Zoos SA announce reopening of Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park

June 15, 2020

Nearly 13 weeks since it closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Adelaide Zoo will reopen its gates on Monday, 22nd June 2020 reuniting animals with animal and conservation lovers. Monarto Safari Park will open one week later on 29th June 2020.

Zoos SA Chief Executive, Elaine Bensted advises “I’m so happy to say that we are reopening Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park.

“It’s been nearly 90 days since we last had any members or visitors inside the gates and to say we have missed them is an understatement.

“Naturally, we will have a number of measures in place to ensure everyone’s safety including the necessity to pre-purchase tickets online so that we can keep within the SA Government’s guidelines and monitor the number of visitors on any given day.

“In addition to helping us manage capacity, this will allow us to easily trace and contact people in the event of a COVID-19 related incident.

Bensted adds “Entry tickets are compulsory and will be available via our website. These online tickets will be valid only for the date selected.

“Even our wonderful Zoos SA members, who usually enter with their membership card, will need to redeem free online tickets via our website before coming in.

“By operating this way, it will be easy and efficient for us to progress through the State Government’s recovery steps framework.

“Fortunately, we are blessed to have plenty of outdoor space at Adelaide Zoo, so our guests can enjoy themselves while still keeping at a safe distance.

“And of course, most importantly, visitors will get to see our wonderful animals. Our members and visitors have made it clear that they have missed seeing them and I’m so glad that we can begin to reconnect people with nature once more.

“The public will also be pleased to know that we plan to reopen Monarto Safari Park on 29th June.”

Social distancing measures will apply throughout the zoo’s outdoor and indoor areas. All indoor areas will comply with the four metre square per person requirements.

There will also be sanitising stations, washbasins and bathrooms readily available with thorough cleaning of all public and staff areas.

The Wisteria and Fig Tree Cafés at Adelaide Zoo and the cafe at Monarto Safari Park have outdoor seating areas and plenty of space for picnics.

While visitors have been absent, it has been business as usual for keeping staff who have maintained the regular feeding, care and training of the animals.

Elsewhere, the first stage in works to expand Adelaide Zoo's giraffe’s exhibit is complete and visitors will see that it is now double its original size. Zoos SA recently announced that the giraffe exhibit will expand throughout a number of stages until, on final completion, it will be the largest inner-metropolitan giraffe exhibit in the country.

Visitors to Adelaide Zoo will also discover a new animal on exhibit in the shape of the Zoo’s first Komodo Dragon. Located in the Reptile House, the Komodo will come out of its quarantine at around the same time as South Australians.

The female Komodo marks the beginning of the zoo’s plans to breed and grow an insurance population of the species which is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red list.

Visitors to Monarto Safari Park will get to see the four lion cubs which last week made their debut in the main exhibit.

As a conservation charity and not-for-profit, Zoos SA has relied upon and benefited from the support of the State and Federal Governments during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For information and ticket sales tickets go to www.zoossa.com.au/covid-19/

11th June 2020 - Former Zoos SA veterinarian and conservationist awarded Member of the Order of Australia

2nd June 2020 - Zoos SA unable to reopen under current suggested restrictions

13th April 2020 - Malaysian zoos need government funding to cover operating costs

3rd April 2020 - Zoos SA launch live streaming keeper talks

27th May 2020 - Adelaide zoo otter pups pass first health check on World Otter Day

7th April 2020 - Adelaide Zoo announces birth of three otter pups

23rd January 2020 - Zoos SA plans wildlife recovery strategies following bushfires

13th January 2020 - Burnt animals recover at Adelaide Zoo as wildlife toll increases to over one billion

24th November 2019 - Giant Pandas to remain at Adelaide Zoo for another five years

11th November 2019 - Monarto Safari Park to introduce new cooling systems for summer

9th November 2019 - Adelaide Zoo secures South Australian Major Tourism Attraction of the Year award

29th September 2019 - ZAA-accredited zoos and aquariums highlight their activities through Conservation Week

23rd September 2019 - $40 million Monarto Zoo development to provide ‘biggest safari experience outside of Africa’

18th July 2019 - Zoos and aquariums celebrate and educate through Plastic Free July

20th March 2017 - Monarto Zoo predator experience will provide encounters with African lions

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