Attractions

Adelaide Zoo is Australia’s second oldest zoo (after Melbourne Zoo), and the only major metropolitan zoo in Australia to be owned and operated on a non-profit basis. It is located in the parklands just north of the city centre of Adelaide, South Australia. It is administered by the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia Incorporated (trading as Zoos SA) which is a full institutional member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). and which also administers the Monarto Zoo near Murray Bridge.

The zoo houses about 300 native and exotic species, with over 1,800 animals on site.  The zoo’s most recent enclosures are in the second phase of the South-East Asia exhibit, known as Immersion, providing visitors with the experience of walking through the jungle, with Sumatran tigers and orangutans seemingly within reach.

Five buildings within the zoo have been listed as state heritage places on the South Australian Heritage Register including the front entrance on Frome Road and the former Elephant House. The zoo is also a botanical garden and the grounds contain significant exotic and native flora, including a Moreton Bay fig planted in 1877. (Source wikipedia)

Adelaide Zoo first opened on 23 May 1883, occupying 6.5 hectares (16 acres) (now 8 hectares (20 acres)) of land granted by the Government. It was founded by the South Australian Acclimatization and Zoological Society. The society later became the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia after a Royal Charter was granted by King George VI in 1937.

The first director of the zoo (from 1882 to 1893) was R. E. Minchin. He was succeeded by his son A. C. Minchin (from 1893 to 1934), and grandson R. R. L. Minchin (from 1935 to 1940). Another grandson, Alfred Keith Minchin ran the (private) Koala Farm in the North Parklands 1936–1960; the surplus koalas were set free on Kangaroo Island.

In the mid-twentieth century the zoo was involved in the export of live birds, with 99% of Australia’s exports of live native birds, mainly finches and parrots for aviculture, passing through either Adelaide or Taronga zoos.

The modern zoo has moved away from the traditional housing of species separately in pairs. Now species are grouped together as they would be in the wild, in exhibits that are carefully planned according to region. Enclosures have been designed with the needs of the animals in mind, providing a more natural habitat, which also serves an educational purpose for visitors. Although some of the zoo’s heritage listed enclosures such as the Elephant House have been retained, they are no longer used to house animals; (the Elephant House now has educational signs).

The flamingo exhibit was opened in 1885, and is one of the few to have remained in the same position to date. Originally it was stocked with 10 flamingos, however most died during a drought in 1915. In 2014, one of two surviving flamingos in the exhibit, thought to be the oldest in the world at 83 years of age, died.  The remaining Chilean flamingo at Adelaide zoo is now the only flamingo in Australia.

The zoo has a particular focus on species from the Gondwana ‘supercontinent’ which was made up of South America, India, Africa, Australia and South East Asia. The botanic similarities between the regions are featured in the zoo’s main exhibits, which include a South East Asian Rainforest, and Australian Rainforest Wetlands walk-through aviary. The South East Asian exhibit combines Sumatran orangutan and siamang together. It also combines Malayan tapir and dusky leaf monkey together. In the past, in fact almost to the present day, Adelaide Zoo was famous for having the best bird collection and display of all the Australian zoos.

The zoo also has a focus on educational programs. There is a selection of “get to know the zoo” type of tours, a large “children’s zoo” area, and from April 2009, an educational area for secondary school students and their teachers. Schools can hire the facility and groups can sleep there, with a member from the zoo supervising. Also, a new educational area called the Envirodome opened in April 2009. Night walks, tours and animal research can be done. More information on the educational programs can be found on the zoo’s web site. (Source Wikipedia)

Adelaide Zoo Meercats

Adelaide Zoo’s meerkat mob that lives in front of our giraffe habitat consists of a father and his seven offspring. The group is very social and always has one or two sentries on duty keeping watch over the group. The meerkat mob is one of the most watched animals at the zoo, our meerkats can often by seen foraging for food, basking in the sun or digging tunnels in their exhibit. by nature are very inquisitive and enjoying exploring new things, especially enrichment items designed to keep the group physically and mentally stimulated. Their favourite treat is insects and they love anything meaty!

On the other side of the zoo, near the sea lions, we house another meerkat mob that consists of one male and three females. Elvis is easily distinguishable from the girls, Priscilla, Ginger and Linda, as he is the smallest meerkat in the group. But that doesn’t bother the girls! They all compete for his attention regularly, unless it’s feeding time when they tend to steal his food as he is the slowest eater of the lot.