On World Environment Day, Taronga Sydney is launching its first ever Taronga Giving Day appeal, with the hopes of fundraising the final three per cent for a new Taronga Wildlife Hospital in Sydney. All donations across Thursday 5 June will be quadrupled by Taronga's dollar matching partners.

Built in the 1970s, Taronga's current hospital is operating beyond capacity, treating over 125 animals each month. The new hospital will provide expanded surgical, rehabilitation, and quarantine facilities to meet this growing demand.

Taronga Zoo Sydney's Senior Veterinarian, Dr Kimberly Vinette Herrin, said "The new Taronga Wildlife Hospital will be a leading facility in Australia; training the next generation of vets, nurses and wildlife carers to future-proof Australian wildlife."

“Our current facility already treats and cares for ~125 native species each month. The new Wildlife Hospital will be better placed for treating wildlife and make an even greater difference.”

On Giving Day every dollar donated will be quadrupled, thanks to a matching gift initiative. This means a $1 donation will have the impact of $4, amplifying the support for wildlife care and conservation efforts.

The new hospital in Sydney will include: 

• A marine recovery centre with specialised sea water pools
• Modern surgical facilities, intensive care unit and rehabilitation spaces
• Increased quarantine facilities for wildlife seized from illegal trade
• An advanced pathology lab for onsite analysis and testing
• Public viewing galleries inside Taronga Zoo Sydney for educational purposes. 

As a specialist teaching hospital, it will offer training for veterinary practitioners, wildlife carers, and students, enhancing the capacity to respond to wildlife crises and improving the state’s wildlife rehabilitation capabilities. 

“If we don't act now, we're going to see the extinction crisis Australia already faces become even more desperate when the next catastrophic environmental incident hits,” explained Dr Kimberly Vinette Herrin. 

Guests to Taronga Zoo Sydney will have the opportunity to witness veterinary procedures and animal health checks through the hospital’s viewing galleries, fostering a deeper connection with wildlife and conservation efforts. 

To donate, visit give.taronga.org.au/giving-day