Find it at: Adelaide Zoo (Frome Rd, Adelaide)

Giant Panda News Out of Adelaide Zoo – 24 Aug 2024

With Wang Wang & Fu Ni’s imminent departure from the Adelaide Zoo, we finally now know which two giant pandas will be taking their place! Here is what the Adelaide Zoo had to say on their announcement on Facebook:

“Put your paws together for Xing Qiu and Yi Lan – the two Giant Pandas that will join Adelaide Zoo in the very near future.

Male, Xing Qiu (pronounced shing chee-y-ull), is three years old and is described as a very handsome panda with a docile but lively personality.

Meaning “star Autumn”, Xing Qiu’s name describes his birth season and the starry sky that was twinkling above on the night he was born.

Three-year-old female, Yi Lan (pronounced ee-lun), is described as a playful and very beautiful panda. Her name means “idly blissful”.

After many discussions and careful consideration, Xing Qiu and Yi Lan were chosen as the best fit for life here in Adelaide.

Their arrival will allow us to continue to spark a love for Giant Panda conservation not only here in South Australia but around the world!

We feel very honoured to be entrusted with the care of such a beautiful species and, while we don’t yet have a date for their arrival, we look forward to sharing more black-and-white news with you as the next chapter of our Giant Panda journey begins!”

We will be sure to update you as soon as we have an arrival date for the new pair!

If you haven’t been to Adelaide Zoo in a while, you might be surprised by how much has changed. From the new Penguin Bay to the Red Panda Runway and Tamarins on the Run tunnels, the primate boardwalk where you can sit for hours watching the siamang and gibbons swing and play above your head to the cheeky meerkats and of course our two famous Pandas – you won’t know where tolook first!

The zoo is home to over 250 different species of native and exotic animals including their famous Giant Pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni and newest arrivals – three adorable Sumatran Tiger cubs! Sisters Marni and Susu and brother Ketambe have been prowling, pouncing and playing together since their debut in April 2023!

Set aside a few hours or a whole day of exploring, discovery and fun with plenty of opportunities to get up close to the animals. It can be a long day of walking and sightseeing so make sure you pack extra snacks, water and sunscreen as you make your way around the jungle-like gardens.

The lovely botanic setting means lots of shady areas and perfect for laying out a blanket for a picnic. Bring your own lunch, or grab a range of tasty treats, snacks, drinks and hot meals at the onsite cafes. 

If you want to get closer to some of your favourite animals, there are some incredible experiences available for loved ones of all ages. Hand feed a giraffe, go behind the scenes to feed the adorable Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies, mingle with meerkats and even inspect an insect (a great one for the under 6s). Check out the range of experiences online here.

Run wild at Nature’s Playground

This is an absolute highlight for the kids! Part of the Variety Children’s Zoo, it’s a wonderful environment where little ones of all ages and abilities can let their imaginations run wild exploring the natural world. It’s always one of the highlights of our day at the Adelaide Zoo. Click here for all the Adelaide Zoo Nature Playground info.

Head’s up! Free Flight Bird Show

Swoop in for a flying sensation at 11:30am daily on the Central Lawn to see some of the feathered Adelaide Zoo residents and hear about their incredible features. It’s a great time to sit and eat your lunch.

Relaxed Zoo Mornings For Inclusive Experiences

During a Relaxed Zoo Morning experience, the zoo’s gates open earlier with reduced human noises on site to ensure a quieter and calmer environment for the autism and autistic community.

The experience is held quarterly on the third Saturday morning of month, and allows guests one and half hours to explore the zoo at their own pace before opening to the general public.

The Relaxed Zoo Mornings program is part of Zoos SA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) charter, which aims to create an environment of diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusiveness.

Click here for more info and dates for Relaxed Zoo Mornings

Kids in Adelaide Top Tips for visiting Adelaide Zoo

  • Bring lots of snacks and water. Water bottles can be refilled at stations around the Zoo!
  • Hats and sunscreen are a must.
  • Adelaide Zoo is very pram friendly and they also have Zoobarus (available for hire for $15.)
  • Check the daily schedule for the day you visit to make sure you don’t miss any of the animal presentations or meet the keeper experiences > adelaidezoo.com.au/meet-the-keeper
  • If you’re interested in an animal experience book before you go, they often sell out.

Open 9:30am – 5pm every day of the year (including Christmas and Boxing Day!)

A Zoos SA membership pays for itself in just 3 visits!
Get a 365-day adventure with unlimited visits to Adelaide Zoo AND Monarto Safari Park plus discount at the Zoo Shop and café.

Cost:
Members – Free
Cub (0-3 years) Free
Child (4-14 years) $22.50
Adult (15+ years) $42.50
Concession (15+ years) $31
Family (2 adult + 2-3 children) $107

There’s also a great range of family combination passes you can buy, check out the website for more information.

If your littlies can’t get enough of the Adelaide Zoo, you could also enrol them in the A to Zoo sessions for pre-schoolers! Find out more here.

For more information and to book tickets online visit
www.adelaidezoo.com.au

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  • Hand feed Giant Pandas, Wang Wang and Fu Ni, get up close to meerkats as they run across your lap in search of treats, help feed the Little Penguins or experience a day in the life of a Zoo Keeper… plus so much more! Get within a whisker of some of the world’s most awe-inspiring animals with a behind the scenes Animal Experience at Adelaide Zoo. With a wide range of experiences available for all ages and budgets, there’s something for everyone. After your Animal Experience, don't forget to visit the Variety Children's Zoo and the Nature Playground. Plus, if your kids really can't get enough Zoo fun, consider enrolling them into A To Zoo sessions for pre-schoolers. Book your tickets or purchase a gift voucher online today and discover more experiences atwww.adelaidezoo.com.au/animal-experiences

  • The Variety Children’s Zoo is an amazing play space for kids filled with interactive areas that allow them to get closer than ever to some of the zoo’s most popular residents. Located right next to the Nature’s Playground and Wisteria Café you can grab a coffee while the kids learn, explore and meet some new animal friends. Complete with areas for children of all abilities to play and explore you can get up close and personal with goats, rabbits, guinea pigs and many other animals! This is a great time to get unlimited visits to this fantastic new family favourite with a Zoos SA membership! Receive unlimited visits to Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park plus discounts at the retail shops and cafes. If your kids can't get enough of the Adelaide Zoo, consider booking in for an Animal Experience or their A to Zoo sessions for pre-schoolers. For more info visit the Adelaide Zoo websiteadelaidezoo.com.au/childrens-zoo

  • Nurture your little one’s curiosity for animals and the natural world! Designed for little adventurers 2-5, see Adelaide Zoo’s animals brought to life over a series of eight play-based, creative learning sessions.Learn about a new species each week at our large open-plan space devoted to craft with a cosy nook for storytelling, music and movement, plus an adventure through the zoo to meet the animal up close. A much-loved program among members and visitors, our tiny herd of A to Zooers will develop a sense of belonging, connection and adventure. Program details: Designed for 2 – 5 year olds 45-minute sessions over 8 weeks in Terms 1 – 4 Available Mondays to Fridays Session times 9:45am or 10:45am If you’re not a member yet, this is a great opportunity to take advantage of unlimited free visits to the zoo!Click here to find out more about joining the wild family. www.adelaidezoo.com.au/atozoo After your A-Zoo session, head to the Variety Children's Zoo, were the kids can play on the incredible Nature Playground! For animal experiences at the Adelaide Zoo click here.