gift to her sisters for Christmas. “They absolutely love it,” says Vicki. “We’re all passionate animal lovers… [the keepers] have got a lot of work to do to make sure those animals are as well kept as they are. They need all the help they can get.”

Vicki can’t pick one animal as her favourite. She considers them all beautiful, which is why she’s been choosing a different animal each year. This year, she chose the Sumatran Tiger because of its critically endangered conservation status.

“I think they’re wonderful animals in all sorts of ways. And I think my sisters would love to be involved in that program,” she says.

Vicki sees her contributions to the Zoo as a way to give back to the natural world that has enriched her life. “It’s a payback,” she says, “to preserve our world in the best way that we can.

It’s just important.”

GIVE THE GIFT OF SUPPORT Buy a tiger plush toy at the gift shop shop.zoo.org.au

ADOPT AN ANIMAL! You can adopt an animal too by visiting donate.zoo.org.au/adoption

WANT MORE TIGERS?

IMAGE: JO HOWELL

VICKI REDWOOD

FACT FILE Name Sumatran Tiger Class Mammalia

Region Small fragmented populations in Sumatra, Indonesia. They prefer lowland and hill forests.

Diet Carnivore Status Critically Endangered

What happens when a Sumatran Tiger goes to the dentist? Watch it here

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AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

CONSERVATION

Guardians of the bandicoot A world-first for wildlife conservation, Zoos Victoria’s Guardian Dog program is boosting the chances of population recovery for Eastern Barred Bandicoots in the wild.

WORDS Jo ILLUSTRATIONS Phil

F

Stewart Constantinesco

ighting extinction is tough work, but three new canine allies are helping the Zoos Victoria team rise to the challenge of saving the critically endangered Eastern Barred Bandicoot.

As graduates of Zoos Victoria’s Guardian Dog program, Maremma Sheepdogs Mackinnon and Quinta are now guarding a group of Eastern Barred Bandicoots recently released at a National Trust of Australia (Victoria) conservation reserve that is also a working sheep farm.

A breed that likes having a job to do, Maremma Sheepdogs have protected livestock for centuries. While the breed was famously bonded directly to Middle Island’s penguin colony in Warrnambool, the same couldn’t be done with bandicoots since they are solitary, nocturnal creatures.

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GUARDIAN DOGS

Instead, the bandicoots are indirectly benefiting from Maremma guardianship because they are sharing a habitat with the sheep that graze on the reserve in Western Victoria.

“Bandicoots and sheep like the same habitat.

If the bandicoots stay in the same area as the sheep, they will reap those rewards of protection from introduced predators, particularly foxes,” says Dr Amy Coetsee, Threatened Species Biologist at Zoos Victoria.

Outfoxing the foxes

Dr Coetsee explains that the site had been identified as a good habitat for bandicoots in the past, but foxes represented a significant threat.

“Bandicoots were released there in the 1990s; the population persisted for 17 years but was reliant on continuous fox control. Over time the population dwindled and became extinct due to difficulties controlling foxes, but we knew that the environment was suitable for bandicoots,” she says.

As intelligent, opportunistic predators, foxes represent the greatest threat to bandicoots.

Since this is a trial project, the team has been keeping a close eye on the site since releasing 20 bandicoots there in November 2020.

“We closely monitored fox activity in the area before the dogs were introduced, so we could see if fox behaviour changed once the dogs went out,” says Dr Coetsee.

Thirty-five cameras monitor foxes in and around the site, while GPS collars placed on the dogs help to track how they are using the reserve.

Foxes tend to test boundaries and find weak areas to exploit, so the team is encouraging the Guardian Dogs to move around the property as much as possible.

“Feeding the dogs in different locations each day encourages that movement we need for them to spread their scent around the property and deter fox activity,” says Dr Coetsee. “A few days after release, one of the bandicoots was predated. So we directed the dogs to a different area to keep the foxes away.”

Dr Coetsee believes this new release site, which provides around 1800ha of fox-free

If the bandicoots stay in the same area as the sheep, they will reap those rewards of protection...

DR AMY COETSEE / THREATENED SPECIES BIOLOGIST

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AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

CONSERVATION

FACT FILE habitat, is an excellent addition to the four fenced sites on the mainland (Woodlands Historic Park, Hamilton Community Parklands, Mt Rothwell and Tiverton) as well as the populations that live on Churchill, Phillip and French islands.

“This program gives us a chance to get Eastern Barred Bandicoots back into the wild on the mainland, instead of being behind predator-exclusion fences, which cost an extortionate amount of money to build and maintain,” she explains.

Name Maremma Sheepdog Class Mammalia

Learning new tricks

Although the Maremma breed has a long history of protecting livestock, there was still much work to be done before introducing bandicoots into the equation.

Mackinnon and Quinta were trained by the Guardian Dog program team at Werribee Open Range Zoo before being deployed at the new release site. David Williams, Guardian Dog Coordinator, explains that positive reinforcement in the form of rewarding the dogs for desirable behaviours is key to the program’s success.

“We want the dogs to leave the bandicoots alone. The way we teach them to do that is we reward them for ignoring a bandicoot so there’s a gradual dissociation with the species,” says David, who adds that being forceful with Maremmas just doesn’t work.

The training process is slow and requires trainers to be calm and patient while the dogs learn to ignore the impulse to excitedly lunge at or pursue a bandicoot.

“This has never been done before, so we took a long time to progress with this training. We’re dealing with a critically endangered marsupial so there isn’t room for error,” says David, who explains that the dogs are in the program for at least four years before being left unsupervised with bandicoots.

Over the years, David’s love has only grown for this remarkable dog breed that’s playing an important role in fighting extinction.

“Once you’ve been indoctrinated into what I call ‘the world of the big white’, they don’t let you go.

They are beautiful, loyal, intelligent dogs. They

Origin Italy

Name Eastern Barred Bandicoot Class Mammalia Status Critically Endangered

can be tricky to train, but once you understand them, it becomes easier. In learning to motivate them, I also fell in love with them,” says David.

A future without intervention?

There’s a fine balance to uphold when fighting extinction. Scientists need to intervene to help an endangered species recover population numbers, but too much interference can hamper recovery by creating an unhealthy dependence on humans.

Dr Coetsee believes the Eastern Barred Bandicoot has a good shot at recovery and there could be a point in the future when human intervention is no longer needed for the species to flourish in the wild.

The bandicoots at this new release site are being monitored and trapped on a regular basis to assess their health and breeding condition and measure how they are acclimatising to their new habitat.

The Guardian Dog program offers bandicoots a chance to return to the wild in Victoria – a huge step considering the species is currently listed as extinct in the wild on mainland Victoria.

“It could open doors for Guardian Dogs to protect other threatened species. Across Victoria, every farm could become a release site for Eastern Barred Bandicoots,” she says.

LEARN MORE For more information on the Guardian Dog program watch this webinar youtube.com/ watch?v=iL0Ck4f4O9o&t=3s

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Region Predator-free and monitored sites in Victoria and Tasmania

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Zoos Victoria thanks and acknowledges our funding partners – the Australian Research Council’s Linkage grants scheme, the Australian Government National Landcare Program, the Victorian Government, The Dyson Bequest, John Cochrane, The Scobie & Claire Mackinnon Trust and The Standish Family Fund, part of the Australian Communities Foundation – for their support of the Zoos Victoria Guardian Dog program.

WANT MORE? Learn about becoming a conservation partner Watch it here

Our Endowment Fund will ensure that Zoos Victoria continues to be at the forefront of wildlife protection and conservation for many years to come. Join us as a contributor to the Zoos Victoria Endowment Fund and start to see the real returns on your investment through our work today.

Photo: Cormac Hanrahan

O UR OUR YOU U

P A S T I S RICH. PA FU D. U T U R E I S W I L D. C A N M A K E A D I F F E R E N C E T O D AY. A Y.

ENDOWMENT FUND ZOOS VICTORIA ENDOWMENT

Make a difference for tomorrow, today.

Angie Retallack General Manager Philanthropy 9340 2720 | aretallack@zoo.org.au

ANIMAL

A huge step forward An enthusiastic new arrival, plus an exciting move to a new home in 2024, signals a bright future for Melbourne Zoo’s herd of Asian Elephants.

WORDS

Steve Colquhoun

E

PHOTOGRAPHY Jo

Howell

lephants are regarded as among the most ponderous of mammals, so introducing a crucial new member to Melbourne Zoo’s close-knit herd of Asian Elephants was expected to be a long and intensive process.

But since his arrival in December, Luk Chai – an 11-year-old, 3.5-tonne bull elephant from Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo – has demonstrated astonishing social skills. He quickly integrated with the six new acquaintances with whom he now shares the Zoo’s Trail of the Elephants exhibit.

So much so that a team of experts from both zoos has continually had to rewrite the playbook to keep up with the new charge as he settles into a group comprising five females (Mek Kapah, Dokkoon, Num-Oi, Kulab and Mali) and an adolescent male (Man Jai).

Obtained as a newly mature breeding male but also as a social counterbalance among the female-strong herd and a mentor for Man Jai, Luk Chai has embraced his new roles with gusto.

Lucy Truelson, the Acting Coordinator of Trail of the Elephants and a 20-year veteran of working with the Zoo’s elephant population, described Luk Chai as “the perfect addition” to Melbourne Zoo’s Asian Elephant population.

“We didn’t think it would go as fast and as smoothly, but we are really driven by moving at the elephant’s own pace, reading their behaviour,” she says. “His behaviour is showing us that we could just keep taking each step quite quickly. It was fantastic to see.”

Within the first week of arrival, as two of Luk Chai’s trusted keepers from the Dubbo Zoo remained present, the team was emboldened by his confidence to introduce him to each of his new housemates in turn.

“He just did everything right in terms of his calm approach; he walked in as if it was just any other day,” says Lucy.

“Each elephant is so individual in their personality, so each approached him differently. Some would strut right up to him and others took a bit more time – watching before they made that contact with him. But in that seven days, we were thrilled to see him meet every single female and also our young bull, Man Jai.” However, even an elephant as confident as Luk Chai can’t speed up nature – as much as he might try. Female elephants are only oestrous, or fertile, for about three days every three months, followed by a gestation period lasting nearly two years before a baby elephant can be born.

And while everyone involved wants to continue to grow the Zoo’s elephant population – especially with the move in 2024 to a 22-hectare elephant sanctuary at Werribee Open Range Zoo – the bigger picture is to maintain a thriving herd that will serve as a reminder to the Zoo’s visitors that the global population of between 40,000 and 50,000 Asian Elephants remains endangered and in urgent need of financial assistance.

“We want to make sure that they care and then act in appropriate ways to help the viability of the wild population,” says Lucy.

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ASIAN ELEPHANT

Each elephant is so individual in their personality, so each approached him differently.

LUCY TRUELSON / ACTING COORDINATOR OF TRAIL OF THE ELEPHANTS

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AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

ANIMAL

RELOCATION TIMELINE November 2020 Victorian Government announces $84 million for Werribee Open Range Zoo development, including new Elephant Sanctuary and Sky Safari gondola

December 2020 Bull elephant Luk Chai joins Asian Elephant herd at Melbourne Zoo Trail of the Elephants exhibit from Taronga’s Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo

Mid 2022

HOME ON THE RANGE IN 2024 The Trail of the Elephants at Melbourne Zoo has been an outstanding success, but with the addition of Luk Chai and the exciting prospect of new arrivals in coming years, the time has come to seek more expansive pastures.

In 2024, the Asian Elephants will shift to a new, purposebuilt habitat on 22 currently unoccupied hectares at Werribee Open Range Zoo, after the Victorian Government pledged $84 million to an ambitious plan to turn Werribee’s Zoo into Australia’s leading safaristyle zoo.

The new Elephant Sanctuary will include a walking trail allowing visitors to safely stroll among the elephants, who will be free to roam through watering holes, sandy bogs and shady forested areas. Under the draft plans, a new cafe/restaurant will overlook

the sanctuary, and visitors will be able to travel from one end of the park to the other on the Sky Safari, an elevated gondola ride that will afford towering views over many key exhibits, including the Elephant Sanctuary.

For Werribee Open Range Zoo Director Glen Holland, the new sanctuary serves a dual purpose.

“The design will be about creating an interesting and stimulating environment for the elephants to enjoy, but my goal is also to balance their positive welfare with strong purpose and our key aim, which is to connect to the hearts and minds of our visitors for the good of the species in the wild. It’s getting people as excited about wildlife conservation as we are,” he says.

The sanctuary will be fenced using recycled steel railway tracks for posts, connected by recycled steel cabling salvaged from urban elevators. “It’s great for sustainability, and saves millions, which can be spent elsewhere,” says Glen.

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Construction begins on Elephant Sanctuary, Sky Safari and Waterhole Cafe building

Mid–late 2023 Scheduled completion of Sky Safari and Waterhole Cafe

January 2024 Scheduled completion of Elephant Sanctuary and preparation for relocation

Mid 2024 Herd relocates from Melbourne Zoo to Werribee Open Range Zoo

Mid 2024 (approx) Werribee Open Range Zoo Elephant Sanctuary opens to the public

WATCH IT Luk Chai’s big move youtube.com/watch?v= QkmX3ZJ5kKM&ab_channel=ZoosVictoria

ANIMAL

Animal training in the spotlight We threw the old adage ‘never work with children and animals’ out the window while filming for the series Mega Zoo.

WORDS Hugh

Coldwell-Ross

IMAGE: JO HOWELL

T

here’s a unique set of challenges that comes with filming any television program.

But, when production is spread over three zoo properties and stars the animals and specialists who live and work there, things become that much more unpredictable.

The new television series Mega Zoo follows Zoos Victoria’s passionate keepers and veterinarians as they care for a menagerie of creatures; from treating a fun-loving elephant who’s broken his tusks to solving a rescued wombat’s mysterious medical condition. Using innovative training methods, state-of-the-art facilities and the latest medical technology, they show what it takes to run a busy, modern zoo at the forefront of fighting wildlife extinction.

Behind the scenes at Werribee Open Range Zoo, high-definition cinema cameras were mounted to the trays of off-road utes. This equipment was essential in documenting the daily rounds of keepers who manage a 45ha Savannah habitat – home to 14 threatened species, and a particularly playful adolescent Southern White Rhino named Kipenzi.

“Kipenzi required extra attention from our keepers to move her focus away from buses and vehicles,” explains Animal Training Coordinator Kelly Hobbs.

“Because she’s had such a long history of interaction with humans and a lot of those interactions are from humans in vehicles, she was too often getting a little close for comfort.”

Motherhood hadn’t come naturally to Kipenzi’s mother, Sisi. At only a few days old, keepers noticed Kipenzi had increasing difficulty suckling and was likely to miss out on receiving the essential colostrum she needed to develop.

“Hand-raising Kipenzi was the best decision we could make for her welfare,” says Kelly. “However, in doing so, we created this response to people in vehicles; something that certainly wasn’t an issue when she was younger and weighed less than 100kg but became an entirely different story as she grew up to be almost two tonnes.”

It’s all just another day at the Zoo for Kelly, who spends her weeks developing innovative training programs for animals of all shapes and sizes, to learn new behaviours and adapt ingrained ones.

“It’s up to us as animal welfare workers

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to provide not only an animal’s nutritional and housing needs, but also mental stimulation and empowerment through learning opportunities.”

It’s a patient game of incremental change through positive-reinforcement techniques that not only build strong relationships and trust between keepers and animals, but also allow keepers to provide the highest quality healthcare.

Through daily training sessions, some of Kelly’s ‘pupils’ are now voluntarily stepping onto scales, presenting their tails for medical injections, opening their mouths for dental checks and moving into positions that enable vets to secure clear X-rays.

“Each program has to be tailored to the animal’s biology and the individual, because every animal has something different that they may find reinforcing,” says Kelly.

When filming of Mega Zoo wrapped up in mid-2020, a lack of damage to any of the cameras or vehicles signalled a resounding success for Kelly and the Savannah’s Keepers.

CATCH UP WITH THE STARS Visit zoo.org.au/beyond-mega-zoo to catch up on the episodes of Mega Zoo. AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

COMMUNITY

Creating an enduring legacy Natasha Bowness hopes the enduring legacy of the Zoos Victoria Endowment Fund will allow the organisation to expand its important work into the future.

WORDS Georgia

Lejeune

P

IMAGES Cormac

Hanrahan

hilanthropy is a catalyst for change. This is the underlying driver for Natasha Bowness, Chair of the Bowness Family Foundation and Zoos Victoria Board member, and a reason why the long-time Zoos Victoria donor was passionate about her family foundation making the lead donation to establish the fund.

Affectionately called the ‘future fund’ by Robyn Grattidge, Director of Business Development at Zoos Victoria, the Endowment Fund has enabled Zoos Victoria to develop a long-term secure financial base. “It’s an in perpetuity fund, which means people can contribute and we only draw down on the earnings to enable projects,” says Robyn.

It’s this ongoing future legacy that initially drew Natasha to the conservation and community work of Zoos Victoria. “Through the Zoo I’ve had

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an incredible opportunity to learn more about our iconic native animals and the many issues they face. As our human connection with the natural world continues to diminish, good zoos provide the chance for our community to connect, appreciate and respect wildlife,” says Natasha.

Founded by Natasha’s father Bill Bowness in 2008, the Bowness Family Foundation’s purpose has always been to enrich the culture, education and potential of the community by providing access and opportunity. Alongside her sister Kelly Wyborn, father Bill and an external executive officer, Natasha has seen their Foundation contribute to the set up of other endowment funds.

“Strong public institutions are the cornerstone of a successful society and the strength of a public institution is always dependent upon its financial stability, and this is where my family felt there was a piece of the puzzle missing as the Zoo didn’t have an Endowment Fund.”

Since the fund began in 2017 – assisted by

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Top Dream Day at Melbourne Zoo. Below Natasha Bowness.

ENDOWMENT FUND

a second principal donation from the Merrin Foundation and other anonymous donations and bequests – the money has grown to a base of $5 million, allowing Zoos Victoria to fund projects across its four pillars of engagement: fighting extinction, nurturing animals, bringing nature to our community and investing in our intelligence.

Money from the fund has enabled Zoos Victoria – with input from keepers – to develop innovative enrichment programs for the animals at Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo. “Because one of our donors is a major big-cat supporter, we have funded some enrichment projects for tigers,” says Robyn. “Another project that the Endowment Fund has supported is Dream Day at the Zoo. We have a night or a day where the Zoo only opens to families with children who have disabilities and we have lots of entertainment and activities.

“We invite donors to the event as well, so that they can see the result, how many people attended, what the outcomes were and what the feedback was.”

The inclusion of donors in endowment-funded projects is important to the success of the fund.

“They call it ‘giving while living’,” says Natasha, who has supported and attended Dream Day every year since its inception. “People donate to the fund or put a gift in their will and, if they notify us, we can invite them to events and share with them what Zoos Victoria is doing during their lifetime.

“Those people are ambassadors and advocates, and I think that’s a really important point – people believing in the work and wanting to support us, anonymously or named.”

Whether donors are looking to make an immediate impact with a donation or contribute to an enduring legacy, Natasha says it doesn’t have to be a choice between the two. The Endowment Fund combines the immediate impact of a donation with the enduring legacy of a solid financial base.

“The events of the past year have highlighted how critical these types of funds are in enabling important work to continue through the income generated from the endowment,” says Natasha.

The events of the past year have highlighted how critical these types of funds are in enabling important work to continue... / NATASHA BOWNESS

“I hope this endowment builds over time and provides support for our three Zoos to continue to thrive for many generations to come.”

While philanthropy is very much in her blood, Natasha encourages people to think about the different ways they can contribute – whether that’s time, money, expertise or energy. “I would love for our society to think about philanthropy more broadly and to believe that everyone can contribute in some way,” she says “It doesn’t have to be a million dollars or ten thousand dollars, it could be $5. All of us coming together will help contribute to a stronger society and better outcomes.”

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MAKE YOUR MARK To donate to the Zoos Victoria Endowment Fund or leave a gift in your will, visit zoo.org.au/donate/ endowment-fund

LEARN MORE Find out more about the fund...

Watch here AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

CONSERVATION

Technology in conservation Advancements in technology are giving scientists and conservationists a leg up when it comes to saving threatened species – and even bringing them back from extinction.

WORDS Stephanie

Convery

ILLUSTRATION Phil

Constantinesco

ZVMAG 20

FUTURE OF CONSERVATION

T

he Southern Gastricbrooding Frog no longer exists. But with continuing advances in technology, scientists hope one day to reverse this fact.

The frog was discovered in the mountains of Queensland in 1972, and it seemed unremarkable – until scientists discovered its bizarre method of reproduction. The mother frog swallowed the eggs of her young, converting her stomach temporarily into a womb. Six weeks later, baby frogs hatched fully formed – from her mouth.

The Gastric-brooding Frog’s reproductive anomaly caused a flurry of interest. If scientists could understand how the frog transformed her stomach, the potential for medical advancement was enormous. But the frog’s numbers declined rapidly only a few years after it was discovered, likely due to disease and habitat destruction. The last Gastric-brooding Frog died in captivity in 1983.

But it hadn’t been entirely lost. In 2013, researchers in cloning at the University of New South Wales unearthed discarded tissue samples from early research efforts into the Gastric-brooding Frog from the bottom of a lab freezer. Remarkably, they managed to extract some living cell nuclei from the 40-year-old sample, implanting it into egg cells from a similar species. The cells divided, and an early-stage Gastric-brooding Frog embryo was created.

“It is a little bit like Jurassic Park,” reproductive biologist Dr Marissa Parrott laughs. She’s telling the story of the Gastric-brooding Frog as an example of the kind of work that she and her colleagues at Zoos Victoria are doing, in partnership with the Australian Frozen Zoo, to help protect and restore genetic diversity to some threatened species. The Australian Frozen Zoo, formerly known as the Animal Gene Storage and Resource Centre of Australia, stores over 25 years of genetic material in its ‘biobank’ – from frozen elephant semen to cells of the critically endangered Leadbeater’s

Our focus is on the animals that are alive now and doing everything we can to help protect them in the future.

DR MARISSA PARROTT / REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGIST

Possum. It aims to preserve genetic samples from wildlife for future conservation, research and breeding.

The Gastric-brooding Frog embryo didn’t reach mature stages and the species remains extinct, but the work of those researchers at UNSW has opened doors for further research in the field of genetic diversity. Unlike Jurassic Park, though, Dr Parrott says, “Our focus is on the animals that are alive now and doing everything we can to help protect them in the future.”

Consider the New Holland Mouse. This tiny, wide-eyed rodent with a pink and brown tail calls the heathlands, woodlands and vegetated sand dunes of south-eastern Australia home.

But with habitat fragmentation and loss, and introduced predators like cats and foxes, New Holland Mice are in steep decline: 99 per cent of the population in Tasmania has been wiped out and seven of the 12 known colonies in Victoria are extinct. At the time of writing, the species is classified as vulnerable to extinction.

One of the less visible threats to the New Holland Mouse is a lack of genetic diversity in the remaining populations. Around 20 years ago, Deakin University, Zoos Victoria and partners attempted to reintroduce a population of captivebred New Holland Mice into the wild near the beachside town of Anglesea. Unfortunately, that release failed and the Anglesea population died out, but as part of the project, scientists had put samples of living tissue from that cohort – tiny little slivers, taken like a biopsy, with the animal released safely afterwards – into cryopreservation at the Australian Frozen Zoo. This 20-year-old tissue is now the focus of an exciting project with Monash University,

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FACT FILE Name Southern Gastricbrooding Frog Class Amphibia Status Extinct

Region Once found QLD and eastern Australia

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CONSERVATION

Melbourne University and Zoos Victoria. PhD student, Simone Lagondar, has awoken the frozen cells and is taking the first steps in an attempt to bring back the lost genetic diversity of the Anglesea population of the New Holland Mouse. The forethought of those earlier researchers means that today’s scientists have samples of that different genetic material that they hope can one day be used to help the current populations under strain.

Cryopreservation is just one example of the technological innovations that are helping keepers, scientists and conservationists at Zoos Victoria fight extinction. It’s a field that’s constantly developing. One of the key projects for researchers at Zoos Victoria and their partner organisations is determining the best way to reinstate cryopreserved cells from a variety of species – that is, to bring them back from their frozen state alive and viable.

“We need to work out the best protocols to wake up those cells again safely so they can be used, then we need to look at how to turn those cells into stem cells and other kinds of cells. However, every species has different requirements,” says Dr Parrott.

Stem cells are biological building blocks: they can create other cell types to perform almost any function within the body. The goal, says Dr Parrott, is to be able to take stem cells with diverse genetic material and use them in assisted reproductive processes for endangered animals – to turn the stem cells into gametes, or sperm and eggs. “We could use those with artificial insemination techniques to create a safe pregnancy that has a more genetically diverse offspring – bringing back that genetic diversity in a safe way,” she says.

The research on New Holland Mice is an Australian first, and a critical part of the work is making sure there are enough samples from threatened species to provide genetic insurance. “The technology is catching up,” says Dr Parrott. “If we have samples frozen as an insurance, if we’re smart enough and fast enough in banking it down now while we have

FACT FILE Name New Holland Mouse Class Mammalia Status Vulnerable

Region Heathlands and woodlands of south-eastern Australia

ZVMAG 22

the opportunity, there will be technology in the future where we can bring back what we’ve lost in genetic diversity.”

Not all technological innovation in conservation has so many hallmarks of science fiction – some of the most useful technological resources in Zoos Victoria’s fight against extinction are the simplest.

“The technology we’re using is fairly basic,” says Dr Bianca op den Brouw. She’s based in Mallacoota and responsible for tracking eight koalas recently released from rehabilitation. They had been in care since the devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20 and were released back into the wilderness December 2020.

It’s difficult to find koalas in the wild, so before release, the koalas were fitted with collars carrying radio transmitters. Each transmitter emits beeps on a particular frequency during daylight hours, and every four hours will log the koala’s location by GPS. Dr op den Brouw’s job is to use these transmitters to track the koalas’ movements, locate them in the bush and check on their welfare. “There’s very little data on how well rehabilitated animals do once they’ve been released, particularly following a bushfire,” she explains.

Then there is the humble infrared camera. “This is something we use across a huge number of programs, both inside the Zoo for things like animal behaviour and welfare, and also out in the wild for research on endangered species,” says Dr Parrott. “We now have amazing motion-activated covert infrared cameras that the animals can’t detect. It’s a really great way of learning about our wildlife without influencing them.”

It’s through this combination of high-level scientific research technology and basic devices for tracking that scientists at Zoos Victoria can intervene in effective ways to allow threatened species to grow and thrive in the wild long into the future.

HELP PRESERVE THE FUTURE Become a Conservation Partner and donate to the future of conservation zoo.org.au/donate/conservation-partners

PARTNERS ANNUAL PARTNERS Dental Health Services Victoria IXOM Mondelez PETstock RACV Schweppes Southern World Streets

IN-KIND PARTNERS Active Air Baby Jogger Gribbles Veterinary Pathology Jetpets Mattioli Melbourne Veterinary Specialist Centre Pisces Enterprises Troy Laboratories YMCA

PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORTERS Zoos Victoria acknowledges the generosity of those who give to support our conservation initiatives.

VISIONARY BHP Foundation Bowness Family Foundation Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Crown Resorts Foundation Limited Prof Ian Gust AO and Dr Di Gust The Kinghorn Foundation Packer Family Foundation LEADER Denver Zoo Donors The Dyson Bequest Fondation du Zoo de Granby Mondelez Pty Ltd Prague Zoo #PropertyUnites bushfire fundraiser World Wide Fund for Nature - Australia

INFLUENCER Hon Andrej Babiš John Cochrane CSL Limited Kansas City Zoo San Antonio Zoo Nick Sims on behalf of Goldman Sachs Gives Wroclaw Zoo HERO Assiniboine Park Conservancy Inc The Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians (AZVT) Meg Bentley Anthony Bignell & Robin Bignell Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Fenton&Fenton Fracture KEEN Europe Outdoor Naomi Milgrom Foundation In honour of Helen Anderson Miller Baillieu Myer AC and Sarah Myer Orangetheory Fitness Melbourne Rosamond Gifford Zoo AAZK Chapter Sunraysia Foundation Hon Jason Wood MP Zoo New England

Julie Packard Palitchoke and Nuches Rota Mota Seneca Park Zoo Society Sri Durga Arts/Cultural & Educational Centre In memory of Tom and Ann Smyth Shirley Sullivan Joyce Swan Target Australia Pty Ltd and Cube Networks TF Global Markets (Aust) Ltd. Undercurrent Vet Partners Australia Zoo Miami

CHAMPION Arizona Center for Nature Conservation / Phoenix Zoo Marie Bacon The Bartolo Family Beach Energy Bohemians Praha 1905 The Calvert-Jones Foundation City of Kingston Mark and Carol Collins Digital Extremes Ltd Dots by Donna The Dyson Family Edward Eisele Charitable Fund, held at Arizona Community Foundation The Fox Family Marc and Karyn Fookes Fundacja Arena The Garry White Foundation Geeks Who Drink Goldwind Australia Alexander Gosling AM and Wirat Sukprem Fenwick Software In Memory of Serena Finlayson Good Goods Pty Ltd (t/a Who Gives a Crap) Grand Circle Foundation Harlen Hair Melbourne IDP Education Ltd Insitu Group JB Hi-Fi Limited Allan Jones JMS Foundation Jost and Dorothee Kaiser Kridgett Kreations Lambys Tavern The Lin Huddleston Charitable Foundation The Lottery Office Tim Lucas and Carla Hackett Helen Myall and Alastair Firkin Amy Myers MD Nashville Zoo Natural Encounters Conservation Fund New Vision Clinics Oregon Zoo

FIGHTER AAZK Chapter at Lion Country Safari April Albrecht Roger Altman Arcadia Group Pty Ltd Arteq Productions Annie and Andrew Bell M.Begg Jay Bethell and Peter Smart BeWooden Company s.r.o.

Eric & Juliet Bird Blank Park Zoo B M Investments Pty Ltd Bodriggy Brewing Company Maxine Bowness Brevard Zoo Brockhampton / New Strategies LLC Karen Caldwell The Cattermole Family Lisa Cochrane and Scott Hipkins Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Anita Conrad Coote Family Lawyers Convergint Technologies Australia Covestro Pty Ltd Creo Consultants Pty Ltd Debbie Dadon AM Raymond Dando Denver Zoological Foundation Dinosaur Polo Club Dudley Zoo and Castle Simon and Christina Edelstein Experience Oz Andrew Fairbairn Fleet Plant Hire Pty Ltd Fresno Chaffee Zoo Wildlife Conservation Fund Clients of Gallery Funaki Andy McGillivray and Judy McGillivray In memory of Phyll Goddard Assiniboine Park Conservancy Inc The Goodman Family Foundation Grey St. Primary School Traralgon Grade 4

Lesley Griffin Gaye and Roy Hamilton Penny and Milton Harris Heritage Finance In Memory of Serena Finlayson Holiday Vacations Houston Zoo Suzanne Kirkham Andreas Knaack Judith Landsberg and David Cash Caroline Liow Little Hop The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Louisville Zoo Helen MacDougall in honour of John Seebeck Jamie Mi’s Family Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Phil McKern, Bendigo The McPhee Charitable Trust Microchips Australia Moody Gardens Mornington Church of Christ Opportunity Shop Denver Zoo Donors Northcote Rotary Club Outdoor Travel Adventures - San Diego Palm Beach Conservation Society Palm Beach Zoo Prague Zoo Peerless Jal Janice Pleydell Probe Group Vivienne Porter Readings Redbubble Rhode Island Zoological Society Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia, SC Margaret S. Ross AM Rotary Club of Hondo Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Elizabeth Sarrailhe Sonia and Wayne Kent Foundation Sunda Swarovski Optik KG Shaun Tan and Corinne and Jon Beinart of Beinart Gallery Taylor Cullity Lethlean Gregory Taylor TSA Group Kate and Blaise Vinot Olive Wakefield Helen Williams Zoo Atlanta

Zoos Victoria also acknowledges the generosity of those who give anonymously to support our conservation initiatives.

Zoos Victoria acknowledges the ongoing annual funding from the Victorian State Government.

To view the full Honour list, please visit zoo.org.au/donate/our-supporters

ZV is published for Zoos Victoria by Hardie Grant Media HARDIE GRANT MEDIA: MANAGING DIRECTOR Nick Hardie-Grant ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Scott Elmslie ACCOUNT MANAGER Hannah Louey EDITOR Georgia Lejeune DESIGN Dallas Budde, Natalie Lachina PRINTER: Immij ZOOS VICTORIA: Angie Retallack, Heather Kiley, Olivia Shiels, Michelle Lang.

Zoos Victoria PO Box 74, Parkville Vic 3052 P 03 9340 2780 / F 03 9285 9390 E contact@zoo.org.au W zoo.org.au

Connect with us: Join the conversation on our social media channels. @ZoosVictoria on Twitter and Instagram.

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Cover: Guardian Dog program.

(Illustration Phil Constantinesco/ The Illustration Room)

Printed on 100% recycled paper with vegetable-based inks. Zoos Victoria is a carbon neutral organisation.

AUTUMN/WINTER 2021

zoo.org.au/donate