Hurry in to Adelaide Zoo to check out the latest inhabitants of Elephant House
For more than 20 years, a group of dedicated Adelaide Zoo volunteers have been helping to unravel the wonders of the animal kingdom.
The Cadaver Corps volunteer group plays a very unique role at the Zoo, helping to preserve the remains of some of our most remarkable animals so they can continue to educate the public about our important conservation work.
Here at Adelaide Zoo, we’re home to an impressive collection of animal skeletons. Now on display at Elephant House are the skeletons of a Pygmy Hippopotamus and Hamadryas Baboon. These animals were lovingly cared for by the keepers until old age caught up with them and they now have new lives as ambassadors for their species to promote preservation and conservation.
Both these specimens were reconstructed by Cadaver Corps at Adelaide Zoo. This unique group is believed to be the only one of its kind in Australia and possibly the only volunteer group world-wide converting deceased animals into educational specimens.
Also currently on display in the Elephant House are the legs, neck, skull and shoulder blade of a very large male Giraffe. See how you measure up next to these gentle giants with a display that cross-references the joints of the Giraffe legs compared to a human skeleton.
Adelaide Zoo has well over 1000 artifacts in our current collection ranging in size from the tiny skull of a Pygmy Possum, to the large skull of a Bison and skins from many Australian native species and exotic animals from all over the world. Each one takes many hours of meticulous preparation before being ready to go on display. How exciting to have the chance to pat a Cheetah or marvel at the tiny feathers of a Penguin!
You can get up close and personal with many of these creatures preserved by Cadaver Corps on touch tables regularly seen around the Zoo and they are also an important tool in our school education programs.
Monarto Zoo is also home to some impressive specimens including a full Giraffe skeleton on display in the Visitor Centre.
Make sure you visit Elephant House on your next visit to Adelaide Zoo and check out the latest display!
Cadaver Corps preservation group
Adelaide Zoo
