Name: Arliah
How long have you been at Adelaide Zoo and what animals do you work with?
I’ve been working at Adelaide Zoo since 2009. In addition to working the Giant Pandas and Red Pandas, I also work with the other carnivores, which includes the big cats and sea lions.
How long have you been working with the Giant Pandas?
I’ve worked with the pandas for three years.
What is your favourite thing about Fu Ni?
I love her tree climbing ability, no matter how skinny the tree she’ll still attempt to climb it and then try and break the branches! I think it’s also amazing that she can head to the top of the big oak tree find a comfy spot and fall asleep for hours.
What is your favourite thing about Wang Wang?
I love his affectionate side, especially when he comes up to the mesh and leans in for a scratch. Something he doesn’t do for just anybody! It’s a special moment when he shares his affectionate side with us in addition to his manly side when he will throw around a tyre or plastic tub and charge around like a big dominant male.
What’s your funniest or favourite Giant Panda moment?
One of my favourite Giant Panda moments happened during the 2015 breeding season, which was when both Wang Wang and Fu Ni were up the big oak tree together. Fu Ni was showing a natural female behavior of heading up a tree to wait for her male suitor and Fu Ni is quiet agile and can climb very high. Male Giant Pandas are not built for climbing so Wang Wang was doing his best to climb as high as Fu Ni and find a comfortable position to wait for Fu Ni. Wang Wang’s exit from the tree was also far from graceful!
