This #scienceweek we’ll also shine a light on our crucial #conservationscience partnerships and how they are underpinned by our specialist staff working across key areas including #wildlifehealth, #ecology, #animalbehavior, #animalwelfare, #reproduction, and #genetics. Image
Some fast facts about #Science at #Taronga. #scienceweek
Our multi-disciplinary, hypothesis-driven research focuses on natural & social sciences, & is structured to: (1) understand, predict & address #keythreats impacting #wildlife & their habitats, & (2) promote species’ adaptability and #ecosystemresilience.
We’re an Accredited Research Establishment with an #AnimalEthics Committee that operates in accordance with the Animal Research Act 1985 and is reviewed by the NSW Dept of Primary Industries (DPI).
Our scientific research occurs on-site in our #zoos and out the field. Projects are scrutinized for their scientific and educational value and must be deemed ethically acceptable before being approved. #fieldwork
A major strength of Taronga’s #science team is collective experience from working in NGOs, industry and being embedded in govt agencies tackling real-world, real-time #conservation issues.
Many of our scientists also hold co-joint or adjunct positions with leading universities. With this collective experience, our role is to pursue excellence in #science to inform future policy and National priorities for #conservation action.
In the last 10 years we have partnered on 14 @arc_gov_au Linkage grants
We have a #Science Advisory Council with representatives of Taronga’s academic, #conservation and community partners to provide subject matter expertise and strategic input into #conservationscience at Taronga Image

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Taronga Zoo

Taronga Zoo Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @tarongazoo

21 Aug
As Taronga’s Research & #Conservation Coordinator, & a marine biologist specializing in #ConservationGenetics, Dr Jo Day, wears many hats – & most are waterproof! Jo’s work covers many areas & species, including the little-known Port Jackson #shark... #MarineScience #ScienceWeek Image
Data from GPS and accelerometer tags fitted to Taronga zoo-based Port Jackson #sharks allowed the team to identify resting & active swimming, as well as feeding behaviour. Image
Using fine and broad scale #MovementEcology data from these Port Jackson #sharks, #MachineLearning models allowed the team to identify these key behaviours in this elusive #marine #shark species. mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/2…
Read 4 tweets
21 Aug
Getting lost in the crowd can be a problem when you’re an #endangered sea lion pup. Taronga behavioural ecologist @PitcherBen & collaborators are decoding #Australian #sealion communication to understand how mothers and pups recognise each other in a busy colony #ScienceWeek Image
Australian sea lions use a combination of sound, sight and smell to communicate and recognise their pups. Mothers can use the size and colour patterns in pup coats to help located their offspring in a colony royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.109… @RSocPublishing #AnimalCommunication
Smell is critical to recognition. Mums will smell pups they encounter while searching the colony to confirm which pup is their own offspring. Each sea lion has a unique smell and mums learn the odour of their pup sciencedirect.com/science/articl… #AnimalCommunication
Read 5 tweets
20 Aug
Taronga is also reminding #RegentHoneyeaters how to tweet! Their song has been changing, perhaps due to small fragmented populations &reduced opportunity to learn from adults. Taronga keepers began playing songs to juvenile birds to teach them the right ones to sing. #ScienceWeek Image
Results are showing that #RegentHoneyeaters that were tutored to sing, either directly by adult birds or by virtual tutoring, had a better chance of surviving in the wild.
We’re now working with researchers at ANU to understand how best to teach birds to sing and why song is important to survival theguardian.com/australia-news…
Read 4 tweets
20 Aug
The #RegentHoneyeater is one of Australia’s most #CriticallyEndangered birds. There are <350 birds left in the wild. For >20y, Taronga has been #ConservationBreeding an insurance population. Since 2008, >300 birds have been released to bolster wild populations. #ScienceWeek Image
#RegentHoneyeaters are in decline due to threats from #habitatloss and degradation. #Drought, #bushfire, competition, and now even the precariously small size of the remaining population all pose risks to the species’ survival.
Our team of #RegentHoneyeater keepers are experts in #ConservationBreeding these amazing birds. Here specialist keeper Kara Stevens explains our progress at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo.
Read 6 tweets
20 Aug
Another flagship and large collaborative #ConservationBreeding project that Taronga is involved in concerns the #CriticallyEndangered #PlainsWanderer, a bird that few people have probably heard of and even fewer have seen. #ScienceWeek Image
The #PlainsWanderer has no living close relative, which places it top of the @EDGEofExistence list. Remnant populations of this small ground-dwelling bird are mostly in Victoria, eastern South Australia and in the western Riverina region of NSW.
Though excellently camouflaged, #PlainsWanderer are just the right size to be eaten by invasive foxes. Taronga is working with @ZoosVictoria to establish an insurance population & recently built a #ConservationBreeing facility at Taronga Western Plains Zoo #sanctuary, #Dubbo. Image
Read 9 tweets
20 Aug
A fantastic moment in Taronga’s #bilby #conservation program was releasing #bilbies to SturtNP Western #NSW as part of the Wild Deserts Project. This large collaboration centres on #reintroduction of locally #extinct species. #SavingOurSpecies #ScienceWeek Image
The #bilbies are a key part of the Wild Deserts project in #SturtNP and, as ecosystem engineers, are paving the way to #HabitatRestoration across thousands of hectares in #NSW. #SavingOurSpecies PC: Bobby-Jo Vial Image
The #reintroduction of #bilbies to the wild as part of the Wild Deserts project with UNSW, DPIE and the region’s Traditional Owners, the Wongkumara and Maljangata people, was a great step forward in restoring this western corner of NSW. PC: Bobby-Jo Vial Image
Read 4 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

:(