Adelaide Zoo Adelaide Zoo News 2025

[Zoofan15]

Really good forward thinking from Adelaide - hopefully this results in breeding success eventually!

Fully agree. Zoos like Edinburgh have previously loaned proven females, but in their case, it failed to yield results (and that’s within the same hemisphere/breeding season).

In China, first time breeding males are often paired with experienced females; but failure to breed naturally can be circumnavigated by AI. The National Zoo and Zoo Atlanta both welcomed several cubs to their pairs (neither of which were proven breeders).

Zoos South Australia are great at sharing news from their facilities, so I look forward to comprehensive updates over the coming years.

 

[Luke899]

Impossible not to fall in love with this face

 

[Jaiden]

Does anyone know when the redevelopment of the Adelaide Zoo African Savannah start? I can’t wait for them to get Lions again.

 

[Zoofan15]

Does anyone know when the redevelopment of the Adelaide Zoo African Savannah start? I can’t wait for them to get Lions again.

The latest copy of the masterplan advises it’s scheduled to start within the next five years (2023-2028), so sometime in the next three years. The masterplan implies the savannah will begin first; followed by the lion exhibit.

Here’s a photo I took of signage detailing the new lion habitat:

 

[Jaiden]

Thanks @Zoofan15 I can’t wait for them to have African Lions again and a bigger Savannah.

 

[Jambo]

Does anyone know when the redevelopment of the Adelaide Zoo African Savannah start? I can’t wait for them to get Lions again.

The latest copy of the masterplan advises it’s scheduled to start within the next five years (2023-2028), so sometime in the next three years. The masterplan implies the savannah will begin first; followed by the lion exhibit.

Here’s a photo I took of signage detailing the new lion habitat:

View attachment 778911

Next year will likely be a starting date for the construction of the African Savannah. Overall the African Oasis shouldn't take long ie. twelve months at most, and will likely be completed in two stages with the African Savannah first.

The expanded Tiger habitat is a bigger priority however - I was told via email they'd likely look it happening sooner rather than later now following the passings of Mujambi and Amani (Lions).

 

[Zoofan15]

Next year will likely be a starting date for the construction of the African Savannah. Overall, it shouldn't take long ie. twelve months at most, and will likely be completed in two stages.

The expanded Tiger habitat is a bigger priority however - I was told via email they'd likely look it happening sooner rather than later now following the passings of Mujambi and Amani (Lions).

Yes, all five tigers are now living separately and although they intend to transfer two out (one exported to the US; one transferred to another zoo within the region), that will still leave 1.2 tigers remaining to be housed (currently across two exhibits).

A new exhibit while Delilah is still of reproductive age could allow a second litter to be bred from this pair - which could enable some of the zoos with ageing tigers to acquire tigers once their’s pass.

 

[Luke899]

Wouldn’t count on it starting soon. The press conference after the deaths of the lions they said ZooSa don’t have enough money for it, and will have to wait until they get enough. As one of the only large private zoos in Australia, that may take a couple of years.

 

[Zoofan15]

Wouldn’t count on it starting soon. The press conference after the deaths of the lions they said ZooSa don’t have enough money for it, and will have to wait until they get enough. As one of the only large private zoos in Australia, that may take a couple of years.

While a fundraiser to bring back lions would be hugely successful considering their popularity with visitors; fundraising campaigns for tigers and the savannah (giraffes) will have less appeal since the species are already at the zoo.

SA’s hippopotamus and elephant fundraising campaigns were both extremely successful due to the hype around a new species. If they were to run a fundraising campaign now to extend the habitat of either of those species, it would only get a fraction of the support.

 

[That Aussie Guy]

From emails:

"The ‘Toco’ the town: meet Adelaide Zoo’s new mane man!

There is a new wolf on the block and he is all we can ‘Toco’-bout! Meet eight-month-old Maned Wolf Toco, Adelaide Zoo’s newest resident. Arriving from Wildlife HQ in Queensland last month, Toco has joined 13-year-old Ninka in the leafy Maned Wolf habitat near the Sea Lion lawn. Toco has settled in well, and the best time to see the duo is in the morning or late afternoon. Be sure to welcome Toco on your next visit!"

 

[Zoofan15]

Sumatran tiger groupings:

Following reports Adelaide Zoo’s five Sumatran tigers were living separately, a photo has been shared on socials of Delilah on exhibit with one of her female offspring (Susu).

While accounting for the possibility the zoo have shared an old photo (which seems unlikely considering it’s not difficult to take an up to date photo for this purpose), it appears the separation of these females at least was temporary.

If the next person to visit Adelaide Zoo could please confirm, this would be useful as we have information that one of Adelaide’s females will be transferring out in the near future; and confirmation Delilah and Susu are living together (but not Marni) would all but confirm it will be Marni leaving.

 

[Abbey]

Sumatran tiger groupings:

Following reports Adelaide Zoo’s five Sumatran tigers were living separately, a photo has been shared on socials of Delilah on exhibit with one of her female offspring (Susu).

While accounting for the possibility the zoo have shared an old photo (which seems unlikely considering it’s not difficult to take an up to date photo for this purpose), it appears the separation of these females at least was temporary.

If the next person to visit Adelaide Zoo could please confirm, this would be useful as we have information that one of Adelaide’s females will be transferring out in the near future; and confirmation Delilah and Susu are living together (but not Marni) would all but confirm it will be Marni leaving.

I went through the same thought process when I saw the post. Even as someone who does social media as part of my job, it's not out of the question it's an old photo - Taronga shared a photo of Mr Hobbs, their sun bear, years after he passed, as if he was still alive and well. Nonetheless, it would be good to seek confirmation of Adelaide's tiger groupings.

 

[ramsayi]

Sumatran tiger groupings:

Following reports Adelaide Zoo’s five Sumatran tigers were living separately, a photo has been shared on socials of Delilah on exhibit with one of her female offspring (Susu).

While accounting for the possibility the zoo have shared an old photo (which seems unlikely considering it’s not difficult to take an up to date photo for this purpose), it appears the separation of these females at least was temporary.

If the next person to visit Adelaide Zoo could please confirm, this would be useful as we have information that one of Adelaide’s females will be transferring out in the near future; and confirmation Delilah and Susu are living together (but not Marni) would all but confirm it will be Marni leaving.

When i was at the zoo on wednesday there was two tigers in an exhibit ,i dont know who they where just that there was two.

 

[Zoofan15]

When i was at the zoo on wednesday there was two tigers in an exhibit ,i dont know who they where just that there was two.

Thanks for confirming. From the above, it sounds like you saw Delilah and Susu (with the other three held separately). The young male (Ketambe) will be exported to the US this year and one of the females (which now appears to be Marni) will be transferring out.

With this in mind, it makes sense to have Delilah and her daughter remain together for as long as possible. It’ll be sometime before Adelaide’s third Sumatran tiger exhibit is built and so this way, the three remaining tigers can all be on exhibit (without the need to rotate use of the three exhibits).

 

[GiraffeJett]

The South American Coatis have been taken off the zoos website of animals, I think its safe to say the zoo no longer holds them, or at least the last individual is being kept behind scenes.

 

[Zoofan15]

The South American Coatis have been taken off the zoos website of animals, I think its safe to say the zoo no longer holds them.

The population was reduced to one (Samba), who was then moved off display.

It’s possible she’s since passed; but the omission from the map likely just means they’re no longer on display:

0.1 Samba (04/12/2011) Floppy x Margrethe II

 

[That Aussie Guy]

The South American Coatis have been taken off the zoos website of animals, I think its safe to say the zoo no longer holds them, or at least the last individual is being kept behind scenes.

The population was reduced to one (Samba), who was then moved off display.

It’s possible she’s since passed; but the omission from the map likely just means they’re no longer on display:

0.1 Samba (04/12/2011) Floppy x Margrethe II

I can confirm that Samba has passed, leaving Australia with no South American Coati still in the country.

 

[Chlidonias]

I can confirm that Samba has passed, leaving Australia with no South American Coati still in the country.

Confirmed how? Just saying "I can confirm it" isn't very helpful.

 

[That Aussie Guy]

Confirmed how? Just saying "I can confirm it" isn't very helpful.

My apologies - I spoke to a keeper quite recently regarding the renovations to the fennec fox enclosure, and their move into the old coati enclosure, and was informed she had passed

 

[That Aussie Guy]

A few updates from a visit today

Macropod Housing
Contrary to what the maps show, the large macropod enclosure is still home to Yellow-Footed Rock Wallabies, as well as KI Kangaroos and now Cape Barren Geese. I didn't spend heaps of time at the zoo, so I didn't see the red kangaroo or Tammar wallabies, but there is certainly neither species in the old dingo enclosure, which currently has a sign saying the dingoes have moved and that their old enclosure is undergoing maintenance. The new fencing has also been completed.



Orange-Bellied Parrot/Australian Native Bird Aviaries
These aviaries have been completely demolished, as well as what appears to be part of the Pelican enclosure. The path has been closed off, and all the birds have been moved to one of the large 'Jewels of Asia' aviaries. Interestingly, the small Neophema parrots are signed as Elegant Parrots, with no Orange-Bellied Parrots in sight.




Aldabra Giant Tortoise Enclosure
I mentioned in my last update that the old shelter for the giant tortoises was demolished to make way for something new, and today I saw the beginnings of exactly that. The enclosure is empty (with a sign saying it is empty for planned maintenance), with a new structure quite similar to the new Komodo Dragon enclosures being built at its rear. On its left side (which the photo doesn't show), there are some large glass windows, so I would expect to see the guest path extended slightly into what used to be a staff only area to allow viewing of the tortoises while they are indoors.



Envirodome
A large 'Insect Hotel' has been erected to the right of the path that leads into the Envirodome. The Envirodome is still very light on species, containing a fully stocked bug wall with some invertebrates and Australian Red-Eyed Tree Frogs, some stick insects, a Rough-Scaled python, a breeding group of Green Tree Frogs with six individuals, the new tank with tetras and such, and the banded archerfish tank. The pig-nosed turtle, katydid, and seahorse enclosures are all still empty, as are two of the three tanks on the left as you enter. The banded archerfish tank also contained a some individuals of the unsigned species of fish below, which appears to be a gudgeon of some kind?? Please correct me on this if anyone knows which species it is.