Adelaide loves its pandas. Since they arrived a decade ago, Wang Wang and Fu Ni have captured our hearts, and have kept visitors heading to the Adelaide Zoo for a chance to see the exotic visitors. They’ve also kept us hopeful for a successful breeding program, which as yet, hasn’t eventuated.
Today’s announced from the South Australian Government, gives that program another chance, with funding now secured to extend the lease to keep Giant Pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni in Adelaide for another five years.
$15.8 million in funding from the Australian Government and South Australian Government will see the construction of a new state-of-the-art Visitor Centre at Monarto Zoo while the South Australian Government has committed to extend the lease to keep Giant Pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni in Adelaide for another five years.
Zoos SA Chief Executive Elaine Bensted says “it’s very exciting to know that Giant Pandas will call Adelaide Zoo home for another five years thanks to the support of the South Australian Government.
“Since they arrived in 2009, Wang Wang and Fu Ni have been consistently popular drawcards to South Australia with many visitors travelling from all over the country and even the world to see Australasia’s only Giant Pandas.
“We know from economic analysis that the pandas contributed between $16.1 million and $57.5 million in total gross output to the South Australian economy in 2010 and supported between 240 and 1085 jobs during the same period.
“We’re proud to be home to Australasia’s only Giant Pandas and to be able to continue our invaluable conservation work for another five years with them is fabulous.”
The news coincides with another funding announcement of $15.8 million for a new visitor centre for Monarto Zoo. Find out all the details here.
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