Meerkats at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Meerkat at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Meerkats would have to be one of the more popular animals on display in any zoo. These endearing little creatures are fun to watch and everyone seems drawn to them for their antics. Of course, there is a serious side to their behaviour: survival. Without those comical poses like that shown in the photo above they would be in serious danger from predators. So what looks funny to humans is a matter of life and death for the Meerkats.
The small meerkat display at Monarto Zoo here in South Australia is a popular attraction to all visitors. Their enclosure is only a few steps away from the Visitor Centre and restaurant, and so it is one of the most visited parts of the zoo. It is also on the way to the bus stop zone where most visitors get on the shuttle buses taking visitors on tours of the zoo.
Monarto Zoo is just a ten minute drive from my home town of Murray Bridge, and only 50 minutes drive on the SE Freeway from Adelaide. To learn more about the meerkats at Monarto Zoo click here.
Meerkat at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Meerkat at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Emus at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Male Emu with chicks at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
When the open range zoo at Monarto near Adelaide was established, the perimeter fence enclosed some Emus inside them. These have now bred and are quite numerous in the various areas not inside the animal enclosures. I guess they wouldn’t last long in the lion or cheetah enclosures!
On our last visit we were delighted to see the male shown in the photo above. He is looking after a small group of chicks, resplendent in their striped plumage. On the bus tours we took through the zoo I took the photos below. At least one of them was taken while we were hiking from one exhibit to another.
Emu at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Emu at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Emu at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Southern White Rhinoceros, Monarto Zoo, South Australia part 2
Southern White Rhinoceros, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
The Southern White Rhinoceros on exhibit at Monarto Zoo near Adelaide, South Australia are truly magnificent animals. During our visit last year we alighted from the bus taking visitors around the zoo and took the short walk to the lookout platform over looking their enclosure. This enabled me to get these great shots up close. It’s awesome to have a rhino only metres from where you are standing.
I also wrote about these animals here, including more photos of the enclosure.
Southern White Rhinoceros, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Southern White Rhinoceros, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Southern White Rhinoceros, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Cheetahs at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Cheetahs, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Monarto Zoo is our local zoo, being only a quick ten minute drive from home here in Murray Bridge, South Australia. This zoo is primarily an open range zoo and is a part of the Adelaide Zoo in our capital city. Being so close we enjoy visiting often – and getting value from our membership cards.
Every few minutes throughout the day, a bus leaves from the Visitor Centre taking visitors on guided tours of the zoo. At various points they can disembark and walk short distances to a series of lookouts and viewing platforms. These give excellent views of many of the animals. One of the favourite animals held by this zoo would have to be the beautiful Cheetahs, shown in the photos on this post.
Cheetahs, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Cheetahs, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Cheetahs, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Spotted Hyenas, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Spotted Hyenas, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
On a recent visit to our local zoo at Monarto we took several guided bus trips through the various enclosures. One of these enclosures contains a pack of Spotted Hyenas, shown in the photos on this post. The breeding programme at this zoo has been very successful and we obtained good views of at least one of the babies.
Spotted Hyenas, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Spotted Hyenas, Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Spotted Hyenas, Monarto Zoo, South Australia