Following the recent devastating bushfires across NSW, Taronga Conservation Society Australia has announced it will be giving away more than 20,000 complimentary tickets to eligible emergency responders and wildlife carers to visit Taronga Zoo Sydney and Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo throughout December.

Taronga Director Simon Duffy said, “Here at Taronga, we are indebted to the dedicated and selfless emergency services personnel, volunteers and wildlife carers who have gone above and beyond to save and protect people and wildlife across the state.

“We know this is only a small gesture, but we hope that we can welcome as many emergency responders as possible to our two zoos, to spend some much deserved time with their family and friends,” said Duffy.

The initiative will be open to emergency services personnel and volunteers including NSW Fire and Rescue, NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW Police, NSW State Emergency Services, Ambulance Service of NSW, Marine Rescue NSW and Volunteer Wildlife Carers.

Eligible responders will be able to register for themselves and up to three family or friends to visit either Taronga Zoo Sydney or Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Tickets will be available throughout the month with a daily allocation to manage volumes.

Taronga has also donated 500 family passes to St Vincent de Paul for those directly affected by the fires.

The ‘Taronga Says Thanks’ initiative has been kindly supported by ARA Group.

Tickets will be available to claim from Tuesday 26th November with eligible applicants encouraged to register at http://taronga.org.au/thanks.