After more than a week in China on a panda visit, Simon and I finally got to see some Giant Pandas when we visited the Bifengxia panda base. This is where the other staff from Adelaide Zoo have come when they've visited China and where Funi and Wang Wang lived just before coming to Adelaide. 

The facility is quite large, 71.6 ha and has several different facilities; breeding, nursery, overseas born panda area, general panda housing, research facilities and administration scattered over the grounds. About 150 staff work at the base and their dedication and passion was very evident during our visit. 

Hi everyone,

Well, the learning curve continues for more staff at Adelaide Zoo with all things concerning pandas. Last month one of Zoos SA’s vets, Lynley Johnson, as well as Adelaide Zoo’s hand-rearing coordinator, Dianne Hakof, were lucky enough to travel over to China for a two week trip to learn more about our black and while friends.

October is the end of the birthing season in China so it was perfect timing for the two of them to head over. They both learnt so much while over there and they were also lucky enough to stop over at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park and spend time with the vets and keepers that look after their Giant Pandas as well.

Watch our zookeeper, Matt, check Wang Wang's temperature.

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Hello, this is Mishelle from Monarto Zoo.

A few weeks ago, I went on a research trip for the Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat. We set up camp in a shearing shed on a property near Swan Reach. The research team have been working with the wombats on this particular property for over 15 years and in this time have gathered lots of information about these wombats and their habits.

Today the Panda Reserve generously gave us a mini-bus and a driver to go out sightseeing. Whilst driving in the mountains it amazed me how you could just stop the car wherever you liked to get out and take photos. No one looked at you sideways, they just happily drove around you when the coast was clear (or not in some cases!). It would be similar to getting out of your car on the way up to Mount Lofty. I couldn’t help but imagine the abuse you would get and the traffic chaos you would cause in Australia.