Adelaide Zoo Adelaide Zoo News 2024

Seeing them go makes me a little sad, however I'm grateful that my little South Australia has the privilege to hold such an exotic species like the giant panda.

You'd usually think such a species would be at a more important zoo like taronga. Very thankful they're here and take good care of them.

Zoofan15 said:
Hopefully Adelaide’s next pair (scheduled to arrive before Christmas) will have better luck breeding.
Click to expand...

Adelaide Zoo director Dr Phil Ainsley said he's confident the pandas will arrive before Christmas, etc 10th - 20th of December. However, we won't be seeing these pandas until January.

Can watch the press conference here (this was yesterday just before they left)

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=476485588180266

 
Patrick Keegan said:
Wang Wang and Funi have left Australia

Log in to Facebook
Click to expand...

Zoos SA Announcement on Giant pandas:

From socials:

Early this morning, Adelaide Zoo officially waved a paw goodbye to the Giant Pandas who have called Adelaide home for over 15 years.

The black-and-white duo were resting as they left Adelaide Zoo in the early hours of this morning travelling through the city to Adelaide Airport.

“We are very excited to meet Yi Lan and Xing Qiu later this year, but we are never going to forget Wang Wang and Fu Ni. They will hold a special place in the hearts of many for years to come.”

Zoos SA will provide an update on Wang Wang and Fu Ni once they have acclimatised to their new habitat. We look forward to sharing more black-and-white news with the community as the next chapter of the zoo’s panda journey begins."
 
Last edited:
Wang Wang and Funi arrive safely in China:

From Zoos SA socials:

Adelaide Zoo is happy to let our zoo family know that Wang Wang and Fu Ni have touched down safely in Chengdu, China.

Unloading went well, and the pandas were given a very warm welcome by our conservation partners at the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP).

Wang Wang and Fu Ni have now been transported to to Wolong (Shenshuping) Panda Base to start a mandatory quarantine period, where they will meet their new keepers, snack on lots of bamboo and catch up on well-deserved naps after their long journey.

We will be sure to keep everyone updated as Wang Wang and Fu Ni settle in to their new home.

Also, a news article from Zoos SA:

A beary special goodbye: Farewell Wang Wang and Fu Ni - Adelaide Zoo
 
A few updates confirmed via email:

Two Brush-tailed Mulgara boys have been introduced into the Nocturnal House. Their names are Gilly and Peri.

And, the zoo's pair of Dingos (Lara and Indi) have temporarily moved to the old African Lion habitat while their habitat and the home of the Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies undergoes maintenance.
 
A few updates from Zoos SA Annual Report 2023-2024:
  • transfers into the zoo included a Quokka, a Greater Bilby, two Greater Stick-nest Rats, four Orange-bellied Parrots, six Swift Parrots and seven Regent Honeyeaters.
  • three Orange-bellied Parrots, five Regent Honeyeaters, five Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves, three Little Penguins and three Western Swamp Turtles have hatched.
  • 14 Red-tailed Phascogales have been born at Adelaide.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Adelaide Zoo has opened a new tropical community tank in their Envirodome with Cardinal Tetra, Otocinclus Catfish, Purple Harlequin Rasbora, Pygmy Corydoras and Bloody Mary Shrimp with more species due to join them - reported on their FB page.
Click to expand...

This is literally the species list for my 60L tank at home. Bit unimpressive for a zoological institution to display the same species as me a uni student :D
 
Swanson02 said:
This is literally the species list for my 60L tank at home. Bit unimpressive for a zoological institution to display the same species as me a uni student :D
Click to expand...

It’s better than nothing at least but there’s so many options available, both native and exotic for a medium sized aquarium such as this, I assume they went this route as it is the easiest to maintain. That being said despite them being common aquarium fish I really appreciate what Melbourne Zoo has done with their juvenile Eyelash Viper exhibit, the accompanying fish (Otocinclus, Cardinal Tetra, Ram Cichlid and Bleeding Heart Tetra) really liven up the display.
 
Yoshistar888 said:
It’s better than nothing at least but there’s so many options available, both native and exotic for a medium sized aquarium such as this, I assume they went this route as it is the easiest to maintain. That being said despite them being common aquarium fish I really appreciate what Melbourne Zoo has done with their juvenile Eyelash Viper exhibit, the accompanying fish (Otocinclus, Cardinal Tetra, Ram Cichlid and Bleeding Heart Tetra) really liven up the display.
Click to expand...


See that would be a nice display tank. The fish are the accompanying species but no the main exhibit. Using aquarium fish that are common in the aquarium hobby isnt in and of it self a bad idea when they are used along side exotic species. But as a stand alone zoo exhibit, you can go to a well stocked aquarium for free and see them. It's the same as taronga using barnyard species outside Backyard to bush, it's a zoo not a farm. It's an unfortunate sign of the road our zoos are going down when farm or common hobby species are being used instead of exotic species or zoo species that can't be held privately.
 
Xing Qiu and Yi Lan to arrive December 15th!

Giant Pandas to return to Australia from next weekend!

From ZooSA:

We're so excited to announce two new arrivals joining us at Adelaide Zoo next weekend!

Giant Pandas, Yi Lan (pronounced ee-lun) and Xing Qiu (pronounced shing chee-y-ull), will make the 15-hour journey from Dujiangyan to Adelaide over the weekend of 15 December.

Once Yi Lan and Xing Qiu arrive in Bamboo Forest, they will complete a mandatory quarantine period and during this time the forest will be closed.

This is an exciting time for Zoos SA and the team are looking forward to meeting the new pandas and getting to know more about their personalities, likes and dislikes!

Yi-Lan-and-Xing-Qiu.jpg
 

Attachments

  • Yi-Lan-and-Xing-Qiu.jpg
    Yi-Lan-and-Xing-Qiu.jpg
    168.2 KB · Views: 66
Last edited:
Luke899 said:
Xing Qiu and Yi Lan to arrive December 15th!

Giant Pandas to return to Australia from next weekend!

From ZooSA:

We're so excited to announce two new arrivals joining us at Adelaide Zoo next weekend!

Giant Pandas, Yi Lan (pronounced ee-lun) and Xing Qiu (pronounced shing chee-y-ull), will make the 15-hour journey from Dujiangyan to Adelaide over the weekend of 15 December.

Once Yi Lan and Xing Qiu arrive in Bamboo Forest, they will complete a mandatory quarantine period and during this time the forest will be closed.

This is an exciting time for Zoos SA and the team are looking forward to meeting the new pandas and getting to know more about their personalities, likes and dislikes!

View attachment 752650
Click to expand...

DOB/Parentage of new Giant pandas:

1.0 Xing Qiu (29/09/2020) Lan Zai x Shu Qin

0.1 Yi Lan (10/08/2021) Unknown x Yi Chang

Both pandas are twins - Xing Qiu (Xing Yi) has a sister; Yi Lan has a brother (Shun Chang).
 
Zoofan15 said:
DOB/Parentage of new Giant pandas:

1.0 Xing Qiu (29/09/2020) Lan Zai x Shu Qin

0.1 Yi Lan (10/08/2021) Unknown x Yi Chang

Both pandas are twins - Xing Qiu (Xing Yi) has a sister; Yi Lan has a brother (Shun Chang).
Click to expand...
Having a new breeding pair is absolutely wonderful and certainly long awaited. Let’s hope this pair are able to provide the success that the whole country has been holding its breath on for more than fifteen years now.

The pair are still young so it’s likely they won’t be introduced until 2026 at least, once they reach sexual maturity. Exciting times ahead!
 
New CEO announced:

Zoos SA announces new chief executive following global search that attracted over 90 applicants

Zoos SA has officially announced the appointment of Dr. Phil Ainsley as the new Chief Executive, succeeding Elaine Bensted. Dr. Ainsley will assume his new role in April 2025, following an extensive global search that attracted over 90 candidates.

Dr. Ainsley, currently the Director of Adelaide Zoo, comes with a strong background in zoo management, conservation, and a deep-seated connection to the institution. His career spans over 25 years, with significant contributions to both the not-for-profit and government sectors, as well as private industry.
 
Last edited:
Zoofan15 said:
New director announced:

Zoos SA announces new chief executive following global search that attracted over 90 applicants

Zoos SA has officially announced the appointment of Dr. Phil Ainsley as the new Chief Executive, succeeding Elaine Bensted. Dr. Ainsley will assume his new role in April 2025, following an extensive global search that attracted over 90 candidates.

Dr. Ainsley, currently the Director of Adelaide Zoo, comes with a strong background in zoo management, conservation, and a deep-seated connection to the institution. His career spans over 25 years, with significant contributions to both the not-for-profit and government sectors, as well as private industry.
Click to expand...

Elaine made swathes of progress on both facilities. Hopefully Phil can pick up from where she left off and continue the good work
 
Zoofan15 said:
New director announced:

Zoos SA announces new chief executive following global search that attracted over 90 applicants

Zoos SA has officially announced the appointment of Dr. Phil Ainsley as the new Chief Executive, succeeding Elaine Bensted. Dr. Ainsley will assume his new role in April 2025, following an extensive global search that attracted over 90 candidates.

Dr. Ainsley, currently the Director of Adelaide Zoo, comes with a strong background in zoo management, conservation, and a deep-seated connection to the institution. His career spans over 25 years, with significant contributions to both the not-for-profit and government sectors, as well as private industry.
Click to expand...
A second-generation zoo person (father worked in the reptile section at Adelaide Zoo for 20 years) with a strong conservation background. :)
 
Swanson02 said:
Elaine made swathes of progress on both facilities. Hopefully Phil can pick up from where she left off and continue the good work
Click to expand...
MRJ said:
A second-generation zoo person (father worked in the reptile section at Adelaide Zoo for 20 years) with a strong conservation background. :)
Click to expand...

It sounds like the new CEO will prove an excellent successor to Elaine Bensted, who has revolutionised Zoos SA during her tenure. The decade ahead will undoubtedly be just as eventful, with the elephant complex completed; in addition to the continuation of masterplan projects.

Long term I’m hopeful we’ll see the import of a bull Common hippopotamus at Monarto; and exhibits for Hamadryas baboon etc. Adelaide will no doubt be aspiring to breed the region’s first Giant panda cub.

Overall, I’m just really pleased they’ve appointed someone at the helm with an extensive background in zoo management and conservation. :):):)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top