Adelaide Zoo Adelaide Zoo News 2024

Zoofan15 said:
Wow, that was an unexpected announcement! Especially since Wang Wang and Funi’s departure date has yet to be announced.

I strongly believe a new pair will stand the zoo in the best stead for successfully breeding and by obtaining a pre-reproductive pair, they’ll have plenty of time to aclimitise to living in the Southern Hemisphere before the female reaches reproductive age.
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This new pair will in fact be arriving later this year, so these announcements were expected.

With Wang Wang and Fu Ni likely leaving next month, this new pair will be almost an immediate replacement with the goal of having them on display before the end of this summer.
 
Jambo said:
This new pair will in fact be arriving later this year, so these announcements were expected.

With Wang Wang and Fu Ni likely leaving next month, this new pair will be almost an immediate replacement with the goal of having them on display before the end of this summer.
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marmolady said:
Where have you seen announcements of this timeframe?
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The contracts for Wang Wang and Funi expire in November 2024, so we can guarantee they’ll leave November at the latest. For context, the National Zoo’s pair left in November 2023, ahead of their contracts expiring December that year.

South China’s hottest months are July and August; with September, October and November known for their mild weather. Transit is typically scheduled for cooler months (to reduce heat stress); and to assist animals traversing hemispheres to acclimatise. Wang Wang and Funi arrived in Australia in November (the end of Spring) for example.

School holidays in SA run from September 27 to October 12, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Wang Wang and Funi left mid-October; with the new pair potentially arriving the following month. This would allow them time to quarantine and settle in, before debuting in time for the summer holidays.
 
marmolady said:
Where have you seen announcements of this timeframe?
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Their farewell party indicates they'll be leaving sooner rather than later. In the case of American zoos, their pandas left within weeks of this.

The following article states the new pair will arrive within the coming months before the end of this year;
Adelaide Zoo reveals new panda pair as crowds farewell Wang Wang and Fu Ni

We also have to take into account Adelaide will preferably want some time in between the departure of their current pair and arrival of the new pair, to prepare and do some minor updates to their facilities.
 
The farewell party is the teddy bear picnic that takes place the same time every year. It’s significant this year because it’s the last time. I would expect an announcement of a timeline if it was as imminent as a couple of weeks. I would guess October, seeing as nothing has been said yet. I certainly hope so, as I won’t get a chance to pay them a visit until late September!
 
marmolady said:
The farewell party is the teddy bear picnic that takes place the same time every year. It’s significant this year because it’s the last time. I would expect an announcement of a timeline if it was as imminent as a couple of weeks. I would guess October, seeing as nothing has been said yet. I certainly hope so, as I won’t get a chance to pay them a visit until late September!
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October seems the most likely (like I said above, tying in the with the conclusion of the SA school holidays); and will still allow time for the new pandas to arrive/acclimatise before the height of summer.

It’s going to be an exciting time for Zoos SA with the arrival of the new pandas; followed by the opening of the elephant complex next year. The new female panda will mature around two years from now, so assuming the intention is to breed from Pak Boon, there could be hopes for an elephant calf around the time the first attempts are made to breed Australia’s first panda cub.
 
Zoofan15 said:
October seems the most likely (like I said above, tying in the with the conclusion of the SA school holidays); and will still allow time for the new pandas to arrive/acclimatise before the height of summer.

It’s going to be an exciting time for Zoos SA with the arrival of the new pandas; followed by the opening of the elephant complex next year. The new female panda will mature around two years from now, so assuming the intention is to breed from Pak Boon, there could be hopes for an elephant calf around the time the first attempts are made to breed Australia’s first panda cub.
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An elephant calf and a panda cub within a year of each other would be monumental, potentially the two largest types of births a zoo can experience (alongside great apes).
 
Swanson02 said:
An elephant calf and a panda cub within a year of each other would be monumental, potentially the two largest types of births a zoo can experience (alongside great apes).
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Agreed. I’d argue Giant pandas remain the pinnacle of zoological breeding achievements internationally. Historically, they’ve been rivalled by Western lowland gorillas and Asian elephants; but they’re both species that have been breeding in Australian zoos for 40 and 15 years respectively and we’ve welcomed double figures of both.

The birth of Zoos South Australia’s first elephant calf will no doubt be a highly celebrated event; but there’s no chance of it reaching the publicity levels of Britain’s first elephant calf (Jubilee, born 1977); or even Australia’s first elephant calf (Luk Chai, born 2009). Compare this to Australia’s first Giant panda cub, which would regularly make international news as it reached every milestone.

But yes, an elephant calf and panda cub would be a phenomenal duo. Throw in a hippopotamus calf (with the IRA potentially approved in two or so years) and Zoos SA will never be short of good publicity.
 
I visited Adelaide Zoo today for the first time. It exceeded expectations; an eclectic mix of modern exhibits and historical heritage. If I find the time, I might do a thread for my South Australian zooing and birding. Some news verging on personal highlights in the meanwhile:
  • the female Giant Panda was in heat and incredibly active sitting in water unusually. They aren't being introduced to each other this season as they will be shipped off to China soon. The Red Panda were sharing the same space.
  • Australia's last Malayan Tapir was running around her yard in the afternoon sun. She vocalised twice and almost went for a dip in her pool while the langurs crashed about in the fig tree above. Both Brazilian Tapirs were present and accounted for with a total of three mara seen across two enclosures.
  • chicks among Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves, Java Sparrows and Gouldian Finches currently. The South-east Asian walkthrough was outstanding – five lory species in there now (Black, Dusky, Chattering, Red and Black-capped) with 29 Nicobar Pigeons with some nesting as well. Malabar and Plum-headed Parakeets added to all the movement.
  • a large amount of parrots that were housed opposite the giraffes apparently have moved into the Children’s Zoo. A new aviary with Red-bellied Parrot, Black-capped Caique, White-bellied Caique and Brown-throated Conure near the playground. There are some newish enclosures as well here at the Children’s Zoo for Dollarbird, Black-footed Tree-Rat and Long-nosed Potoroo (signed for Brush-tailed Bettong) but these might have been around for awhile.
  • a new unspecificed snake species is moving into the reptile house where the juvenile Komodo was. The Aruba Island Rattlesnake showed magnificently but the Pygmy Bluetongue did not.
  • Quokka and Tammar Wallaby are in the former tree kangaroo enclosure.
  • Cottontop Tamarin twins growing up well in a large troop. The tamarin, red panda and colobus aerial pathways were all defining characteristics of Adelaide’s ability to adapt to limited space.
  • Coati, fennec fox nor serval were seen. The ageing pair of lions were extremely active and the binturong was also very mobile.
  • I can confirm the vast majority of Adelaide’s grey parrot are Timneh Grey with a single Congo Grey seen with them in the aviary opposite the nocturnal house.
  • Envirodome had several enclosures under development. There was an empty enclosure for Pig-nosed Turtle and an empty tank signposted for Murray River Rainbow and Purple-spotted Gudgeon.
  • Wildlife on zoo grounds was notable; New Holland Honeyeater filled the bamboo around the pandas, Eastern Rosellas have just fledged a chick in the café building’s roof, Nankeen Night-Herons with pelicans and my first Adelaide Rosellas.
 
Luke899 said:
9news Adelaide reporting Wang Wang and Funi will be deported in no less then 3 weeks.

Xing Qiu and Yi Lan will arrive before the start of 2025
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The pair will in fact head into a short quarantine period in mid-October before returning home.

So there's less than a month to go before they begin their quarantine and are transported back to China at the end of October.
 
Luke899 said:
9news Adelaide reporting Wang Wang and Funi will be deported in no less then 3 weeks.

Xing Qiu and Yi Lan will arrive before the start of 2025
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Jambo said:
The pair will in fact head into a short quarantine period in mid-October before returning home.

So there's less than a month to go before they begin their quarantine and are transported back to China at the end of October.
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Media release from Zoos SA on Giant pandas:

Wave a paw goodbye: Special celebrations to farewell Wang Wang and Fu Ni - Adelaide Zoo

Director of Adelaide Zoo, Dr Phil Ainsley, said the pair will head into a short quarantine period in mid-October before returning home, and encouraged everyone to come along to share their giant well wishes.

Adelaide Zoo will welcome new Giant Pandas, Xing Qiu (pronounced shing chee-y-ull) and Yi Lan (ee-lun) to Bamboo Forest later this year.
 
Cotton-top tamarin naming competition:

Cotton-top Tamarin naming competition - Adelaide Zoo

The set of critically-endangered cotton-tops were born in August to mum, Peppa, and dad, Gomez, and spend their time exploring their habitat on the back of their parents and helpful older siblings.

People can vote for two names from the following:

Aura
Alba
Luiz
Luz
Osca
Orla
 
Zoofan15 said:
Cotton-top tamarin naming competition:

Cotton-top Tamarin naming competition - Adelaide Zoo

The set of critically-endangered cotton-tops were born in August to mum, Peppa, and dad, Gomez, and spend their time exploring their habitat on the back of their parents and helpful older siblings.

People can vote for two names from the following:

Aura
Alba
Luiz
Luz
Osca
Orla
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Naming of Cotton-top tamarin twins:

From socials:

We'd like to officially introduce you to Aura and Osca! Thank you to everyone who participated in the naming competition for the adorable Cotton-top Tamarin twins!

Come and meet Aura and Osca at Adelaide Zoo these school holidays. They can be seen with their mum Peppa, and dad Gomez, by visiting Tamarin House and keeping an eye on the tunnels overhead.
 
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