Since its establishment in 1916, Taronga Zoo, has matured into a leading conservation and educational hub dedicated to telling the story of healthy ecosystems, habitats and wildlife across the globe. Like the Taronga Conservation Society, the Ottomin Foundation believes in a shared responsibility to protect the world’s precious wildlife.
Since 2015, the Ottomin Foundation has taken a special interest in a range of Taronga-led initiatives aimed at wildlife preservation and environmental sustainability. These include support for the conservation of the Southern Corroboree frog, the Platypus, and the critically endangered Sumatran tiger. The Foundation has also contributed to major capital campaigns, including the Wild Futures project—comprising state-of-the-art wildlife hospitals in Sydney and Dubbo—and the Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, which opened in 2018.
Visit Taronga Zoo at www.taronga.org.au/conservation-and-science
Saving the Southern Corroboree Frog
Widely regarded as environmental barometers, frogs reflect the health of ecosystems. In Australia, fungal infections have led to the extinction of six frog species and pose a serious threat to the Southern Corroboree frog. In response, Taronga Zoo launched a dedicated conservation effort in 2014, committing to a National Recovery Program that breeds and releases Corroboree frogs into the wild.
Protecting the Platypus
Taronga is leading the way in a world class rescue plan for the iconic Platypus. Taronga Zoo is spearheading a world-class rescue initiative for the iconic Platypus, whose numbers are declining due to environmental pressures. The Platypus Rescue HQ, located at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, plays a central role in restoring wild populations. Through its Platypus Futures program, Taronga is advancing research into the impacts of river system regulation—such as dams and diversions—and climate change on Platypus health and habitat distribution.
CEO’s Collaborate to Protect the Sumatran Tiger
In 2017, Taronga Zoo convened the CEO Sumatra Challenge, a conservation-focused initiative that brought together senior business leaders—including Ottomin Foundation Chairman Richard Kovacs—to witness firsthand the threats facing the critically endangered Sumatran tiger. The group travelled to Sumatra, where rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion have devastated tiger habitats. Taronga continues to support regional conservation through breeding programs, scientific research, fundraising, and advocacy for sustainably-produced palm oil. Click here to read Richard’s personal experience of the CEO Sumatra Challenge.
Capital Campaigns – Wild Futures project and Institute of Science and Learning
The Ottomin Foundation proudly contributed $1 million to Taronga Zoo’s Wild Futures project, a landmark initiative supporting the development of three major conservation facilities: two state-of-the-art wildlife hospitals located in Sydney and Dubbo, and a dedicated Reptile and Amphibian Conservation Centre at Taronga Zoo Sydney. Previously, the Foundation also supported the capital campaign for the Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, which officially opened in 2018. This facility serves as a living laboratory for conservation, education, and scientific research—fostering collaboration, innovation, and immersive learning experiences.
