Featherdale’s partnership with GE Health resulted in the donation of a state-of-the-art diagnostic ultrasound machine which helps to identify fertility and breeding availability as well as injuries and illness. It is used across the species but most frequently for the koala community with females being scanned to check fertility and pregnancy. There are currently over 40 koalas at Featherdale and in its’ 49 years of operation, the Park has successfully bred over 210 koalas. We share the benefits of this machine which is often also used by other zoos such as Taronga,
The ‘Save the Bilby Fund’ has found a dedicated ally in Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park, which plays a pivotal role in supporting the New South Wales campaign. Featherdale actively contributes to raising awareness by featuring educational programs and exhibits centered around the endangered Bilby. Their collaboration extends beyond awareness, as Featherdale is committed to implementing on-site conservation measures and actively participating in the broader campaign’s initiatives. By leveraging its status as a popular wildlife park, Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park engages visitors and channelizes resources toward protecting the Bilby’s habitat, further reinforcing the collective endeavor to ensure a sustainable future for this distinctive Australian marsupial.
Featherdale Keepers have worked with the Nature Conservation Working Group of the Murray Catchment Area to release endangered Bush Stone Curlews back into the wild. These shy, ground-dwelling birds rely on camouflage to remain hidden by day, and feed at night. Their numbers have been adversely affected due to predation from feral species and land clearing.
Featherdale Wildlife Park welcomed 2 year old Tasmanian Devil brothers, Saxon and Vandal from Peel Zoo in Western Australia as part of the Tasmanian Devil Insurance Population. This vital program has been developed to build a sustainable captive population of Tasmanian Devils, free from the fatal Devil Facial Tumour Disease which has decimated the Tasmanian wild population in the past two decades.
Since discovery of the disease, sightings of wild Devils have decreased by approximately 70 percent. The Cancer is transmitted like a contagious disease and is characterised by large facial tumours around the face and neck. The Disease makes it increasingly difficult to compete for and, digest food, with most Devils dying within a few short months of tumours first appearing.
The Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA), in conjunction with the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE), are managing the Devil Breeding Program and are working towards maintaining the captive insurance population of 550 Devils. This strategy may one day assist in re-establishing wild Tasmanian Devil populations in Tasmania.
Captive breeding plays a vital role in fostering knowledge and the protection of future populations of endangered species and Featherdale Wildlife Park is a major contributor to these aims. The Quoll breeding program has been so successful that the Park now has a Management role in the National Program to assist these important animals. In conjunction with students from Monash University in Victoria, our aim is to sustain a captive population to assist with this endangered species. Featherdale Quolls were DNA tested to ensure the limited gene pool was utilised efficiently. From this testing, animals were exchanged amongst program members to create viable, genetically diverse pairs.
Heartiest congratulations to the critically endangered Swift Parrot for securing the prestigious title of @birdlifeoz 2023 Australian Bird of the Year! This victory significantly raises awareness about the challenges these birds confront in the wild due to persistent logging. A timely triumph for our team, especially with a fledgling exploring the outside world. We are committed to securing the future of Swift Parrots and inspiring park visitors. Explore more at https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profiles/swift-parrot/.
The ecological significance of the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater in Australia cannot be overstated. With a diminishing population, conservation efforts are imperative to sustain biodiversity. Serving as crucial pollinators, these birds play a pivotal role in ensuring the viability of indigenous flora. The meticulous efforts of Featherdale Keepers, actively searching for spider webs, contribute significantly to facilitating nest construction for the rare Regent Honeyeaters.
Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park collaborates closely with the Australian Museum and the Koala Genome Project, contributing to vital research on koala genetics. This partnership enhances our understanding of koala populations, fostering conservation initiatives. Featherdale’s active engagement underscores its commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and promoting the preservation of Australia’s iconic wildlife.
The Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby conservation project, led by the SoS program, involves key participants like Waterfall Springs Wildlife Sanctuary, Aussie Ark, Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park, Hunter Valley Zoo, Taronga Zoo, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, and Ipswich Nature Centre. These facilities collaborate on captive breeding, husbandry, transfers, releases, and genetic research, with support from the Zoo Aquarium Association for pairings and Taronga Wildlife Hospital for veterinary care, trapping, and necropsies.
These quirky little birds are facing rapid decline after a particularly tough couple of years with fire and drought destroying their habitat. The evolutionary distinctiveness of the Plains Wanderer have earned it a ranking of fourth species in the world that we could afford to lose.
Thankfully in 2022, Featherdale Wildlife Park, Taronga Zoo, and Zoos Victoria, were able to assist the Department of Planning and the Environment in a captive breeding program where Plains Wanderers were collected from private properties, bred to strengthen the population numbers and released back into the wild. The program is currently showing some encouraging results from surveying the current population.