Are you passionate about wildlife, nature and conservation? The Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation (Taronga) is a one-of-a-kind degree that combines scientific knowledge and hands-on experience to prepare you for tackling global biodiversity challenges.
This program is delivered by leading researchers and conservation professionals from two renowned institutions – The University of Sydney and Taronga Conservation Society Australia – giving you direct access to cutting-edge knowledge, facilities, and practice. The result: a truly immersive educational experience.
Here are six reasons why you should study the Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation (Taronga).
When I read that there was a degree literally called "Wildlife Conservation," it felt like it was made for me. It just made perfect sense.
Student
Wildlife conservation is about more than just saving animals. It's about monitoring and preserving biodiversity, restoring habitats, and developing innovative solutions to ensure healthy ecosystems for future generations.
The Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation (Taronga) gives you the knowledge and skills to tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. For example, you will gain hands-on experience studying wild kangaroos and wallabies, evaluating their health and welfare, and developing strategies for long-term monitoring. You’ll also explore Taronga’s role in reef recovery and their innovative CryoDiversity bank, which stores and cares for over 30 species of frozen coral cells, making it the largest coral bank in the world, until they are needed to re-seed the reef.
Learn directly from professionals leading wildlife conservation efforts across the country, including renowned conservation biologists from the University of Sydney and conservation practitioners from Taronga Conservation Society Australia. You’ll gain real-world insights from those actively working on the front lines of wildlife protection, both in Australia and globally.
Professor Catherine Herbert is an expert in wildlife management at the University of Sydney. She works directly with conservation organisations and government agencies to develop innovative solutions to manage human-wildlife interactions to improve the welfare of kangaroos, possums and other marsupials.
Dr Justine O’Brien is the Manager of Conservation Science at Taronga Conservation Society. As a reproductive biologist, she guides critical research to improve captive breeding programs and safeguard endangered wildlife from extinction.
Many wildlife conservation roles involve fieldwork in beautiful, remote, and ecologically rich environments, perfect for those who love the outdoors!
Throughout your three-year degree, you’ll spend time learning in nature, using Taronga’s facilities as a “living laboratory” and visiting diverse field sites including:
You’ll learn skills that directly contribute to saving threatened and endangered species, restoring habitats, and influencing conservation policy. You’ll become skilled in scientific practice in zoology, ecology and animal biology, while gaining valuable research and data analysis skills through hands-on research projects.
You’ll also delve into how science informs conservation through topics such as conservation and population genetics, animal behaviour and welfare, wildlife health and conservation biology.
This degree blends these core scientific disciplines with environmental policy, stakeholder management and sustainability, so that graduates can use scientific methods to develop effective conservation strategies.
I have the privilege of working with people from all kinds of backgrounds and getting to support their passion for wildlife.
Wildlife conservation alumna, Research and Conservation Officer at Taronga Zoo
Conservation is a global effort. Graduates of the Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation (Taronga) are prepared to lead conservation efforts, influence policy, and inspire change. Your degree can open doors to work in:
It really is the best of both worlds! With access to the University of Sydney’s state-of-the-art facilities, and Taronga’s Institute of Science and Learning, you’ll gain an exceptional breadth of experience across both institutions.
But this degree is more than just an educational journey. We actively nurture the student experience, promoting a sense of community in a shared learning environment where you’ll build life-long connections.
Simply put, you’ll be learning in one of the most dynamic and supportive environments in Australia!
