About Us

The Royal Zoological Society of South Australia Inc is a non-profit society with more than 13,000 members and has always had as its Patron the Governor of South Australia. The Society, which was founded in 1878, has as its aim 'to assist the conservation of the natural diversity of life on Earth'.

The Society, through a nine member Board, administers two properties, Adelaide Zoo opened in 1883 and Monarto Zoo opened in October 1993. Revenue for maintaining these properties comes mainly from gate receipts, fundraising through sponsorship programs and an annual State Government grant through the Department of Enviornment and Heritage. With our wildlife vanishing at an increasing rate, never has there been a greater need for the efforts of zoos and the need for them to co-operate with other zoos and wildlife agencies on a world-wide basis.

The Royal Zoological Society of South Australia Inc is also known among zoos worldwide as playing a key role in conservation of species and research, and manages, or is involved with, many important conservation programs in Australia and throughout the world. These projects include the return of Wild Horses to Mongolia, Golden Lion Tamarins to South America, Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies to the Flinders Rangers and Bilbies to South Australian islands, to mention but a few. The zoo is also involved in the conservation of endangered birds, such as the Black-eared Miner and Hooded Plover and reptiles such as the Pygmy Blue-tongue Lizard and Woma Python.

The Mission of the RZSSA is to assist the conservation of the natural diversity of the life on earth through:

• Conservation Education – to promote awareness and understanding of animals, habitats and conservation and to engender positive attitudes
• Animal Management – To manage captive populations of animals scientifically, with particular emphasis on threatened species for conservation, education, recreation and research purposes
• Research – To conduct and facilitate research on animals both in captivity and in the wild, with particular emphasis on threatened species
• Recreation – To provide enjoyment and enrichment for visitors through close contact with living things
• Resource Management – to ensure maintenance of appropriate resources to achieve the above

This will be achieved through dedicated staff and volunteers supported by first class facilities in a complex of modern zoological facilities, both in the near metropolitan area and in the field.

The Vision of the RZSSSA is for one that will continue to play an important role in the lives of South Australians and visitors by bringing both pleasure and education to them. At the same time, the Society, through its two properties, outreach education and skilled staff, will contribute in an ever-increasing way to the conservation of threatened species. This work will be backed by facilities which are appropriate for 21st century zoos in a modern city and state.