Soaring to a thousand

Every year, hundreds of wild black cockatoos come through our gates in need of life-saving medical treatment.

Our vets and vet nurses do all they can to heal them and many are given a new lease on life.

But that’s not where the journey ends. In fact, it’s just the beginning.

It takes a village to save a threatened species.

Conservationists around WA have been collaborating for many years to support these iconic native birds.

Each step of the journey is important, and each step brings the cockatoos closer to flying home to the wild, where they belong.

This year, we reach a milestone together.

1000 endangered black cockatoos treated at Perth Zoo have been saved, rehabilitated and released back into the wild.

Without the work of countless vets, nurses, researchers, rehabilitators, volunteers and more, these birds would have been lost forever.

Let us introduce you to a few of the passionate people who are working every day for cockatoos - the people who have worked together to help 1000 endangered black cockatoos soar.

This work is made possible collaboration between Perth Zoo, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre, Native Animal Rescue, Murdoch University and many more.

Moments at the 1000th release.

Moments leading to the 1000th release.

Meet DBCA's Research Associate Dr. Peter Mawson.