Blog Archive

Posts for category 'Adelaide Zoo'

Save the Tripa Peat Swamps!

Recently, the world’s attention has been shone on northern Sumatra where conservation organisations are currently fighting to save the last remaining Sumatran Orangutans and the forest of the Tripa peat swamps, in the Aceh Province Indonesia. The Tripa forest once held the largest orangutan population density in the world but the critically endangered species is now facing local extinction. If you aren’t already aware of what is happening, the Tripa forest is being converted for large scale palm oil plantations. But the legality of this forest conversion is being contested in a high profile legal case as much of the forest clearing has been done illegally as has the burning of the land and the illegal establishment of huge drainage canals that will drain this unique and critically important wetland of its principal life force.

Fennec Fox Kits on Display at Adelaide Zoo

Adelaide Zoo is pleased to announce the birth of two healthy Fennec Fox kits, one male and one female, born October 17, 2011.

Matt and Scamp, Adelaide Zoos breeding pair of Fennec Foxes, are proving to be great parents caring for their kits diligently.

It's a Girl!

Adelaide Zoo is pleased to announce the critically endangered White Cheeked Gibbon baby, born September 14, 2011, has been confirmed as female.

After waiting patiently to discover the gender of this special baby, Adelaide Zoo staff are now calling on the public to help name her. All are invited to make suggestions by posting on the wall of Adelaide Zoo’s Facebook page.

Much Loved ‘Chook’ the Superb Lyrebird Passes Away

Adelaide Zoo identity and YouTube star, Chook the Superb Lyrebird, passed away this week after 20 years at the Zoo.

Chook arrived at Adelaide Zoo in 1991 from Healesville Sanctuary and has since been delighting the public with his amazing repertoire of calls and mimics, which made him a YouTube sensation with nearly 1.2 million viewings.

Playtime for Adelaide Zoo’s Giant Pandas

From December 17, for the first time, visitors to Adelaide Zoo can view the Zoo’s two Giant Pandas Wang Wang and Funi sharing an exhibit daily.

Critically Endangered White Cheeked Gibbon Born at Adelaide Zoo

Day Two Highlights

Our Giant Panda introductions continue to progress well. Here are some photos from Day Two, which shows our Wang Wang and Funi getting along very well. There hasn't been a mating yet but signs are looking great :-)

It's Panda Day!

It’s Panda Day at Adelaide Zoo today, with Wang Wang and Funi introduced for breeding purposes. The introductions are taking place in the off-limits area where the Giant Pandas can be closely monitored. The panda exhibit will remain closed during this time as it is important there is minimal disturbance to the pair.

National Threatened Species Day

Did you know Tasmanian Devils patrol an area in a large figure of eight pattern in the wild? And so, with a little poetic license, the legend of the Looney Tunes cartoon character, Taz, spinning around from place to place, was born.

With their large heads, wide jaws and big, sharp teeth, Tasmanian devils are an iconic Australian species

A Beautiful Day for a Party!

What a beautiful day for a party!! Kluet and Karta were spoilt rotten on Saturday, when their keepers threw them a big party in celebration of Kluet's 16th and Karta's 29th birthday.

A large crowd of excited zoo visitors sang "Happy Birthday" to the lucky pair as they tucked into their many birthday presents

Flying Foxes in Botanic Park

As you may be aware, we have a small colony of the Grey Headed Flying Fox (GHFF) roosting in Aleppo Pines in Botanic Park . This is the same colony that originally set up shop and bred in the Botanic Gardens last year .

It’s Party Time!

Kluet and Karta, our beautiful Sumatran Orangutans, both have a birthday coming up next week and it’s time to celebrate!

We have some nice surprises in store for them with 3 days of festivity. Kluet is having his birthday first and he will be turning 16 this coming Monday, 18th July. Karta has her birthday a few days later on Friday 22nd July and she will be turning 29 years old.

Final Chance to Make a Difference

As you may have seen recently, the Bill to make labeling for palm oil a mandatory requirement on food, cosmetics and palm oil was passed in the House of Senate on Thursday 23rd June 2011.

Now it has one more step to go on Monday 4th July, when it goes through the House of Representatives. If it successfully goes through there then it will become law.

Enrichment is Best Served Randomly

Thought I would share some photos taken by our photographer Dave Mattner of our latest "Enrichment Day". This was Adelaide Zoos 3rd Enrichment Day. They are proving to be very popular with our visitors - and are doing a brilliant job of pushing the message out there of how important enrichment is - the need for both mental and physical stimulation to animals that have all their needs supplied with very little effort on their part.

A Statement from Zoos SA

The Royal Zoological Society of South Australia is a not for profit, non-Government organisation. Significant capital investment was required for the development of the new front entrance precinct, the perimeter fence – required in order to meet National Zoo Standards – and the Giant Panda exhibit. The organisation attracted an enormous amount of community and business support, and valuable partnerships but far less national sponsorship than expected, largely due to the onset of the Global Financial Crisis at a critical point in the project.

Enrichment is for Everyone

Life is a routine. Or is it?

Every day, we deal with routines in our world. Eat, drink, and sleep. Get up, deal with our family, feed the budgie, get to work, go to school, and walk the dog, plus whatever others you may care to add. Predictable routines, though, are a relatively recent thing in the evolution of us Humanimals.

Local Plants for Local Species

This year, Adelaide Zoo celebrated World Environment Day alongside cabaret star, David Campbell, who helped plant a Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) on the tented Envirodome roof garden. World Environment Day is all about raising awareness of environmental issues and encouraging people to think and act green.

Cheeky Little Monkey

Our Dusky Langur baby is growing up quickly, meaning she has lost the brilliant colouring she was born with, but continues to be a cheeky and confident little monkey.

A keen explorer, she has been spending more time way from her Mum, Flier, who seems happy for her baby to become more independent. On exhibit in the large Moreton Bay Fig in the middle of Adelaide Zoo, be sure to come visit our precocious baby langur soon!

Our Hyacinth Macaws

This has all changed however, with the arrival of two spritely, young South American chaps that have taken up permanent residence within our new South American bird aviary. The two beautiful Hyacinth Macaws have finally been cleared to come onto display, and haven’t they made an entrance into the public world! Whilst striking in colour, their very loud, raucous call ensures that I (and perhaps the rest of the creatures nearby) are quickly woken up in the mornings now.

Scrap Metal Recycling

I have noticed recently in the eastern suburbs that the annual hard rubbish collection is in full swing. All that interesting stuff neatly stacked by the suburban roadsides waiting for re-use, people trawling the streets for useful items that are no longer required by others.

Re-use is the most desirable fate for discarded items with recycling coming in second.

A Tiger with Webbed Feet

On February 26 the Zoo held a special “Enrichment Day” which was a chance for us to showcase some of the behavioural and environmental enrichment that we provide for our animals on an everyday basis.

One of the many highlights of Enrichment Day was seeing Tuan, our 12 year old male Sumatran Tiger, getting his paws (and all the rest!) wet while he stalked a large blood ice-block (or “bloodsicle”) which we floated in the lagoon at the front of his exhibit.

Puspa, our Budding Artist

At the moment, we allow Puspa to come back into the building to her bedroom areas when she decides to. By taking it at her own pace, we are ensuring that we can keep building on all the positive experiences Puspa is having… As the old saying goes, slow and steady wins the race.

But don’t worry we are certainly keeping Puspa happy when she is inside during the day. We have discovered she is a budding artist - Puspa seems to love to paint.

International Women's Day

It’s hard to believe that in 1984 Adelaide Zoo’s very first female zoo keeper was employed.

I started working at Adelaide Zoo way back in December 1991 as a casual zoo keeper and by this time it appeared that women were well and truly ensconced into the zoo culture and work ethic.

Enrichment Day Wrap

On Saturday 26th February, Adelaide Zoo hosted an all day showcase of animal enrichment activities designed to stimulate zoo animals’ ‘wild’ behaviours and enhance their lives.

Enrichment is an everyday part of zoo life however on this special day we gave the public a chance to see a wide range of species receiving their treats

Baby Langur

On 23 January, Adelaide Zoo welcomed the latest addition to our Dusky Langur group.

Three-time Mum, Flier, gave birth to a healthy little girl, who is already proving to be a very mischievous, cheeky monkey...

Karta, Kluet and Puspa Update!

Many of you have heard how Puspa is doing but I know a few people are also wondering how Kluet and Karta are doing with Puspa’s arrival and the mammoth change that this brings…

The afternoon Puspa had arrived, Adelaide received a fair amount of rain. So that Kluet and Karta would not get soaking wet, they had been given access to certain bedroom areas so that they could stay dry during Puspa’s unloading. That was the plan anyway

And her name is...

Hi All

Things have slowed down a little since the last entry, however we have had two momentous occasions. Firstly our little Cocky has been given a name; the staff involved in rearing her have chosen to call her Seisia. This name was chosen from the many entries we received from the website naming competition.

New Fennec Foxes

The Carnivore team would like to welcome three new Fennec Foxes to Adelaide Zoo. Matt, Scamp and Amber arrived in Adelaide from Los Angeles in November, just in time for a warmish Australian Christmas.

After spending a month in quarantine at the Animal Health Centre they joined our other two Fennec Foxes, Tizga and Kira, in the exhibits across from the Lions. You can visit Amber in with Tizga and Kira in the exhibit right of the Servals and next door to them are Matt and Scamp.

Diary of a Palm Cockatoo (part 5)

Hi All

There have been a lot of developments since the last entry. The chick has continued to develop very quickly both mentally and physically, and has progressed from being housed in our incubation room to living full time in an aviary. This was a gradual change to ensure that she was ready. Some of the signs indicating that she was ready included; climbing out of her tub and insisting on perching on the edge and also needing to perch to get enough traction to enable copious and very enthusiastic bouts of wing flapping.

Puspa's Arrival

Well, Puspa is here and has spent her first week here at Adelaide Zoo.

On the night she arrived Puspa came flying out of her transport box obviously very happy to have some space and a good stretch. She immediately started checking out her new surrounds munching on apples, grapes and lettuce. Puspa climbed all around her new bedroom, hanging from the roof and having a good look at everything.

New Orang-utan Arriving Today

It is exciting times in the orang-utan building at the moment. Today we are receiving a female Sumatran Orang-utan from Perth Zoo. Her name is Puspa which means flower bud in Indonesian.

Puspa was born in Perth Zoo on the 30th of January 1975 so she will be turning 36 soon. She is coming to Adelaide Zoo in the hopes that eventually she will breed with Kluet our male Sumatran Orangutan.

Orang-utan Arriving at the Adelaide Zoo

MEDIA RELEASE

Today Zoos South Australia is pleased to announce the arrival of a female Sumatran Orang-utan at Adelaide Zoo as part of the international breeding program. Puspa will be making the journey via Adelaide Airport from Perth Zoo with her keeper who will also assist in settling her into her new home alongside Karta and Kluet at Adelaide Zoo.

Santa Arrives Early for Kluet and Karta

Yesterday Kluet and Karta, our Sumatran Orangutans, got an early Christmas present from our wonderful volunteers. The BEEZA (Behavioural and Environmental Enrichment for Zoo Animals) volunteers made Kluet and Karta a huge box filled with many smaller boxes, which were in turned filled with all sorts of treats like dried fruit, popcorn (unsalted and unbuttered!!) and also a few peanuts.

Kluet didn’t spot the box for a few minutes

Diary of a Palm Cockatoo (part 4)

Hi Everyone

It’s a girl ! We have received results from DNA sexing and they have confirmed that our chick is a female.

Baby Mandrill

In October, Adelaide Zoo welcomed a newborn female Mandrill to first time mother Niari.

Diary of a Palm Cockatoo (part 3)

Hello All

It's time for another entry in the Palm Cocky Diary.

Our little chick isn't so small any more. In the last two weeks the chick has more than doubled in weight

Our Tawny Frogmouth chick

 

Diary of a Palm Cockatoo (part 2)

Although our little chick is growing quickly, it will require feeding potentially for the next 5 or 6 months. They generally don't leave the nest until they are about 4 months old and are notoriously slow at weaning.

Luckily this extended period in the nest is coupled with a slow digestive system.

A Busy Day For Us All Once Again

Hi all

You haven’t heard from me for a while but I will try and update you on some of the happenings in the health centre.

Last Monday, we were busy checking our carnivore section including our female sealion ‘Ady’ after her anaesthetic for

Playful Mujambi

If you have been to Adelaide Zoo you would have noticed how lush and green it is with an array of different plants, from the pink flowered Violet Maple in the Giant Panda exhibits to the vast array of palm trees around the grounds.

Our great horticulture team maintains the grounds of the zoo and some of the trimmings made can be used as enrichment for our animals. Palm fronds are a favourite for a few animals,

Diary of a Palm Cockatoo (part 1)

We recently had a very exciting “hatch” at Adelaide Zoo, with the arrival of a little Palm Cockatoo chick on 5 October. This little chick is the first one to be successful reared in Australia since 1973.

We were very exciting to find a fertile egg as we weren’t sure whether our pair were capable of breeding

Zoos SA and Santos Partners in Conservation

MEDIA RELEASE

Zoos South Australia as part of a joint commitment to sustainability has partnered with Santos to announce the official launch of the Santos Conservation Centre at Adelaide Zoo.

South Australian Premier Mike Rann will officially launch the Santos Conservation Centre, which provides the community with a centre for people to meet, share ideas and be inspired by the natural world.

Happy Birthday Kemiri

Kemiri turns 16 tomorrow! Check out our gorgeous girl and listen to two of her keepers talk about how much they enjoy working with this friendly tiger. 

Much Loved Sea Lion Pup Passes Away

Media Release

Adelaide Zoo’s much loved female Sea Lion pup passed away through the night of 10 November due to a medical condition.

The female pup was born 31st October to first time Mum Ady, who rejected her upon birth. The pup was being hand-raised at Adelaide Zoo’s Animal Health Centre and seemed to be doing very well for being orphaned.

Trapping SA's Most Endangered Mammal

Hello all,

Recently I had the privilege to spend time in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytatjara (APY) Lands (northern SA near the NT boarder) representing Zoos SA in the annual Black-footed rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis MacDonnell Range race) trapping event. 

The Warru, as they are called by the Anangu people, is SA’s most endangered mammal,

E-waste Recycling

Over the last few months I have been asked by members of staff of how best they may dispose of large electronic items. E-waste is a generic name applied to domestic or commercial electrical products that are nearing or at the end of their useful life, such as computers, mobile phones, TVs, microwaves, DVD players, light globes, play-stations etc.

Waste Management Changes

There have been a few changes to the waste management arrangements recently. It has been a few weeks since the changes were made and so far there do not appear to be any major problems. There may be some slight changes to improve the recovery rate of recyclable material.

Tracking Our Water Usage

Adelaide Zoo’s water consumption is now being tracked with mains and bore meters. The maintenance department installed meters on the Adelaide Zoo’s 4 bores in early October 2009. This work was accompanied by fitting of pressure switches, fixing of leaks, isolation of cross-connections and changes to flow discharges.

A Heavy Heart for Dewi

Even when you know it’s the right thing to do, euthanasing an animal because of a debilitating incurable disease is always done with heavy heart – especially when that animal had been around for as long, and had touched as many zoo staff and visitors, as Dewi, one of our Malayan sun bears.

When the time came, keepers from around the zoo came to see Dewi for one last time, and her primary keeper came in on her day off to say goodbye.

Rescued Sea Eagle

Saw a White-bellied Sea Eagle this morning, brought in by the Australian Marine Wildlife Research and Rescue Organization (AMWRRO). A beautiful bird with impressive powerful talons that we made sure we avoided!

RIP Cubba

We recently said goodbye to Cubba, our Persian leopard. Born here at Adelaide Zoo, Cubba had lived a long healthy life and rarely required veterinary attention. About a month ago, Cubba was found suddenly lame on his right front leg one morning with an obvious swelling just above his wrist.

Regent Honeyeater Reintroduction

It's been a very rewarding day today, and it started at about 6am this morning. We have been quarantining eight endangered Regent Honeyeaters in the Animal Health Centre. Regent Honeyeaters are extinct in South Australia and it is thought that there is only about 800 - 2000 individuals left in the wild.

We have been quarantining the honeyeaters in the health centre before sending them to Taronga Zoo to be released into the wild as a large group

Sunbear Surgery

Hello all,

As usual it's been a very interesting day! Over the last week our female Malayan sun bear Dewi, has been noted by her keepers to have a very swollen abdomen. Her attitude and appetite has remained normal, however keepers and veterinary staff were a bit concerned. So it was decided to plan to anaesthetise her so that we could examine her closely.

It's Festival Time Again!

This is such a great time of year in Adelaide. I moved to SA in 2008 so last year was my first Fringe, my first Womad... I love it. And it’s so great that Adelaide Zoo is such a part of it all; even more so from this year with the new spaces for performance and exhibition at the new front entrance of the zoo.

Meerkat Procedure

Whew.... another busy day. Only have time for a quick chat, so will just write about the patient of the day.... a very cute 4 year old female meerkat, who about a week ago poked her front paw into another meerkat enclosure and had it bitten.

Computed Radiography Machine

Hi All,

Things are really moving along at the moment in the Animal Health Department.  From a nursing point of view, we have a terrific team of nurses here that work incredibly hard to ensure that all the animals under our care get the very best care available.

We are still working hard at raising enough money by the end of the year to keep our Computed Radiography machine ($45 000 to go.........).  This

Back to Normal

The flamingo is still doing well, activity patterns have settled back into a daily routine though it can still adapt to changes. We recently removed a plant from its enclosure and this now creates a new path that the flamingo uses often. Weight is still good, most recently at 4.10kg. With its last few weights varying from 4.1kg to 4.3kg (with the variation possibly caused by whether it has recently fed or not) its weight is consistent enough to be of no further concern.

Flamingo Update

A follow-up Zoowatch has been done on the flamingos with a roster of volunteers stationed in front of the exhibit eight hours a day for seven days.

From the data obtained there has only been a small variation in the enclosure spatial usage, the Greater Flamingo is on the lawn area for 72% of the time and in the pond for 24%.

Meet the Flamingo Keeper

Hi there

I'm Vaughan, the keeper normally responsible for looking after the Flamingos as well as another 300+ birds at Adelaide Zoo. I have been working here for about six years and have looked after the flamingos for about four of those years. I also used to be a volunteer guide here at the zoo for close to twenty years before that so I have a long history of being around Adelaide Zoo, and being around the flamingos. I have also been fortunate enough to have observed flamingos in the wild in Africa.

I hope you enjoy our website and the information that we can provide to you. I’ll be weighing the flamingo again soon so will write another update over the weekend.

Merry Christmas.

 

Flamingo Update

The Greater Flamingo has been doing fine all week. Its weight today is 4.04kg. Though this is down on the last weighing, it is a return to the likely standard weight. Another Zoowatch will be starting next week to enable a comparison of present behaviour to the results of the last Zoowatch post incident.