Even in an era of ubiquitous screens and the availability of 24 hour digital entertainment there is a unique pleasure to be found in visiting Taronga and Western Plain Zoos. While not having the instantly recognizable iconic status of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, the harbourside zoo is deeply woven into the fabric of this city.

Corroboree Frog at Taronga Zoo. Part of a near extinct animals replenishment program. Credit:Taronga Zoo/Gary Ramage

And nothing quite lights up a child’s eyes like getting close to living creatures which he or she may have only seen previously in books, cartoons or nature programs. That joy is infectious, able to reawaken our own capacity for wonder at the myriad forms which life on earth can take.

But zoos do more than provide entertainment for curious humans. They are centres of research, and scientific inquiry and of education about the importance of preserving animal habitats. They do vital work in helping to preserve endangered species. Sometimes they are the only hope left for creatures at risk.

Taronga Zoo is at the forefront of that work, spending more than $10 million annually on a range of conservation, biodiversity and educational and awareness raising projects.