Sydney TAFE is partnering with Taronga Zoo at their annual fundraising gala dinner to celebrate the Zoo's centenary.

This year's gala will be transformed into an extravagant animal masquerade ball, hosted at the iconic Sydney Town Hall.

Taronga is working determinedly to help threatened species to breed, protecting their genetic diversity and even re-introducing them into the wild. The Zoo aims to be a centre for conservation excellence and through its work, hopes to inspire individuals and communities.

Sydney TAFE Students were asked by Taronga to create animal inspired masks for auction at this year's gala ball. The students visited the Zoo for inspiration. They returned to their classrooms to turn what they had been into spectacular masks.

The Vanishing Species Masquerade Ball aims to raise $250,000. This will be vital funding for declining species. The Zoo hopes to reinvigorate conservation efforts to preserve these unique and irreplaceable animals before time runs out and we lose these precious creatures forever.This project has been a fantastic industry collaboration between Sydney TAFE students and the Zoo.