Adelaide Zoo

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Adelaide Zoo is Australia's second oldest zoo, located in Adelaide, South Australia and the only major metropolitan zoo in Australia to be owned and operated on a non-profit basis. The zoo also owns the Monarto open plains zoo near Murray Bridge.

One of the Sumatran tigers at Adelaide Zoo
One of the Sumatran tigers at Adelaide Zoo

The zoo houses some almost 300 native and exotic species, with over 3,400 animals on site. Currently, two young gorillas can also be seen here on loan from Taronga Zoo, until being sent overseas for breeding. Currently (2006) the zoo is in the second phase of constructing its South-East Asia exhibits, providing visitors with the experience of walking through the jungle with Sumatran Tigers and Orangutans seemingly within reach.

Many features of the zoo are of architectural importance and are heritage listed by the National Trust of South Australia, including the front entrance on Frome Road, and the former Elephant House. The zoo is also a botanical garden and the grounds contain significant exotic and native flora, including a Moreton Bay Fig planted in 1877.

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[edit] History

A Pied Heron in one of the zoo's walk-in aviaries.
A Pied Heron in one of the zoo's walk-in aviaries.

Adelaide Zoo first opened on 23 May 1883, occupying 6.5 hectares (now 8 hectares) of land granted by the Government. It was founded by the South Australian Acclimatisation and Zoological Society. The society later became the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia after a Royal Charter was granted by King George VI in 1937.

The first Director of the Zoo was R E Minchin, from 1882 to 1893. He was succeeded by his son and grandson in the role.

In the mid-twentieth Century the zoo was involved in the export of live birds, with 99% of Australia's exports of live native birds, mainly finches and parrots for aviculture, passing through either Adelaide or Taronga Zoos. At a time when the need for conservation of Australia's native birds, and control of their trade was becoming increasingly apparent, South Australia lagged behind other states in passing appropriate legislation.

In 1962 a new director of the zoo, William Gasking, was quickly dismissed through the power exerted by the Zoo Council President, Fred Basse, on the grounds that Gasking would not cooperate with the bird trade. However, when Basse retired the trade in birds dropped to a tenth of what it had been two years before. Since then the zoo's administration has been restructured and the zoo has regained public credibility and scientific status.

The modern zoo has moved away from the traditional housing of species separately in pairs. Now species are grouped together as they would be in the wild, in exhibits that are carefully planned according to region. Enclosures have been designed with the needs of the animals in mind, providing a more natural habitat, which also serves an educational purpose for visitors. Although some of the zoo's heritage listed enclosures such as the Elephant House have been retained, they are no longer used to house animals.

[edit] Current focus

The Zoo has a particular focus on species from the Gondwana 'supercontinent' which was made up of South America, India, Africa, Australia and South East Asia. The botanic similarities between the regions are featured in the Zoo’s main exhibits, which include a South East Asian Rainforest, and Australian Rainforest Wetlands walk-through aviary. Adelaide recently (2006) became the second Zoo in the world to try a mixed species habitat for siamang gibbons and Sumatran orangutans, after the San Diego Zoo in the USA who have assisted the Adelaide program. Adelaide Zoo is also involved with captive breeding programs, with species including Sumatran tigers, red pandas and tamarin monkeys.

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[edit] External links

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Zoos, aquaria and aviaries