Zoo’s, Adelaide

 Frome Rd, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia +61 8 8267 3255 Website 9:30am – 5pm Adelaide Campervan Hire

candiddad (contributor)

Adelaide Zoo is not that large – it’s a city zoo within easy walking distance of the central business district – but it is well worth a visit.

The biggest draws are of course Wang Wang and Funi, the only giant pandas in the Southern Hemisphere. There is a large area devoted to the panda exhibit, and keeper talks are informative about pandas in general as well as the personal foibles of Wang Wang and Funi. Funi, who was a mascot for the Beijing Olympics, is something of a diva, apparently.

As visitors to Australia we were also interested in the native wildlife, particularly the wombat and the Tasmanian devils, which we would not have an opportunity to see when we visited Kangaroo Island later.

Other animals at the zoo include giraffe, lion, meerkat, lemur, squirrel monkey, penguin, chameleon and hippo.

One particular oddity about this zoo is the way that the toilet block is built into the parrot enclosure. It’s slightly unnerving to go about your business under the beady eye of a hyacinth macaw or cockatoo.

Open from 9.30 to 5.00 p.m. every day. Entry costs $32 for an adult, $18 for a child or $85 for a family of two adults and up to three children. Or if you are going to visit the sister zoo, Monarto Zoo, you can save by buying a two zoo pass.

mousellinebox (contributor)

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT THE MOST VENOMOUS SNAKE IN THE WORLD LOOKS LIKE, THAT JUST HAPPENS TO LIVE IN AUSTRALIA?

Well, here at the Adelaide Zoo, they have a good collection of Snakes and other reptiles.

The Australian Inland Taipan is on display, a Snake with the most toxic venom of any land snake in the world.
One bite from this fellow is enough to kill about 100 humans, or 250,000 mice! Luckily, he isn’t seen very often, so there hasn’t been any fatalities recorded, though it could potentially kill an adult human within 45 minutes.

The second most deadly in the World is also Australian, and quite common, infact, I often see 2 – 3 each summer in my garden. It is the EASTERN BROWN SNAKE
Just 1/14,000 of an ounce of its venom is enough to kill an adult human. This Snake is fast moving, aggressive under certain circumstances and has been known to chase aggressors and repeatedly strike at them. Even juveniles can kill a human. They react only to movement, so stand very still if you ever encounter one in the wild.
For me, it was interesting to see the Green Anoconda who enjoys a meal of one dead rabbit every four to eight weeks.

The collection they have is excellent, the displays are well done, and it’s definitely worth a visit.

dressbarney (contributor)

In 2008, Zoos SA signed a cooperative agreement with China to help secure the long term survival of Giant Pandas.
On 12 May 2008, the Wenchuan earthquake devastated the Sichuan province in China. The quake destroyed the Wolong Giant Panda Research Centre, which was home to around 280 Giant Pandas including Wang Wang and Funi. Wang Wang’s mum, Mao Mao, did not survive the quake. Funi has a twin brother called Fuwa.

Wang Wang, born on 31/08/05, is very laid-back and a placid boy. He loves to sleep!
Funi, born on 23/08/06, is very active and playful and often makes excited mewing noises at feeding time. She is also very intelligent, curious and loves to explore.

Wang Wang and Funi now call Adelaide Zoo home. This was our main reason for coming to the Zoo.
Lucky for us, we were early, and there were less than a dozen people at the exhibiit.
Another bit of luck, was both the Panda’s were in the outdoor area of their compound, enjoying some activity. They were moving around, eating, and NOT SLEEPING! It was great!
A volunteer is on hand to answer any questions you may have.
It really was an excellent exhibit, very well done, with plenty of viewing area.

The entry to the Panda exhibit is included in the general entry price.
Wang Wang and Funi are the only Giant Pandas in the Southern Hemisphere and the first to live permanently in Australia.

They are lovely, and a must see

gaffpare (contributor)

Adelaide Zoo first opened on 23 May 1883. The Zoo was named the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia after a Royal Charter was granted by King George VI in 1937.

The Adelaide Zoo has changed over the years. Instead of Cages, most of the species are grouped together as they would be in the wild, with the enviroment how they are used too. This makes it much more enjoyable for the animals and the viewers.

I found Birds were still mainly in cages, and one of the few that have remained in the same place, are the Flamingo’s, still where they were in 1885, with two of the original Flamingos still alive!

I loved the new Asian Aviary Boardwalk. Here, I could stand and watch the White Cheeked Gibbons, Langurs, Siamangs and Malaysian Tapirs and more, just like they were in the wild.
When you see the lovely vegetation and setting these animals are residing in, I couldn’t help but think how lucky they were!

arraylily (contributor)

If you love the zoo then you will get a kick out of the new behind the scenes tour. Several to choose from and they range in price from about $40 to $400. Its a great way for the zoo to raise money & the tour guides said they have several people everyday. We did the Big Cat one. It was really exciting! We went behind the lion & tigers enclosures to release them from their sleeping quarters. We stood only a few feet and although there was a cage between us my heart still speed up. At one stage the tiger made eye contact & gave me several roaring warnings to back away. He then swiped the cage with his enormous claws. Needless to say I backed away!

If you love and respect animals then this is a great way to have a unique experience that is both positive for you and the animal – unlike those awful places that drug them, pull them around in chains, allow tourists to lie all over them before retuning them to some hideous enclosure. The tiger at Adelaide zoo was once kept in a private zoo. His life was a very miserable one. His teeth were filed down and his living enclosure was bad. His was abused. The keeper told us that if you put a crate in his enclosure he will walk straight into it. This is not the behaviour of a healthy tiger. But now he lives in Adelaide and has a brand new enclosure that allows him to wander around & even hide from the public eye if he wishes. He ever has a heated rock for sunbathing, a swimming pool & in the sky above him he can see orangutans swinging from his closure to theirs. Its not the jungle but then again hes not some rich wankers toy anymore.

Money raised goes to improving the zoo. Well spent!
On the tour we were given lots of info on the cats. Toured the keepers work area. Were shown the mechanics of the enclosures. Explored the area (It was great the touch a huge tiger paw print left in the sand). We released the cats. Feed the lions & see the gibbons show off to their keeper. I had a ball!

Available Days Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday. Time 8.30am
Length 1 hour Cost $135pp

saharapeso (contributor)

“POP-EYE” is the name of a Boat that cruises Torrens Lake and the Torrens River.
These Boats have been operating as long as I can remember.
It doesn’t matter whether you are an Adult or a Child, you will enjoy this way of reaching the Adelaide Zoo.

POP-EYE operates on Weekends, during school holidays, and on public holidays.
The Cruise is about 40mins.
DEPARTURE……ELDER PARK, which is below the Festival Theatre..

In Summer, Cruises depart on the hour, Monday to Friday 10 – 4pm
Weekends 10 – 4pm Every half hour
Saturday & Sunday…. 10am to 4pm Winter ( June to August) 10 – 4pm Every half hour.

COST IN 2012….
Round Trip: $12 Adults / $6 Children under 16
Elder Park to Zoo – one way: $8 Adults / $4 Children under 16
Zoo to Elder Park – one way: $4 Adults / $2 Children under 16

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