Adelaide Zoo Adelaide Zoo News 2023

Not news, but just wanted to say today was my first time visiting Adelaide Zoo since I was 14 (quite a while ago now).

I just have to say that I was blown away. It is an utterly charming, and beautiful zoo! Absolutely loved the experience.

I read that the updated masterplan is a disappointment, (not having seen a prior version) but I do think it will update the few remaining outdated exhibits.

Truly one of my favourite zoo visits I've had
 
The Sleepy Hippo said:
Not news, but just wanted to say today was my first time visiting Adelaide Zoo since I was 14 (quite a while ago now).

I just have to say that I was blown away. It is an utterly charming, and beautiful zoo! Absolutely loved the experience.

I read that the updated masterplan is a disappointment, (not having seen a prior version) but I do think it will update the few remaining outdated exhibits.

Truly one of my favourite zoo visits I've had
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I’m glad you enjoyed your visit. It’s a good zoo and has a reasonable sized collection considering the size of the site.

The revised masterplan references many of the previous plans and I know many of us feel a sense of frustration reading how plans to build gorilla complexes have been scrapped in favour of a generic Savannah etc.

Like many zoos in the region, Adelaide is undertaking large scale phase outs of exotics. While I understand there’s a need to create larger exhibits - especially for those who have extremely outdated enclosures (e.g. the lions), I believe the previous masterplan did a much better job of complementing the collection at Monarto - establishing numerous points of difference.

So Adelaide will have the largest giraffe exhibit of any city zoo? Cool. Or people could travel 45 minutes and see them roam acres at Monarto. The main zoos in the region are becoming increasingly homogenised in what they hold - and now instead of holding Sri Lankan leopard, Komodo dragon and Mandrill; Adelaide is planning for a generic Savannah, a small bachelor pride of lions, bigger otter/gibbon exhibits and three tiger exhibits instead of two.
 
I could definitely see both the Giraffes and Lions moving to Monarto.
(Obviously not the case)
According to my tour guide originally they were to be phased out, as the two they have are a non-greeding pair, and elderly. Beautiful mane on the male!

Was shocking to see just how tiny the historic polar bear enclosure was, and that if was occupied apparently up until the early 90s!

Loved the colobus and tamarin aerial paths! The baby colobus was delightful

Only caught a fleeting glimpse of one of the tiger cubs.
 
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The Sleepy Hippo said:
I could definitely see both the Giraffes and Lions moving to Monarto.
(Obviously not the case)
According to my tour guide originally they were to be phased out, as the two they have are a non-greeding pair, and elderly. Beautiful mane on the male!

Was shocking to see just how tiny the historic polar bear enclosure was, and that if was occupied apparently up until the early 90s!

Loved the colobus and tamarin aerial paths! The baby colobus was delightful

Only caught a fleeting glimpse of one of the tiger cubs.
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Their lioness is one of the oldest lions in Australasia. She was born at Auckland Zoo in May 2001, so turns 22 next month. She gave birth to four cubs in 2004, sired by the zoo’s previous male - who was born at Melbourne Zoo in 1999.

The new lion exhibit looks phenomenal, but will only accomodate a non breeding pride of bachelor males. In my experience, they make for far less engaging exhibits than breeding prides and a typical visitor experience will be seeing them sleep in the sun.

It’s stated that Adelaide holding bachelor males will support Monarto’s pride. Monarto currently have three breeding males (born 2015) and two adolescent males born (2021), so hopefully they’ll be transferred out (to Adelaide and/or other facilities) to allow a multigenerational breeding pride to be established at Monarto.
 
The Sleepy Hippo said:
Not news, but just wanted to say today was my first time visiting Adelaide Zoo since I was 14 (quite a while ago now).

I just have to say that I was blown away. It is an utterly charming, and beautiful zoo! Absolutely loved the experience.

I read that the updated masterplan is a disappointment, (not having seen a prior version) but I do think it will update the few remaining outdated exhibits.

Truly one of my favourite zoo visits I've had
Click to expand...
would you be able to do a species list?
 
Swanson02 said:
The only change I noticed was the Maned Wolves have been removed from Monartos updated plans, so who knows now what's going to happen with Adelaide's remaining pair :(
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That’s disappointing - especially given the geographical diversity they lent to Monarto’s African centric collection; and the suitability of Maned wolves to open range zoos.

I’m encouraged to see Hamadryas baboon remain in the masterplan (albeit in 5+ years time). Initial plans were for a huge exhibit that will be a focal point as visitors arrive. Whatever form it takes, it’s good to know the growing troop at Adelaide have a future at Zoos SA. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Melbourne’s troop similarly transfer to Werribee down the line.
 
Zoofan15 said:
The Black and white colobus infant is a female:

Great news for the breeding programme!

Voting is now open on her name:

Jani - Swahili for leaf
Asili - Swahili for genuine
Jamila - Swahili for beautiful

Help name our Colobus baby! - Adelaide Zoo
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Black and white colobus infant named:

The Black and white colobus infant has been named Jamila (Swahili for beautiful).

Reported on socials.
 
The Sleepy Hippo said:
I genuinely preferred Asili, but Jamila is a beautiful name ;)
I could take or leaf Jani.

All three were nice names and Jamila is a lovely choice!
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Jani was my favourite. It was a fitting meaning and a name I hadn’t heard before. I didn’t really get the meaning behind Asili with specific reference to colobus monkeys.

Jamila is a nice name, but very overused. I’ve heard it on several African animals in the region including a rhino and a lioness. It’s in the same league as other Swahili names such as Zuri and Jabari; or with regards to Indonesian names - Berani, Jaya, Satu and Melati.
 
Hamadryas Baboon Birth

During a recent visit to Adelaide Zoo last week I noticed that the baboon enclosure was cordoned off however I was able to see over the fences and noticed another baby baboon after filming a video I sent it to @Zoofan15 who estimates it to be born around January 2023 but no announcement has been made just yet and I couldn't find someone to ask about it but hopefully we'll be able to find more out soon.
 
Patrick Keegan said:
Hamadryas Baboon Birth

During a recent visit to Adelaide Zoo last week I noticed that the baboon enclosure was cordoned off however I was able to see over the fences and noticed another baby baboon after filming a video I sent it to @Zoofan15 who estimates it to be born around January 2023 but no announcement has been made just yet and I couldn't find someone to ask about it but hopefully we'll be able to find more out soon.
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Thanks @Patrick Keegan.

Hopefully Adelaide will announce this exciting event soon.

In the meantime, we can conclude the mother is Mahali, since Chappi is post reproductive and Quasi has an infant herself.

From the video, it appears both mothers/infants are in Tomkay’s OMU, which means we can also assume he’s the sire.
 
Adelaide Zoo's last Capybara sofia has died aged 10:

From their facebook page:
Goodbye, lovely Sofia. ❤️

"We are very sad to announce Adelaide Zoo’s last Capybara, Sofia, has passed away. Very popular with our visitors and the Zoos SA family, Sofia was 10 years old - a ripe old age for her species.

Sofia leaves behind a legacy having helped revive Capybara in the Australasian region and educated visitors about her amazing species. She was a sweet and placid girl who loved to engage with her keepers – particularly loving her ‘smooshes’ and often falling asleep while enjoying a gentle belly scratch.

She had a beautiful relationship with her keepers and will be greatly missed by all."

Given the revised masterplan doesn't show Capybara i doubt we'll be seeing this species again at Adelaide Zoo any time soon


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Patrick Keegan said:
Adelaide Zoo's last Capybara sofia has died aged 10:

From their facebook page:
Goodbye, lovely Sofia. ❤️

"We are very sad to announce Adelaide Zoo’s last Capybara, Sofia, has passed away. Very popular with our visitors and the Zoos SA family, Sofia was 10 years old - a ripe old age for her species.

Sofia leaves behind a legacy having helped revive Capybara in the Australasian region and educated visitors about her amazing species. She was a sweet and placid girl who loved to engage with her keepers – particularly loving her ‘smooshes’ and often falling asleep while enjoying a gentle belly scratch.

She had a beautiful relationship with her keepers and will be greatly missed by all."

Given the revised masterplan doesn't show Capybara i doubt we'll be seeing this species again at Adelaide Zoo any time soon


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Adelaide Zoo stated, that they are unsure whether they'd acquire more, Capybaras are easy to attain (some are at Gorge) so it's not a massive undertaking. Just Adelaide seems to be paring back on species rn so I wouldn't expect them to return in the near future. There might be a place for them in the planned 'Jungle Journey' area later down the track
 
Patrick Keegan said:
Adelaide Zoo's last Capybara sofia has died aged 10:

From their facebook page:
Goodbye, lovely Sofia. ❤️

"We are very sad to announce Adelaide Zoo’s last Capybara, Sofia, has passed away. Very popular with our visitors and the Zoos SA family, Sofia was 10 years old - a ripe old age for her species.

Sofia leaves behind a legacy having helped revive Capybara in the Australasian region and educated visitors about her amazing species. She was a sweet and placid girl who loved to engage with her keepers – particularly loving her ‘smooshes’ and often falling asleep while enjoying a gentle belly scratch.

She had a beautiful relationship with her keepers and will be greatly missed by all."

Given the revised masterplan doesn't show Capybara i doubt we'll be seeing this species again at Adelaide Zoo any time soon


Facebook link: Log into Facebook | Facebook
Click to expand...

It’s sad to see the phase out of Capybara (at least for now). The regional direction is unclear as Auckland Zoo have also phased out - and I was told, have no plans to acquire more.

Sofia was born 27/08/2012 at the San Diego Zoo and was a founder of the regional population. She gave birth to her first litter in April 2014.

Auckland Zoo subsequently imported two female from Adelaide Zoo in April 2015 - Rosita and Consuela. They were born April 2014 at Adelaide Zoo, though from memory, one was born the same month as Sofia’s litter to Dalila (Adelaide’s second breeding female).
 
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