Traipsing the 300-hectare Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, I expected to be awestruck by the extraordinary animals with extensive plains to roam, and feel joy at witnessing my young daughter's first zoo adventure. What was less expected, but just as welcome, was the sense of hope in action I found along the way.
Taronga Conservation Society, a not-for-profit organisation, reinvests all funds into wildlife conservation, education, and animal wellbeing. Over my two days spent amongst the animals and the dedicated zookeepers, I was able to witness this firsthand. I developed a deep sense of appreciation for our natural world and identified practical steps I could take home - inspired by those already being taken at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Making better choices, starting in the pantry
Despite being a passionate home cook, I had no idea that half of all my packaged grocery items contain palm oil. Traditional palm oil production is a leading driver of deforestation, destroying the habitats of species such as Sumatran tigers and many other critically endangered animals.
The Taronga Conservation Society is leading the charge in encouraging us to question where our palm oil comes from, switch to products that use 100% Certified Sustainable Palm Oil, and put pressure on companies who continue to source unsustainably produced palm oil.
I completed a palm oil audit of my home's food, personal care, and cleaning products, which helped me identify if the products I use carried the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil label - and to make switches to other products if they didn't.
Through learning about the Sumatran tigers of Taronga Western Plains Zoo - the relaxed Safu, beautiful Indah, and sleepy Sakti - I was emboldened to join the "Raise Your Palm" campaign for them, to continue being conscious of my palm oil purchasing habits, and to push corporations towards a better future.
Choosing to Reuse and protect against plastics
The zoo exhibit that housed the Galapagos Tortoises was peaceful and serene - just like the eight tortoises grazing and sleeping on the sandy banks. The largest tortoises in the world, their species is classified as critically endangered in the wild, with their numbers sadly depleting due to habitat loss and feral animals.
The zoo has been a trailblazer in its efforts to protect the Galapagos Tortoise species - achieving the first-ever Galapagos Tortoise hatching in the Australasia region in 2011, with subsequent baby tortoises born in 2014 and 2018.
And their efforts haven't stopped there. They are also committed to fighting one of the most significant causes of destruction of tortoise and many other animal populations: plastic waste. Through the "Choose to Reuse" campaign, they encourage the uptake of reusable options and have already eliminated single-use plastic from retailers onsite.
After learning that Australia is the second-biggest producer of plastic waste in the world per person, I used Taronga Conservation Society's tool to track my plastic use impact and discovered that I could save over 100 takeaway cups and 50 takeaway containers every year by choosing reusable items.
Like the tortoise itself, progress might take time but through measured, deliberate actions, it is steady and purposeful - and that's where my hope lies. "The tortoise may be slow," states a traditional Mali proverb, "but it never forgets the way home."
Practising the power to protect wildlife
In the midst of unprecedented rates of climate change, the Taronga Conservation Society is dedicated to providing care and rehabilitation to vulnerable animals. The Wildlife Hospital at Taronga Western Plains Zoo exists to respond to the growing need for care of wild native and zoo animals affected by rising numbers of bushfires, floods, disease, and drought.
With a strong community focus, the wildlife hospital accepts sick, injured, and orphaned native animals brought in by the public or wildlife rescuers. The surgical and clinical care provided is made visible to zoo visitors, further inviting us into an understanding of the important role the zoo is playing in conservation and species protection.
Alongside the intensive care unit and preventative care clinics is a rehabilitation space for recovering birds of prey. My bird-loving daughter was completely entranced while looking up at the structures which allowed eagles, owls and falcons to rebuild their strength and endurance before being released back into the wild.
Hope was seeing how much thought and care is being put into taking care of the sick, injured and vulnerable, building their strength, and setting them free.
Responding to the call to recycle mobile phones
I couldn't help falling in love with the cheeky, vivacious Siamang gibbons, Kasarna and Kasem, who swung on ropes, sat leisurely in the sun, and performed elaborate, loud duets that rang through the jungle.
Siamangs have the loudest call of all gibbons, and bonded pairs develop their own signature songs. In partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute, Taronga's "They're Calling on You" campaign brings attention to the impact of illegal mining on primate species such as the Siamang. The unregulated mining of minerals such as columbite tantalite in order to produce over 1 billion new mobile phones every year is devastating habitats home to gibbons, gorillas, and chimps.
I realised my old phones, chargers and earphones were part of the 30 million unused mobile devices sitting in drawers around Australia. By recycling these devices at the zoo or one of these MobileMuster locations, I am able to contribute to reducing the demand for the rare minerals and the harmful measures taken to procure them.
So far, Taronga has collected 60,000 devices, diverted 5 tonnes of e-waste from landfill, and prevented 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. They recycle more than 95% of all the materials in the devices donated to them, taking tangible steps towards saving the homes of these lovable animals.
Imagining a future built on science and innovation
Before my zoo trip, I had not come across the concept of cryopreservation for coral, nor the idea of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) for amphibians. Discovering Taronga's innovative approaches focused on saving critically endangered species was at once eye-opening and inspiring.
Taronga is a national and global leader in applying the freezing of sperm, eggs, and larvae, otherwise known as cryopreservation, to coral reef management. They are focusing on developing methods to help Australia's beloved Great Barrier Reef survive climate change. The Taronga CryoDiversity Bank is the largest biorepository of living coral cells worldwide, and allows for the deployment of coral larvae from cryopreserved sperm to aid in the crucial work of reef restoration.
Between 1985 and 2021, 97% of threatened Australian amphibian species declined. In response, the scientists at Taronga have used IVF technologies to save critically endangered frogs, such as the Booroolong Frog, from extinction. The use of IVF has allowed scientists to strive for genetic diversity and increased adaptiveness to environmental stressors.
In a world where science can be used for greed, self-advancement, or fame, the conservation team at Taronga have chosen a different path. Here, science is used differently - by preserving animal populations that may otherwise be lost, reminding us that we all benefit when the smallest and most vulnerable among us are thriving.
As my daughter slept in my arms on the Savannah Safari, the zoo's guided safari tour, our friendly guide advised us that we were running on "rhino time". On that warm sunny morning, with these remarkable creatures just metres away, our truck waited patiently for the two Southern White Rhinos, brothers Humphrey and Winston, to make their passage.
The rhinos, giraffes, zebras, elands and ostrich coexisted harmoniously in the savannah setting designed to resemble their natural habitats. Alongside every animal we visited, there were stories of Taronga partnering with local communities, funding conservation initiatives, and running breeding programs. It felt like so much more than a zoo, but a place of environmental stewardship, innovation, and nurturing care.
I left Taronga Western Plains Zoo believing that progress is possible. For me, it looks like choosing products that protect forests, recycling devices instead of letting them collect dust, and supporting conservation projects. The scale of the environmental challenges and the history of how humans have treated animals can feel heartbreaking and overwhelming - but making my way through the zoo reminded me that my daughter is growing up in a world where change is underway, people care deeply, and we all have a meaningful, real role we can play.
Guest blog written by Rachel Viaje.
Rachel Viaje is a mum, wife, and community advocate living in regional NSW, who loves writing about everyday life and the world around her.
Image 1: Sumatran Tiger at Taronga Zoo, Wikimedia Commons.
Image 2: Roundtable For Sustainable Palm Oil Certification.
Image 3: Symphalangus syndactylus at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Wikimedia Commons.
Image 4: Rachel and her daughter at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Provided.