Taronga Western Plains Zoo has swept the field at the recent Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australasia (ZAA) Awards, claiming two of the five gongs up for grabs at the gala event. 

Platypus Rescue HQ won the Large-Scale Exhibit Award, recognising significant advances in animal housing and exhibit design. 

The $12.1 million centre, co-funded by the NSW Government, Taronga Conservation Society Australia and philanthropic donors, is the largest purpose-built platypus conservation centre in the world combining a research centre, rescue and rehabilitation facilities and a pre-release area to prepare recovered platypus for release to the wild. 

The facility can house up to 65 rescued platypus in cases of environmental crisis such as drought, bushfires or floods. 

“We’re thrilled for Platypus Rescue HQ to have been recognised by our peers from across Australia and New Zealand, especially given the strength of the other nominees,” said Director Steve Hinks. 

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is leading the way in global efforts to protect the iconic Platypus and delivering an outstanding guest experience while we’re at it. 

“I’d urge everyone to come and see Platypus Rescue HQ for themselves.”

Taronga Western Plains Zoo was also the winner of the Conservation Award, with ZAA recognising the Zoo’s project to restore wild populations of Chuditch (western quolls) in NSW. 

The species was extinct in NSW until April 2024, when 16 Taronga-bred Chuditch were released into Sturt National Park with support from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and UNSW Sydney. This release has been supported with further reintroductions in November 2024 and April 2025. 

Taronga-bred Chuditch have been released to four different rewilding sites across three states since Taronga’s conservation breeding program commenced in 2022, thanks to a generous philanthropic donation from The Kinghorn Foundation. 

“Conservation milestones like this would not be possible without the support of our philanthropic donors and our guests,” Steve said. 

“Taronga is not-for-profit, which means every dollar spent at our two Zoos has the power to protect wildlife like Platypus and Chuditch.”

There was a highly competitive field of nominees for both awards, including Auckland Zoo’s Swamp Forest, Hamilton Zoo’s New Zealand Pest Impact Exhibit and Taronga Zoo’s Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Centre in the Exhibit Award category, and Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium’s Team Turtle (Rescue, Rehabilitation, Release), Melbourne Zoo’s Victorian Grassland Earless Dragons and Auckland Zoo’s Championing the Underlizard in the Conservation Award category. 

The ZAA Awards are among the most prestigious recognitions in the region and sector, acknowledging excellence in animal welfare, conservation and education.

Taronga Conservation Society Australia is a leader in the fields of conservation, research, animal welfare, wildlife rehabilitation and environmental education. 

Taronga is a not-for-profit organisation with an absolute commitment to conservation and securing a shared future for wildlife and people. Every dollar spent on tickets, encounters, tours, overnight stays, gifts or a Zoo Friends annual pass has the power to protect wildlife.

Platypus Rescue HQ is designed for platypus to live like they would in the wild, with a range of pool depths, waterfalls and earth burrows for each animal to choose from. Platypus can exhibit their natural behaviours that can also be monitored easily for research, welfare and conservation purposes. 

Taronga's research in this facility will help to fill knowledge gaps around platypus breeding, biology and genetics, as well as informing plans to support emergency rescue interventions. 

Guests are able to see conservation in action with this cryptic species as well as the deep connection First Nations communities have with platypus.

Taronga’s Chuditch conservation breeding program was established in 2022, thanks to a generous philanthropic donation from The Kinghorn Foundation. 

The program sees wild-caught Chuditch translocated to large, complex breeding habitats within the Taronga Sanctuary, a 110-hectare feral predator proof area behind the scenes of Taronga Western Plains Zoo on Wiradjuri Country near Dubbo.