News

As an aquatic ecosystem and marine animal expert, Adelaide Zoo Curator Mark Smith certainly knows a thing or two about sea lions. He shares below how we came to our recent decision of keeping beloved Australian Sea Lions Ady and…

Nearly 13 weeks since it closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Adelaide Zoo is excited to announce that it will reopen its gates on Monday, 22 June 2020 reuniting animals with wildlife and conservation lovers. Monarto Safari Park will open…

Three of Adelaide Zoo’s Mandrills have received a health check from Zoos SA’s dedicated vets “We had the three females Mayombe, Moabi and Niari in our Animal Health Centre to carry out a general health check. We do this about…

Zoos SA saddened that it will not reopen under current suggested restrictions Zoos SA would like to provide an update about Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park’s potential reopening. After careful consultation with the State’s Transition Committee, we find ourselves…

Three adorable nine-week-old Small-clawed Otters pups have aced their first health check at Adelaide Zoo this morning – on World Otter Day! A day that aims to raise awareness of the plight of otters. The three otter pups underwent the…

Every five-year-old wants a party on their birthday, COVID-19 restrictions or not,  and things were no different for Obi, Adelaide Zoo’s Pygmy Hippopotamus, who turned five on the 25 May. In the absence of any visitors, keepers lined the enclosure…

We might be closed to the public but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing happening at Adelaide Zoo! Many of you will know that we have been working tirelessly to train our giraffe Kimya to enter and feel comfortable in the…

There’s certainly no shortage of amazing mothers at Adelaide Zoo and our sister site, Monarto Safari Park. From Husani patiently raising her rollicking African Lion cubs to otter mum Kalaya welcoming three new pups to the family, there’s plenty of…

Zoos SA is saddened to announce the passing of Brutus, Adelaide Zoo’s much-loved Hippopotamus who has been at Adelaide Zoo for 45 years. The 54-year-old Hippopotamus was humanely put to sleep on Thursday after his condition deteriorated. One of the zoo’s…

Celebrating and farewelling Adelaide Zoo’s last Hippopotamus ‘Brutus’, 18 May 1965 – 7 May 2020 Written by Matt Golebiowski with contributions made by Henryk Maddon, Mary Johnson, Amy Nelson, Heather Guy, Kat Moore, Shontel Barton, Liza Moser, Nathan Langley, Jade…

Giant Pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni were in for an eggs-travaganza this afternoon as their keepers spoilt them with extra special treats to celebrate Easter. Adelaide Zoo’s dedicated keepers and amazing BEEZA (Behavioural and Environmental Enrichment for Zoo Animals)…

We have some otterly exciting news to share – three new Asian Small-clawed Otter pups have been born at Adelaide Zoo! The trio were born on Tuesday, March 24 and were found sleeping in their den by delighted keepers. These…

Our latest update includes details about our catering partners and the latest information regarding our animal experiences and behind-the-scenes tours. Catering update • From Friday 20th March Quality Catering will operate Fig Tree Café at Adelaide Zoo instead of Wisteria…

We would like to update all our visitors about the efforts Zoos SA is making with regards to the Coronavirus and the health and safety of our guests, staff, visitors and of course, our wonderful animals. In this fast-changing environment…

Zoos SA is committed to the health and safety of our guests, volunteers and staff We would like to assure all our guests, volunteers and staff that Zoos SA (Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park) will continue to follow the…

Adelaide Zoo’s two Spotted Hyaenas will be returning to Monarto Safari Park to rejoin the regional breeding program after spending the last 20 months in the city. Father-and-son hyaena duo, 16-year-old Gamba and four-year-old Mkoko arrived from Monarto Safari Park…

This month’s International Women’s Day comes hot on the heels of another lesser known, but equally as important, International Day of Women and Girls in Science. As an organisation with a strong female presence, we are in a great position…

A Leap Day only happens once every four years but boy is that extra day of fun worth the wait. To celebrate a ‘bonus day’ in our calendars, Zoos SA is inviting you to spend it seeing conservation in action…

Hahndorf’s Ambleside Distillers is to sell a limited 600 bottles of Kifaru Gin with all profits going to rhino conservation and the recovery and rehabilitation of bushfire affected wildlife via Zoos SA. “We are very happy to be working once…

Adelaide Zoo keepers and vets recently had their hands full when a rather long animal resident visited the Animal Health Centre! Mrs Dashwood, an almost-three-metre-long Green Anaconda, had a visit with the vet to make sure she was in tip…

When he’s not teaching at High School, Zoos SA photographer Adrian Mann loves to spend time capturing images of the animals at both Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park. As featured in the Sunday Mail, (19 January 2020) Adrian has…

Since these catastrophic bushfires first gripped our country, it’s estimated by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) that we’ve lost well over one billion animals. The animals that have survived now face an incredibly tough time ahead, having to…

A koala rescued from the Cudlee Creek fire grounds had their bandages changed and burns treated at Adelaide Zoo this morning. Touchingly known as Four Paws because of how many of her paws were injured in the blaze, the Southern…

Ecologists estimate we’ve lost over one billion Australian animals – mammals, birds and reptiles – since the catastrophic blazes gripping the country began, with untold others sick, injured, suffering and displaced. The animals that have survived now face a tough time ahead, having…

Zoo keepers had a surprise Christmas delivery today as Santa arrived bearing gifts for a few of the animals on this year’s ‘nice’ list. Rather than Christmas delivery by reindeer (which would have broken the zoo’s strict quarantine rules), Santa…

It’s Christmas, friends! The year is almost over and we’d like to say a huge thank you to our incredible wild family for helping us connect more people than ever before to nature and continue to save amazing species from…

Aonika the 43-year-old Aldabra Giant Tortoise getting a bubble bath. A colony of adorable Little Penguins enjoying their fishy lunch. Vets inspecting the health of a spiky South Australian scorpion. What do these fun and fascinating scenes have in common?…

Adelaide Zoo’s animals received a host of icy enrichment today and will throughout the week to help them keep cool during this week’s forecast hot spell. Keepers were busy delivering icy treats to the tapir, capybara, otters, hyena, meerkats, baboons…

Have you spotted the newest ball of fluff to join the Golden Lion-tamarin troop yet? Welcomed to experienced parents Roscoe and Arella in September, the young tamarin cutie has been busy exploring the tamarin tunnels with the rest of the…

The full run of the 50m Colobus Crossing at Adelaide Zoo has opened, meaning the Colobus troop can get up to more monkey business. No sooner was the full length of Colobus Crossing opened than the Colobus rushed along the…

It’s the beary good news the whole of Australia has been waiting for. The agreement between Adelaide Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association has been signed, thereby extending the loan of Giant Pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni for…

Zoos SA has today announced new plans for two of its giraffes: Kimya from Adelaide Zoo and Eyelean from Monarto Safari Park. “Over the past few months keepers have worked tirelessly training Kimya to enter a trailer so that she…

Adelaide Zoo is celebrating after coming out on top at the 2019 South Australian Tourism Awards, claiming the Major Tourist Attraction of the Year for the third year and winning a place in the prestigious Hall of Fame. Held last night at…

Snow White, Bashful and Sneezy, three of Adelaide’s adorable meerkat mob, visited Adelaide Zoo’s Animal Health Centre today for a meerkat health check. Meerkat health check: The trio were measured, weighed, had blood samples taken, x-rays and even a nail…

If you’ve visited Adelaide Zoo lately, you might have seen some fascinating training sessions taking place in our Giraffe House. We’re currently undertaking training with Kimya, our fifteen-year-old Giraffe, to get her ready for her move to her new home…

Have you heard the news? The Children’s Variety Zoo is open and ready for you to swing open the gates and take a gander! The Children’s Variety Zoo is our brand new space where kids and adults can learn all…

Mums, Dads, grandparents and carers state-wide will throw their arms up in delight as Adelaide Zoo opens its brand new, Variety Children’s Zoo – perfectly timed to coincide with the start of the school holidays! The Variety Children’s Zoo, which…

There’s a new, rather long-nosed face at Adelaide Zoo – meet Arturo the Brazilian Tapir! Arturo arrived to his new home on Tuesday, 27 August after travelling from Melbourne Zoo. Adelaide Zoo Keeper Arliah Hayward said it was very exciting…

With spring around the corner, we wanted to update you on our plans for the upcoming Giant Panda breeding season. You might recall our announcement in April this year, where the South Australian Government committed to funding the Giant Pandas…

There are two new reptiles in town and everyone ‘nose’ this species is turtle-y awesome! Last month, Adelaide Zoo became home to two adorable male Pig-nosed Turtles named Nitmi and Mirdawarr. This interesting freshwater species gets its name thanks to its…

Hip hip hooray, it’s our hyaena’s special day! Today, Adelaide Zoo keepers treated resident hyaena Gamba to some special enrichment to celebrate his 16th birthday. To mark the special day, Gamba and his son Mkoko were presented with a birthday…

It’s no secret that plastic is wreaking havoc on our wildlife. We’re sure you’ve heard the horrifying statistics: 95% of packaging is discarded after a single use; 85% of Australian seabirds are affected by plastic pollution; by 2050 the ocean…

The Adelaide Zoo vet team gave Tabah the Mandrill a thorough physical examination when he visited the Animal Health Centre today! This morning, the 14-year-old male underwent a general anesthetic while vets gave him a  health check, took comprehensive blood tests,…

Our otter pups have been busy stealing the hearts of visitors and keepers alike over their first few months of life. From their first health check to their first swims and all the milestones in between, it’s been SO special…

Adelaide Zoo’s two Spotted Hyaenas Gamba and Mkoko have had a visit with the vet! The father and son duo both had a general anesthetic while they were given a full-body examination. Both hyaenas underwent thorough health checks with a…

Two of our furry friends had a visit with the vet today at Adelaide Zoo! Elle the Pygmy Marmoset and Buna the Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo spent the morning in the Animal Health Centre for a check-up and ultrasound. Elle was…

There’s been loads of monkey business at Adelaide Zoo thanks to a very special joint birthday party! This week, celebrations have been in full swing for the squirrel monkey bachelor group as they partied for Cheche’s seventh birthday and Benito’s…

Adelaide Zoo’s Small-clawed otter pups enjoyed their very first water-based enrichment challenge today! At 3-months-old, the pups have quickly become strong swimmers as they follow mum Kalaya and dad Bao around their habitat. This morning, keepers presented the family of…

Hip hippo hooray, it’s a very special day! Today, Adelaide Zoo is celebrating a birthday – Obi the lovable pygmy hippo is turning four years old. To mark the special milestone, keepers have pulled out all the stops to spoil…

It’s been three days since the incredible primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall visited Adelaide Zoo and our sister zoo Monarto Zoo and it’s safe to say we’re still buzzing. With nearly 60 years of experience under her belt, it’s no surprise…