Adelaide Zoo, Adelaide

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The Flamingo Pond has been in the same spot for around 100 years and has large tree within the exhibit which is quite eye catching as it looks almost prehistoric. Its a Dracaena draco tree also known as the Dragon Tree or Dragon Blood Tree. The trees originate in the Canary Islands and do particularly well in the South Australian climate. They are unusual looking trees with a wide spreading crown.
There is a small fence at about knee height so obviously the Flamingos have been quite happy on their small plot of land. I would like to know if any of those flamingos have ever, in a hundred years, just stepped over that fence to explore the world??

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Adelaide Zoo is the second oldest zoo in the nation and is home to over 3,400 animals and almost 300 species of exotic and native mammals, birds, reptiles and fish exhibited in magnificent botanic surroundings.
Ticket is $22 adult.

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If you love the zoo then you will get a kick out of the new behind the scenes tour. Several to choose from and they range in price from about $40 to $400. Its a great way for the zoo to raise money & the tour guides said they have several people everyday. We did the Big Cat one. It was really exciting! We went behind the lion & tigers enclosures to release them from their sleeping quarters. We stood only a few feet and although there was a cage between us my heart still speed up. At one stage the tiger made eye contact & gave me several roaring warnings to back away. He then swiped the cage with his enormous claws. Needless to say I backed away!
If you love and respect animals then this is a great way to have a unique experience that is both positive for you and the animal - unlike those awful places that drug them, pull them around in chains, allow tourists to lie all over them before retuning them to some hideous enclosure. The tiger at Adelaide zoo was once kept in a private zoo. His life was a very miserable one. His teeth were filed down and his living enclosure was bad. His was abused. The keeper told us that if you put a crate in his enclosure he will walk straight into it. This is not the behaviour of a healthy tiger. But now he lives in Adelaide and has a brand new enclosure that allows him to wander around & even hide from the public eye if he wishes. He ever has a heated rock for sunbathing, a swimming pool & in the sky above him he can see orangutans swinging from his closure to theirs. Its not the jungle but then again hes not some rich wankers toy anymore.
Money raised goes to improving the zoo. Well spent!
On the tour we were given lots of info on the cats. Toured the keepers work area. Were shown the mechanics of the enclosures. Explored the area (It was great the touch a huge tiger paw print left in the sand). We released the cats. Feed the lions & see the gibbons show off to their keeper. I had a ball!

Available Days Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday. Time 8.30am
Length 1 hour Cost $135pp

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This sail finned water dragon was convinced the my colourful finger nails would be something good to eat. He followed them back and forth and at one stage pucked his lips on the glass. You can find him at the front of the nocturnal house.

These two little guys are very playful. They always seem to be on the move. They are given life enrichment toys which keep things interesting. The bears are part of the South East Asian Rainforest.

Open Times
Monday: 0930 -1700
Tuesday: 0930 -1700
Wednesday: 0930 -1700
Thursday: 0930 -1700
Friday: 0930 -1700
Saturday: 0930 -1700
Sunday: 0930 -1700
Public Holidays: 0930 -1700
Christmas Day: 0930 - 1700
Good Friday: 0930 - 1700

Adelaide zoo has a nice greened area where you can picnic. Its in front of the restaurant, cafe and a historical rotunda. There are a few benches and the toilet block runs along side it. There is plenty of shade. This is also were the freeflight bird show takes place.

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The Immersion enclosures focus on endangered species that coexist, Siamang, Dusky Langurs, Malayan Tapir, Sunbears Otters and various bird species. It cost $3.4 million to bulid. The enclosure has a raised bridge from which you can look down upon the animals. On one side Gibbons on the other tapirs and silver leaf monkeys.

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The two Malayan tapir at the Adelaide share their enclosure with some silver leaf monkies and some otters. The area is shaded by a large fig tree. Tapir come from the horse/rhinocero family. In the wild Tapirs live in dense forest, browsing by night on leaves and twigs. They seem very happy in the enclosure and in winter they normally have their noses in the mud. They are considered vulnerable in the wild but Adelaide has had success in breeding when a little one was born in 2000.