Zoos SA and Monarto Safari Park launches wild wellness program – meditate with monkeys, and ramble near the rhinos…  

As Adelaide’s Wellfest launches and World Mental Health Month is in full swing, Zoos SA is inviting members, visitors, staff and volunteers to go wild in their search for wellness!

“From today, we’re giving our human community the opportunity to apply a wellness lens to their visits by taking part in greendesking, mindfulness, creativity and sustainability walks and wild trails at our sites with more wellness events coming soon,” says Sarah Brown, Director of Community Engagement, Zoos SA.

“As a ZAA accredited zoo we use the Five Domains model to examine the environment, behaviour, nutrition, health and positive mental state of an animal to ensure positive welfare.  We thought hey, what’s good for our animals is good for us too!

“Research has found that regularly immersing ourselves in nature is linked to better health and wellness outcomes; that’s why we are applying the Five Domains model to our members, visitors, staff and volunteers.

While the wilds of Monarto Safari Park transport the visitor to far off plains, providing the perfect place to lose yourself and forget any woes. “Adelaide Zoo is blessed with an abundance of animals and a botanic setting that mellows a frazzled mind; it’s the perfect place for mindfulness and connection.

“It shouldn’t take World Mental Health month to remind us that our wellness is paramount but unfortunately we are all guilty of overlooking it. We really hope people enjoy our new Wellness program – we can’t wait to share it,” finished Sarah.

Zoos SA’s initial wellness program will include downloadable sustainability, creativity and mindfulness maps, greendesking opportunities* for corporates and students, wild walks and bird watching.

*The first ten corporates to contact Adelaide Zoo to arrange greendesking will take part in a free trial. Zoos SA encourages applications from CEs, human resources departments, staff and students to get in touch at [email protected]

Messaging regarding wellness and how the Five Domains model can be applied to humans as well as animals will be incorporated into keeper talks.

Future wellness activities will include Relaxed Zoos for those with sensory and other neurodiversities, yoga, painting, and a human library.

Monarto Safari Park and Adelaide Zoo are operated by Zoos SA, a non-profit conservation charity.

For more details about wellness activities, please go to www.zoossa.com.au/wellness