Giant Pandas for Adelaide » Adelaide Zoo

28-05-2008

yes, a number of staff died and a few pandas got our, most returned.

02-06-2008

Wang Wang and Funi are confirmed safe. Zoos South Australia has offered the use of it's vetrinarian and keeping team should Wolong require it.

30-01-2009

Work underway for Hassell's panda enclosure

This makes it sound like the pandas are coming in April. I'm confused

31-01-2009

That April arrival date must be incorrect, unless the pandas are going to be quarantined for a significant amount of time. Also, I was surprised to read that the latest pricetag for the panda enclosure, perimeter fence and entrance precinct is $33 million.

31-01-2009

Currumbin Sanctuary is mostly for native species of animals, so it really makes no sense for them to have giant pandas, besides it's in the middle of nowhere and who would really drive all that way to see giant pandas...I mean to go to a wildlife park to see Australian wildlife and giant pandas...doesn't really make sense, it was purely wishful thinking on their part...

Adelaide Zoo occupies a small area but it has great potential, and the enclosures of recent years have been well designed, especially the South east Asia precinct enclosures...

Be happy people that there will be pandas in Australia, quit whinging about it and just enjoy it...

31-01-2009

@aw101: I am a huge supporter of the giant panda movement in Adelaide, and I think that it is absolutely brilliant that the zoo has taken this stride forward. I'd love to go back to Australia and make my way over to South Australia!

31-01-2009

33 million isn't bad for a new high tech perimeter fence, entry precinct and the biggest exhibit ever built at Adelaide.

31-01-2009

I think they were trying to boost the Sanctuary's image, and ther's nothing wrng with that. After all, a small native reptile park in Beerwah is now a Zoo.

And if you think the Gold Coast is "in the middle of nowhere", then I think Melbourn'es heatwave must have got to your brain. It's one of Australia's biggest international and domestic tourist destinations and is only an hour or so drive from Brisbane.



Hix

31-01-2009

The exciting thing about Adelaide Zoo is that there is huge potential for growth, there aren't any really bad/depressing/too small exhibits there, and the developments in recent years have been extremely promising. The siamang island was originally part of the planned to be the 'World of Primates Stage 1' but that was changed to the Southeast Asia precinct, hence the hamadryas baboon exhibit across from the siamang island. The plan is to convert that baboon exhibit into one for komodo dragons.

I must admit that the new lion enclosure is a bit disappointing, and the giraffe exhibit is rather small, but the giant panda enclosure looks very promising. It's interesting that they didn't include an exhibit for red pandas or pheasants to create more of a geographically themed exhibit. Especially since the current red panda enclosure is not very visually attractive.

31-01-2009

i also had to laugh at the Gold Coast being the middle of nowhere...i mean sure its a **** hole but a lot more people go there than Adelaide for holidays. any wonder South Australian Tourism are rubbing their hands together at the prospect of marketing the only Giant Pandas in Australia or New Zealand (a major source of international short-haul tourists).
i thought red pandas were originally included in the giant panda precinct; regardless of whether or not they have been dropped I would expect to see a quick succession of other new developments at Adelaide Zoo as the dollars start pouring in when Wang Wang and Funi arrive!

31-01-2009

Oh I'm sorry, I just always assumed the Gold Coast was full of tacky souvenir shops selling made-in-China crap...

yes, Adelaide Zoo will hopefully benefit from the presence of the pandas, and more cash would obviously mean more well designed enclosures and hopefully the influx of new species. Soon their old orangutan/chimpanzee enclosures will be empty and the space could have huge potential for a new exhibit.

31-01-2009

Arent Pandas made in china?

31-01-2009

Good one Ben

31-01-2009

It is planned for the new giant panda area to have two exhibits for red panda, plus there are going to be mandarin ducks running around but would have also been nice to see pheasants included.

01-02-2009

@aw101: the old primate enclosures were already bulldozed last year, and the brand new, $3 million Envirodome is opening up there. Between the Envirodome, the perimeter fencing, the entrance precinct and the giant panda exhibit the Adelaide Zoo is edging close to $40 million in zoo improvements.