I arrived at Adelaide Zoo just before it opened at 9:30am and parked on Botanic Drive near the new entrance. There is metered parking now, so I paid the maximum of four hours. The new entrance is large, to accommodate large crowds, with a staging area for school groups. A marked improvement over the old entrance on Frome Rd. There’s also a decent souvenir shop included and I imagine there are a multitude of offices in the building too. I hadn’t booked my panda ticket so I asked the lady on the gate and she said “no problem, plenty of room on the first one” and handed me a ticket. The first Panda viewing was at 9:45 so I headed straight for the entrance to the Panda Precinct and joined the queue. When we were let in I found myself at the back of a crowd of people who were all determined to get as close to the exhibit as possible. Funi was in her exhibit when we arrived, but she immediately walked inside to her glass-walled indoor area. Initially I thought the noisy crowd had scared her, but then I discovered there was bamboo inside and she had sat down and was munching away. It was hard to see her, not just because of the crowd but because of the very harsh reflections on the glass – very badly designed (from that point of view). Otherwise it looked like a good exhibit for her. http://www.zoochat.com/18/funi-feeding-137626/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/funis-indoor-enclosure-137625/ Everyone was in front of Funi’s cage and not Wang Wang’s, and I soon discovered why – he wasn’t in his indoor area, despite a pile of bamboo. I wandered outside and found him patrolling his outdoor exhibit. He was at the furthest end of his exhibit, in the sun, so I hurried down to photograph him while no-one was around. Unfortunately, some people saw me taking photos and within seconds a hundred or so people arrived to get in front of my zoom lens. http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wangs-indoor-enclosure-142712/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wang-137636/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wang-standing-tree-137630/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wang-standing-137629/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/public-giant-panda-enclosure-137570/ But I have patience, especially where wildlife is concerned, and 20 minutes later much of the crowd, satisfied with their Panda experience, had wandered off into the zoo and I had a much easier time getting photos. To make things even easier, Wang Wang exhibits a stereotyped pacing around his exhibit. I don’t think he’s been at the zoo long enough to develop it there, so I presume it was something he picked up prior to his arrival in Australia. And while pacing is not something that looks good in a zoo, it’s a boon to a photographer because you can predict where the animal is going to be and set yourself up in position to get a good shot. Which I did, in a few locations. His pacing was not just one pathway, he had three or four paths he would follow and would vary them, but he seemed to like walking down the waterfall and through the pond as he did this a lot. http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wang-137640/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wang-137639/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wang-137635/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wang-137634/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wang-137631/ His exhibit has a lot of rocks, some trees, and the waterfall and pond. It is grassed extensively, and has a dry moat at the front of the exhibit. As well as looking across the moat there is a glassed viewing area that extends into the exhibit roughly in the middle of the moat, and Wang Wang continually walked right past the windows. http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wangs-exhibit-wang-wang-137644/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wangs-exhibit-wang-wang-137643/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wang-137642/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wang-137638/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wang-136334/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wang-136335/ After taking lots of photos of Wang Wang, I went back inside to see what Funi was doing – she’d climbed to the back of her indoor area and seemed to be asleep. Pandas appear to be like Koalas and can sleep in what look to be very uncomfortable positions. Without the public around I was in a better position to photograph her, but it was still difficult with those damned reflections. I was also able to photograph the family trees of both pandas, little graphics on the exhibit windows. http://www.zoochat.com/18/funi-asleep-137628/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/funi-asleep-137627/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/panda-personalities-137645/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/wang-wangs-family-tree-137646/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/funis-family-tree-137624/ After about 45 minutes I suddenly realised I was the last person left, and a staff member was approaching me. “This session is now closed” she said. “OK,” I said “which way is out?” She pointed down a path and was going to say something but stopped. At the same instant we both realised that we knew each other. I had worked with Katrina in the African section at Taronga in the late 90’s. She had left the zoo to go to Africa with her partner around 10 years ago. After a few years in Africa they moved to the UK where he worked at London and Whipsnade while she was raising their new son. A few years later they came back to Australia when her partner got a job at Adelaide. So I stayed for the next half hour chatting and catching up, until the next group came in (including two schools groups). Funny who you run into in a zoo. After leaving the pandas I headed out into the zoo. With less than three hours to go I tried to see as much of the zoo as I could. Unfortunately, I kept stopping at exhibits trying to get a shot of something that just didn’t want to be photographed. As a result, some things I didn’t see, and other exhibits I only had a quick look at. If you like birds, you’ll love Adelaide. They have aviaries everywhere, many of them rather old looking, but still adequate. The walkthrough aviary beside the Tapirs appeared to be empty, apart from a Channel-billed Cuckoo, and the Australian Walkthrough Aviary was closed. Many of the aviaries are thickly vegetated and look very good for the birds. http://www.zoochat.com/18/mixed-species-aviary-142705/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/channel-billed-cuckoo-137560/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/rainbow-bee-eater-137608/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/rainbow-bee-eater-137607/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/sun-conure-137619/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/razor-billed-curassow-137609/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/namaque-cape-dove-male-137603/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/red-fody-137543/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/masked-lovebird-137600/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/interior-aviary-137548/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/interior-aviary-137547/ The first birds I saw while waiting to go into the pandas were the cassowaries, and after the pandas the first birds I came across were the last two flamingos in Australia. The Chilean was quite happy standing on one leg, not too far from the public, however the Greater Flamingo was right up against the hedge that forms a fence to his yard, honking and waving his head around oddly. He didn’t seem to perturbed by my presence, or my intrusive camera. I did notice that he appeared to be blind in his left eye, something I learnt later was the result of an injury sustained when some low-life cretins attacked him some time ago. http://www.zoochat.com/18/cassowary-enclosure-137559/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/chilean-flamingo-137562/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/chilean-flamingo-137561/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/greater-flamingo-public-137590/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/greater-flamingo-enclosure-137589/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/greater-flamingo-closeup-142707/ The last time I visited the zoo I didn’t see the Dusky Leaf Monkeys; this time I saw them but they were on the other side of the tree to the viewing area and not in a really good position for photographs. Even so, seeing the primates in the giant fig is still a magnificent sight. I made a point of heading back later in the day and managed to get one or two photos I was satisfied with. I was so keen to get a good shot of these guys I virtually ignored the Black Gibbons and Siamangs on the islands behind me. http://www.zoochat.com/18/dusky-langur-pair-137575/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/dusky-langurs-play-fighting-137571/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/dusky-langurs-137572/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/dusky-langur-137574/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/black-gibbon-pair-137557/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/black-gibbon-female-137556/ Something else I liked was the meerkat enclosure right beside the giraffe yard, essentially in the moated area between the giraffe fence and the public. A good use of space and, I imagine, gives the Meerkats and Giraffe something to look at when the public aren’t around. http://www.zoochat.com/18/giraffe-meerkat-exhibit-137586/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/meerkat-looking-giraffe-137601/ An unexpected find was a beaver. I didn’t know Adelaide had Beavers. In fact, I didn’t think there were any in Australia. The one I saw was in his moat (which had been drained for cleaning) but he soon climbed back up into his concrete lodge and disappeared from view. http://www.zoochat.com/18/beaver-137553/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/beaver-enclosure-137555/ Keeping snakes myself, I’m always keen to see a zoo’s reptile house. Adelaide’s in particular has something rare and unique - Adelaide Bluetongue Lizards. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any in the exhibit. The Aruba Island Rattlesnake was in the exact same spot as he was when I photographed him 2 ½ years ago (and when Baldur took his picture too). The Forest Cobra was visible this time, something I missed seeing on my last visit. Most of the tanks are a good size and nicely decorated for the occupants, but I have to mention the anaconda enclosure – very large, with lots of branches and live plants. One of the best anaconda enclosures I’ve seen in a long time. http://www.zoochat.com/18/adelaide-bluetongue-lizard-enclosure-137541/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/rough-scaled-python-137611/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/magnificent-tree-frog-137597/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/inland-taipan-137593/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/forest-cobra-137584/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/forest-cobra-137583/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/aruba-island-rattlesnake-137546/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/aruba-island-rattlesnake-137545/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/anaconda-exhibit-137544/ As I was leaving the building I saw a small fish tank next to the exit with a Western Swamp Turtle – a highly endangered species from Western Australia. Unlike the Adelaide Bluetongue, one of the turtles was quite active swimming up and down his tank and I managed to get one or two half-decent pictures. http://www.zoochat.com/18/western-swamp-turtle-137622/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/western-swamp-turtle-137621/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/western-swamp-turtle-137620/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/western-swamp-turtle-label-137594/ Note: The common name for this species is Western Swamp Tortoise, a misnomer as this species is clearly a turtle. I use the name Turtle because the continued use of the word tortoise will continue to confuse the public, many of whom already use the name Eastern Longneck Tortoise, Shortneck Tortoise etc. For this reason I chastise Adelaide Zoo for using the word tortoise so freely in the label/graphic beside this exhibit. There has been some work done on the Hippos, mainly because they are now right next to the main entrance and the first animals you see when entering the zoo. Much of the vegetation has been trimmed back. When I was there the pool had been emptied and was being refilled, and the two hippos were standing in the bottom of the pool waiting for it to fill up. http://www.zoochat.com/18/hippos-their-pool-137592/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/hippo-137591/ It’s been discussed in other threads, but the Lion/Leopard cages need to be rebuilt (or the animals re-housed in new accommodation), as does the small carnivore enclosures opposite housing servals and fennecs. However, I should point out that I have seen far worse enclosures in many other zoos, and new exhibits can’t be built overnight. The servals had three kittens, which were a delight to watch playing with each other, just like domestic kittens. http://www.zoochat.com/18/large-cat-cages-137595/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/lioness-137596/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/persian-leopard-enclosure-137606/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/persian-leopard-137605/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/small-carnivore-cages-137617/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/serval-graphic-137616/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/serval-kitten-137615/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/serval-kitten-137614/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/serval-kittens-137613/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/serval-kitten-137612/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/fennec-fox-137582/ I quite like the South American primates, and particularly the Callitrichids. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Golden-rumped Lion Tamarin before (also known as the Black Lion Tamarin), so it was a treat to see them in Adelaide Zoo. The glass fronted enclosures they and the Golden Lions were displayed in were not really conducive to good photos, though I managed to get a couple. These indoor enclosures did have access to some outside cages, but it was difficult to see the animals in the foliage. The Cottontop Tamarins, on the other hand, were very visible in a bird aviary with (I think) Sun Conures and Razor-billed Curassow. They were lying in the sun grooming each other while some juveniles played in the vegetation. http://www.zoochat.com/18/entrance-tamarin-building-142706/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/tamarin-indoor-enclosure-142711/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/black-lion-tamarin-137558/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/golden-lion-tamarin-137587/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/cottontop-tamarin-137569/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/cottontop-tamarins-grooming-session-137567/ The Nocturnal House is one big room with a display in the middle and glass-fronted enclosures around the perimeter. Although there was nothing on display I hadn’t seen before (the usual Australian species), the room was quite well lit with blue and red lamps and allowed me to try taking some photos using the just the ambient light (4 or 5 second exposures). Photographing the room itself was easy, I just pushed my camera up against a wall and held it there with a bit of force. Getting photos of the animals this way was out of the question as they were all moving. Luckily, one Ghost Bat was hanging quite still and so I took a photo. However, he decided to reposition himself and the photo was badly blurred. I waited till he stopped swinging and tried again, this time with much better results. http://www.zoochat.com/18/nocturnal-house-interior-137604/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/ghost-bat-137585/ There were some tree shrews kept in glass fronted enclosures attached to a building, possibly the Nocturnal House (or maybe part of the tamarin building). They didn’t appear to have an outdoor area, which I thought was disappointing as they didn’t really get any direct sunlight in these cages. But I could be wrong, they may have outdoor cages off-display. http://www.zoochat.com/18/common-tree-shrew-137563/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/common-tree-shrew-137564/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/common-tree-shrew-137565/ I should also mention the Yarra Pygmy Perch, and endangered species of native fish. Adelaide Zoo (and other fauna parks in South Australia) have displays of this threatened fish and I saw a tank of them, but can't remember where in the zoo it was. http://www.zoochat.com/18/yarra-pygmy-perch-graphics-137588/ I realised I was rapidly running out of time, so I hurried through the Tiger/Orangutan enclosures, and through the back end of the zoo – the seals, dwarf mongooses, hunting dogs, binturongs, baboons and mandrills etc. I didn’t even bother with the farmyard area, but noted that the old chimp and orang cages had gone. I had to buy some panda souvenirs for my nieces, and there is a gift shop that sells only panda souvenirs in the middle of the zoo (the old gift shop). There is a new gift shop built into the new entrance, and I had to spend a few minutes in there as well. http://www.zoochat.com/18/sun-bears-enclosure-142710/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/seal-pool-142709/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/hamadryas-baboon-142708/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/mandrill-137599/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/dwarf-mongoose-enclosure-137579/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/dwarf-mongoose-137577/ http://www.zoochat.com/18/dwarf-mongoose-137576/ At 2:00pm I returned to my car, half an hour after my parking ticket had expired. I briefly considered buying another parking ticket and staying at the zoo a bit longer, but considering my accommodation choices, I eventually decided against this. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Six hours later, as I camped by a deserted beach on D’Estrees Bay, I downloaded the photos from my cameras onto my laptop. I had taken 503 images at Adelaide Zoo, 154 of which were of pandas, panda enclosures or panda graphics. About 130 were of Wang Wang. After deleting the ones I didn’t like/want, I ended up with 312 of which 122 are of pandas (and 105 are of Wang Wang). It’s a good thing I don’t use film anymore! Hix
Good onya Hix; another very interesting report. (I'd pay money to read your stuff if I had to!) I know it's against current politically correct zoo policy, but I really like the fact that Adelaide is battling on with species which can't be seen in other Aussie zoos, such as pygmy mongoose, black lion tamarin and Canadian beaver. Visit them while they last, folks, they won't be around in this country much longer! What has happened with the old (heritage listed) elephant house? I noticed it in the background of your giraffe photo.
I think it's a little history centre about elephants at Adelaide Zoo nowadays and I'm pretty sure there's a photo of the inside in the gallery somewhere. Can we still keep sloths on that list of hanger-onners, Hix?
Yep, the elephant house is a museum of sorts. I took this photo in there the last time I visited. http://www.zoochat.com/18/skeleton-display-29953/ And there was a sloth (maybe more) in the Nocturnal House, if I remember correctly. Next to the Ghost Bats? I'd forgotten about the sloth. Two-toed, I think. Hix
You are very lucky Hix to be able to see a beaver at Adelaide. In the ten years I have readily been going to Adelaide zoo I have only seen one male. Now unfortunatly there are only two females left which will be gone in the next couple of years.
Wonder where they got that skull in the old elephant house? It looks like a young bull, but as far as I know Adelaide have only ever kept cows. A couple of weeks ago I visited the Macleay Museum at Sydney University to see the skull of Gandhi, who was the bull elephant at Taronga during the 1950s and 60s (pre Heman). Legend has it that after his death in 1968 his head was chained to a buoy in Sydney Harbour just off the zoo for the fish to "clean up" before being taken to the museum.
I well remember Ghandi. He was a magnificent animal. He came to Taronga from Bullens Circus after he started demolishing trucks. At Mt Larcom he saved Stafford Bullen's life when he lifted a wrecked truck off Stafford following a train accident on the level crossing at the entrance to Mt Larcom showground. When did he die, Ara? PS: I hadn't heard the fish story but it sounds plausible. The EPA would have a fit these days! We use ant's nests here to do the same job.
Nothing like a speedy reply, is there Steve? (It's only taken me 7 months to realise that you asked me when Gandhi died! I should work in a govt. department!) Apparently he died in early 1968, but I don't know whether he was euthanised or just died. Any idea how old he was?
Never mind old fella. You've got a good excuse. You're one of the few people on here who is older than me!! I don't know how old he was but I've got a couple of people trying to find out for me. I'll let you know if I find out anything. Off topic, but another question that I asked that you may have missed - do you recall the Kangy Angy Zoo just south of Wyong on the old Pacific Highway? I can't even recall the thread in which I asked you this!! Bloody old-timers syndrome.
Ghandi Apparently Ghandi was born in about 1914. Imported by Sole Bros Circus - date unknown. Purchased from Soles by Bullens in 1936. Transferred to Taronga - date unknown. Euthanised at Taronga 19/04/1968. His name was always spelt Ghandi.
The Dusky Langers would be worth a visit to Adelaide zoo alone, Wonderful animals wish we had more in Oz
I wish more Zoochatters presented reports this way- full of really detailed information and with photo links interspersed to match at all the relevant stages. Excellent! From the family trees I notice that both Giant Pandas have one parent each that was itself born in captivity. By the end I was so engrossed I was even interested that you got back to your car half an hour late. I guess you didn't get a fine as you didn't mention it!
No, I didn't get a fine, which was lucky I suppose. I spent another ten minutes or so deciding what I was going to do next. I ended up driving down to Kangaroo Island and camping on a deserted beach (which is the subject of another thread). Hix
@Hix. Great review. Particularly interested on the native endangered species: Yarra pygmy perch, Adelaide blue tongues and western pond TURTLE! Any breeding there? On the way out: (to add to others' comments) dusky langur (shame as easy to come by in S.E. Asia thanks to rampant pet and bush meat trade) and Persian leopard (bring all them back to the EEP - allthough Adelaide Persians are no longer listed, so a goner??). Your Black gibbons are white-cheekeds Nomascus leucogenys.
They are attempting to breed the Adelaide Pygmy Bluetongues but they are quite a difficult species to breed. In the last year the zoo got 10 new animals to add to the program. I think there was also talk about moving some out to Monarto. I'm not too sure if the Western swamp turtles have bred. The Yarra Pygmy Perch have bred at the zoo but I am unsure what numbers have been bred in the past. Unfortunately I think there are only two Persian leopards left in the country and there is no interest in getting more by any zoos. Also with the dusky langurs I heard from a keeper that they may be acquiring a new female to add to the group.
In regards to the Pygmy Bluetongues the few they used to have never really had the right set up for breeding with very little effort was put into getting them to breed
