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.

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 Orang-utan Reintroduction Pilot Project

In a world first, Perth Zoo’s 14-year old Sumatran Orang-utan 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.

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

Sun Bears in Cambodia

Perth Zoo is supporting Sun Bear conservation in Cambodia through its ongoing partnership with the Free The Bears Fund. Perth Zoo’s Wildlife Conservation Action supports Sun Bear conservation initiatives in Cambodia. You could help by donating at our Sun Bear exhibit donation box. 

Perth Zoo provided funding for a Bear Sign Survey Training Course held in Cambodia from 23 to 27 April 2007 - the first stage of a strategic plan to protect Sun Bear populations in the wild. The course, facilitated by Free The Bears and Conservation International, brought together 35 park rangers from all over Cambodia to teach them methods for surveying for the presence of bears in Cambodian forests.

Unlike species such as the tiger, little is known about the habits and status of Sun Bears in the wild. They are one of the least-studied groups of large mammals in south-east Asia. It is hoped that the training will lead to more knowledge about these bears and their life in the wild.

It was the first time this kind of training course had been held in Asia. The training was aimed at providing Cambodian rangers and researchers with the skills to collect valuable information about bears in the wild.

Bears in south-east Asia face an uncertain future in the wild. Large numbers continue to be hunted to supply the demand for their body parts to be used in traditional medicine, and cubs are captured for the pet and restaurant trades.

With large areas of forest still remaining, Cambodia is thought to hold important populations of Asiatic Black Bears and Sun Bears, both of which are considered to be vulnerable according to the World Conservation Union Red List of threatened species.

Three days of the training course were spent in Bokor National Park training the participants in bear sign transect methods, and identification and aging of bear signs. Participants completed 12 short transects and encountered 31 bear signs. From six clawmarks templates were taken and attributed to bear species: four were made by Asiatic Black Bears and two by Sun Bears. The majority of these signs were more than a year old.

There were three, non-exclusive, interpretations about why old signs were predominant: (1) bear abundance was recently reduced by poaching, (2) bears only use the plateau evergreen forest for a limited time each year, perhaps when oaks (the most commonly climbed tree) are ripe, and (3) an artefact of the very small sample area. Correspondingly, the need for large sample areas and numerous transects was emphasised, and for careful interpretation of bear sign data in the context of other information such as food availability and tree phenology, which affect bear feeding behaviour.

Data and knowledge on the current distribution of bears is still limited and in very few places in south-east Asia are bear populations being monitored. Monitoring bears by means of sign transects could provide a first and valuable insight into trends of wild bear populations.

The final report of the bear sign training course is available here for you to download (pdf).

Download Conservation of Cambodia's Bears by Free the Bears Fund Inc (pdf).

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: 

Australian Orang-utan Project

Asian Rhino Project

Painted Dog Conservation Inc.

Project Numbat

Silvery Gibbon Project

Tenkile Conservation Alliance

Zoo Peru