From the Artists: “This mother gorilla is the symbolic mother of all infants. She cares for and protects all the world’s children as her own, fiercely defending them from every threat and showering them with love.

As the biggest of all ape species, she can look scary. But this peaceful queen is anything but. She is kind and gentle, teaching her babies with positivity and care. And as a vegetarian, she would never hurt another living creature.

With only 3,800 left, she is critically endangered. Her home is being destroyed to make way for illegal mines and the civil war that has been raging for decades is making it very dangerous for her. Since the 1990s, the population of her species has dropped by 50% and she can now live in only 13% of her historical home range. She desperately needs help for her own survival, but also for the ones she protects. She asks her cousins, the humans, to help her and become guardians for her babies and all wildlife. She looks to us to make sure there will always be a new generation.”

While gorillas aren’t found at Perth Zoo, we care for another critically endangered great ape – Sumatran Orangutans. Perth Zoo is a world leader in the breeding of Sumatran Orangutans since the Zoo’s first birth of this species in 1970. Perth Zoo also works with partners to protect orangutans, other wildlife and habitat in the Bukit Tigapuluh ecosystem in Sumatra, Indonesia.

From the Artists: “This critically endangered little bear is very special in Italy, there are only 50 of his kind left! He is very curious and loves to explore and jump on his mother, learning all good bear skills while playing. He has made it through his most dangerous time but now his greatest threat is humans, they might mistake his play for an attack and shoot!”

Perth Zoo cares for another bear species that’s facing its own challenges in South-East Asia – the Sun Bear. Our two Sun Bears, Jamran and Bopha, arrived at Perth Zoo in 2007 as part of a regional breeding program and gave birth to Australia’s first Sun Bear.

Since then, Perth Zoo has worked with Free the Bears to fund research programs for Sun Bears in Southeast Asia, assisting protection and conservation activities in the wild.

From the Artists: “He may be the tallest animal in the world, but this baby giraffe prefers to hide for now. At only 3 weeks old he is completely reliant on his mum, his only protection to kick any predators away. Just like his species, he is very vulnerable with only 111,000 of them left with humans taking over his habitat.”

Perth Zoo is part of a regional program for giraffe that’s seen the birth of many giraffe since 1995. In fact, Perth Zoo was home to the most famous giraffes in the world, Makulu and Misha, who were immortalised in The Kiss photo.

Visitors to Perth Zoo have the opportunity to feed the giraffe, with a portion of every experience sold going to support the conservation of African animals in the wild.

From the Artists: “This endangered baby is going to be very big. She has spent the first years of her life roaming around her island eating and sleeping. She never knew her parents but has been able to figure out what a giant tortoise needs to know. She is threatened by dogs and cats and has to compete with cows who eat her food, all introduced by humans.”

Perth Zoo’s 50-year-old Galapagos Tortoises are called Cerro and Sierra. They belong to the largest species of tortoise on Earth and are one of the longest living animals.

On the Galapagos Islands, these tortoises face competition for food from feral goats and cattle, while their eggs and hatchlings risk being eaten by pigs, cats and dogs.

Visitors to Perth Zoo can go on a special Close Encounter during the warmer months to meet these gentle giants, where a portion of every experience goes to conservation.

From the Artists: “This baby panda loves to roll and tumble with his mother. He has recently had his first taste of bamboo, the food he will only eat in the future, but prefers mums’ milk. He has outgrown one threat, being squashed by mum, now his biggest is the loss of his habitat when he eventually leaves home. There are less than 2000 of his vulnerable kind left.”

Giant Pandas may get all the attention, but their smaller red cousins, the Nepalese Red Panda, is also facing an uncertain future. Found in mountainous regions in Nepal, India, China, Myanmar and Bhutan, they are threatened by habitat destruction and poaching for their fur.

Perth Zoo is part of a global breeding program for Red Pandas with 19 Red Pandas born at the Zoo since 1997. We also provide financial support to the Red Panda Network (RPN) – an organisation that carries out vital field work in Nepal.

From the Artists: “This endangered little girl loves spending time with her mum and her many aunties. She loves feeling safe with her giant protectors, knowing that no predators can touch her as long as she stays close. But she always gets nervous when she comes close to where the humans live, her aunties can’t always protect her from them.”

Perth Zoo’s Asian Elephants, Permai and Putra Mas, have been at the Zoo since 1992, acting as ambassadors for their cousins in the wild.

In partnership with Frankfurt Zoological Society, Perth Zoo contributes to the protection of the Bukit Tigapuluh Ecosystem, the site of one of the last remaining herds of Sumatran Elephants in the world.

We have supported the establishment of Elephant Conflict Mitigation Units, which conduct wildlife patrols, education programs for local communities, elephant surveys and managed the impact of elephants on local farmers.

From the Artists: “This critically endangered baby rhino is happy to play in her forested home. She stays close by her mother, drinking her nourishing milk and learning what plants are good to eat. Her biggest threat was once humans, being poached so much there is now only 74 of them. Now they are protected it is finding food since the Arenga Palm is taking over.”

Though they’re from different parts of the planet, Perth Zoo’s Southern White Rhinos, Memphis and Bakari, advocate for and educate about the threats facing all rhinos, particularly poaching and habitat destruction.

Perth Zoo supports SAVE African Rhino Foundation, which is committed to on-ground action to stop poaching. The Zoo also contributes to the protection of the Bukit Tigapuluh Ecosystem in Sumatra, which may be home to a small number of Sumatran Rhino.

From the Artists: “This baby is ready to explore the canopy with her friends. She loves to hang out with her friends but knows she always has to come back to mum. She is critically endangered with less than 200,000 left. Her home is being destroyed for palm oil, her mum is targeted by hunters, and if she is caught, she will be sent to live as a pet.”

Perth Zoo is a world leader in the breeding of Sumatran Orangutans since the Zoo’s first birth of this critically endangered species in 1970. But our work with this species doesn’t stay within the Zoo. Since 2006, Perth Zoo has worked with Frankfurt Zoological Society, Australian Orangutan Project and the Indonesian Government to protect wildlife and habitat in the Bukit Tigapuluh ecosystem in Sumatra, Indonesia.

Two hundred ex-pet and orphaned orangutans have been released into Bukit Tigapuluh, including three Perth Zoo-born orangutans in 2006, 2011 and 2016, a world first for a zoo-born orangutan. We also support a Jungle School to teach ex-pet and orphaned Sumatran Orangutans the lessons they need for life in the wild.

From the Artists: “This lion cub is happy to be in a pride. She has lots of other cubs to play with and will sometimes dare to chase a flicking tail of one of the big males! She is learning everything from the lionesses but is at risk from outside males, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs. Listed as vulnerable, she will have one predator when she’s older, us.”

Perth Zoo takes a lot of pride in its lions, Jelani, Makeba and Uzuri, but we’re even more proud of the contribution we’ve made to the conservation of African species in the wild.

Since 2008, community donations have helped Perth Zoo fund anti-poaching patrol units and snare removal from the African landscape, as well as an education outreach program in South Luangwa National Park.

From the Artists: “This cub is ready to explore his snowy home. He has been tucked in a den for winter and now it’s time for him to play and get used to his legs before his long walk to the sea ice. His biggest threats are other polar bears who may try to kill him and habitat loss from the warming temperatures, leaving his species vulnerable.”

Perth Zoo had Polar Bears until 1980 and Brown Bears until 2003, after which our focus turned to Sun Bears. Jamran and Bopha arrived at Perth Zoo in 2007 as part of a regional breeding program and gave birth to Australia’s first Sun Bear.

Since 2007, Perth Zoo has partnered with Free the Bears on projects in Southeast Asia that assist in the protection of and in-situ conservation activity for Sun Bears and Moon Bears.

From the Artists: “This gorilla is just a baby but loves to explore! He enjoys playing, chasing his siblings, learning all the important skills he needs to be a proper gorilla. He’s happy to venture but always comes back to mum. Critically endangered, he is most threatened by the bushmeat trade and human diseases like the Ebola virus.”

While gorillas aren’t found at Perth Zoo, we care for another critically endangered great ape – Sumatran Orangutans. Perth Zoo is a world leader in the breeding of Sumatran Orangutans since the Zoo’s first birth of this species in 1970.

Perth Zoo also works with partners to protect orangutans, other wildlife and habitat in the Bukit Tigapuluh ecosystem in Sumatra, Indonesia.

From the Artists: “This endangered little boy is a very curious chimp. He loves chasing and playing with his older brother but will always come back to the safety of mum. He is busy learning important skills like termite fishing and climbing but has to watch out for hunters in case they snatch him to be sold as a pet.”

Perth Zoo had chimpanzees at various times from at least 1927 until 1998, but the Zoo’s focus shifted to another great ape in 1968 with the arrival of Sumatran Orangutans.

The first birth was in 1970 and since then Perth Zoo has been a world leader in the breeding of this critically endangered species.

In addition, Perth Zoo does its part to save the species in the wild. We work with partners to protect orangutans, other wildlife and habitat in the Bukit Tigapuluh ecosystem in Sumatra, Indonesia.

From the Artists: “This vulnerable leopard is finally ready to follow his mother around. He has spent his life in his den with his brothers, playing and wrestling while his mother moves them from one safe spot to the next. He is completely dependent on her and will need to learn to hunt to be independent. His biggest threat is other leopards, habitat loss, and loss of prey.”

Perth Zoo cares for two other species of big cat – African Lions and Sumatran Tigers – as well as working to save these species in the wild.

For Sumatran Tigers, this is done through supporting the work of Wildlife Protection Units in Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, as well as partnering with TRAFFIC to combat the illegal wildlife trade.

For African Lions, we’ve helped fund anti-poaching patrol units and snare removal from the African landscape, as well as an education outreach program in South Luangwa National Park. In turn, these programs help conserve African Lions (and maybe Leopards too).

From the Artists: “This endangered Grevy’s Zebra is still very dependent on his mother and has just learnt her stripes so he doesn’t lose her. He still drinks her milk but is watching what she eats and where she goes to learn what to do and must stay in case any predators are looming. His species has lost more habitat than any African animal leaving only 2000 zebra.”

Perth Zoo’s zebra brothers, Zaafir and Kamalu, act as ambassadors for African wildlife, including the giraffe they share an exhibit with in the African Savannah.

Visitors to Perth Zoo have the opportunity to feed the giraffe, with a portion of every experience sold going to support the conservation of African animals in the wild.

From the Artists: “This little ball of white fluff is very curious to peak out one of the many entrances of his warm den. He has lots to learn before he can head out to the freezing outdoors by himself but he dedicates his time playing with his siblings and fattening up. He must be on the lookout for his biggest threats, the red fox and climate change.”

Much like the Arctic Fox, many of Australia’s wildlife are falling victim to the European Red Fox.

Perth Zoo is doing what it can to help reduce this decline. For quarter-of-a-century, Perth Zoo has run breeding programs to support the Species Recovery Plans for a range of native Western Australian animals.

Since 1992, more than 5,000 animals bred at Perth Zoo have been released into protected wild habitat to help secure a future for these species on the brink of extinction. These species include the Numbat, Western Swamp Tortoise, Dibbler and more.

From the Artists: “This endangered Bengal tiger is completely reliant on her mother. She won’t be able to hunt for another 6 months and will stay with the safety of mum until she is 2 or 3 playing and learning all she can. There are less than 2500 left of her kind with the main reasons being poaching habitat loss and fragmentation.”

Perth Zoo cares for the smallest of the tiger subspecies, the Sumatran Tiger, with resident male Jaya acting as an amazing ambassador for his critically endangered species.

To support the conservation of tigers in the wild, Perth Zoo funds the work of Wildlife Protection Units in Bukit Tigapuluh National Park. Information gathered by constant monitoring has helped to manage Bukit Tigapuluh’s animals and environment, protecting the animals from poachers and other illegal activity. In addition, partner with TRAFFIC to combat the illegal wildlife trade.

From the Artists: “This little boy still doesn’t know what his trunk is for. He loves swinging it around and sucking on it for comfort. He is completely dependent on his herd, needing lots of milk from his mum and protection from predators. If his mother is killed for her ivory tusks he will not survive. Because of poaching his kind is vulnerable with approximately 415,000 left.”

Perth Zoo’s Asian Elephants, Permai and Putra Mas, have been at the Zoo since 1992, acting as ambassadors for their cousins in the wild.

In partnership with Frankfurt Zoological Society, Perth Zoo contributes to the protection of the Bukit Tigapuluh Ecosystem, the site of one of the last remaining herds of Sumatran Elephants in the world.

Meanwhile, for their African cousins, Perth Zoo funds anti-poaching patrol units and snare removal from the African landscape, as well as an education outreach program in South Luangwa National Park.

From the Artists: “This baby cheetah loves learning to pounce. She and her siblings have been following their mother around everywhere she goes, watching what she does and practising on each other in a fun game of rough and tumble. She is listed as vulnerable and must be careful, there are many predators like lions and the worst, humans.”

Perth Zoo’s Cheetah left in 2015, but we still care for two other species of big cat – African Lions and Sumatran Tigers – as well as working to save these species in the wild.

For Sumatran Tigers, this is done through supporting the work of Wildlife Protection Units in Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, as well as partnering with TRAFFIC to combat the illegal wildlife trade.

For African Lions and other African species, we’ve helped fund anti-poaching patrol units and snare removal from the African landscape, as well as an education outreach program in South Luangwa National Park.

From the Artists: “This baby white rhino has just started to be weaned from her mother. She is still very dependent on her and will run to her at the sign of any threat. No predator, except humans, can get past her mum. Human beings are her only threat and the reason there are only 2 of her critically endangered northern cousins left.”

Perth Zoo’s Southern White Rhinos, Memphis and Bakari, advocate for and educate visitors on the threats facing rhinos in the wild, particularly as they are hunted for their horns.

Perth Zoo supports SAVE African Rhino Foundation, which is committed to on-ground action to stop poaching.

The Zoo also funds an anti-poaching patrol unit and snare removal from the African landscape, as well as an education outreach program in South Luangwa National Park.

From the Artists: “This big baby loves being in the water. When it gets a bit too deep, she can climb on mums back but can swim underwater if she gets hungry, mum is always ready with milk. She is threatened by predators such as crocodiles, lions, hyenas, and big male hippos and her vulnerable species have humans to blame for their shrinking habitat.”

Perth Zoo’s first hippopotamus arrived in 1928 and was named Nat, with hippopotamuses living at the Zoo at various times until 1980.

While we no longer care for this species, Perth Zoo does its part to protect African wildlife with the funding of an anti-poaching patrol unit and snare removal from the African landscape, as well as an education outreach program in South Luangwa National Park.

From the Artists: “This young joey is ready to explore her rocky world. She is starting to spend more time away from mum’s pouch and exploring every crevice, learning to navigate her harsh home. But she is at threat from foxes and dogs that were introduced by humans leaving some of her species endangered, so she’ll hide in mum’s pouch whenever things get a bit too scary!”

Perth Zoo cares for two species of wallaby in the Australian Bushwalk – Tammar Wallaby and Western Brush-wallaby – but our impact reaches much further. For quarter-of-a-century, Perth Zoo has run breeding programs to support the Species Recovery Plans for a range of native Western Australian animals.

Since 1992, more than 5,000 animals bred at Perth Zoo have been released into protected wild habitat to help secure a future for these species on the brink of extinction. These species include the Numbat, Western Swamp Tortoise, Dibbler and more.