Welcome to our new zoo-comers – tall, horny and furry!

It’s been a busy few months at Zoos SA with both sites welcoming some adorable new residents.

Across the Mallee plains of Monarto, Volta the giraffe has joined the herd at the waterhole.

The three-year-old female arrived from Taronga Western Plains Zoo in April and has settled in well with the rest of the group.

Keepers said Volta has been socialising well and has been seen bonding with five-year-old, Scarlett.

Two male Nyala, Penda and Anubis, also arrived at Monarto from Auckland Zoo last month. The friendly pair have finished their quarantine and have been getting to know their keepers.

As new breeding males, they will soon be introduced to resident females to form a herd.

At the end of last month, the safari park also welcomed Southern White Rhino bull, Umfana, from Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

His arrival will ensure genetic diversity within the ex situ population and continue the vital breeding program for the endangered species.

Monarto Safari Park Assistant Curator Carnivores and Ungulates, Anna Bennett, said all the new residents are so important in continuing Zoos SA’s conservation work.

“As a conservation charity, our mission is to save species from extinction. To do this, it is incredibly important for us to have breeding programs for species that are endangered or threatened in the wild,” she said.

“This ensures we have ex situ populations so that if a species’ numbers were to become critically low we could help reintroduce them.

“Each species around Australia has a species coordinator, which make recommendations about the breeding and management of that species.

“These animals are also ambassadors for their species and shine a light on the challenges they face and help our visitors learn about how important it is to protect them so it is great to welcome some new faces to our herds at Monarto.”

The newest arrival at Adelaide Zoo, the little Quokka joey, has also officially been named. Thanks to vote from our Zoo Shop visitors, Marli was chosen with 62 per cent of votes!

Marli, her mum Yiray and their Quokka family can be seen bouncing around their yard near the Variety Children’s Zoo.

Another furry friend has also arrived at the zoo, with Jimmy the Capybara completing his quarantine in the Animal Health Centre after he arrived from Gorge Wildlife Park.

He has been brought to Adelaide as a companion for Sophia, who also just happens to be his mum!

Curator at Adelaide Zoo Mark Smith said six-year-old Jimmy has been coming out of his shell with the vet nurses and has enjoyed snacking on his vegetables and browse.

“Capybaras are a highly social species and Sophia is very sweet so it will be great for her to have the company of Jimmy,” he said.

“It’s also lovely that mother and son have been reunited and to welcome back Jimmy who was born here in 2015.”

The capybara is the largest of all the 1,729 species of living rodents. They’re closely related to guinea pigs and are excellent swimmers.

For more information on the species at our sites or to find out more about how you can visit our new arrivals please visit www.monartosafari.com.au or www.adelaidezoo.com.au.