Giant farewell for pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni at Adelaide Zoo.
A ‘beary’ special two-day Teddy Bears’ Picnic will be held in August to farewell Adelaide Zoo’s panda pair, Wang Wang and Fu Ni.
After calling the zoo home for 15 years, the black-and-white duo will return to their homeland in China later this year. The pand-tastic picnic will kick off a line-up of special celebrations to farewell Fu Ni and Wang Wang and to welcome two new Giant Pandas to Adelaide over the coming months.
The Teddy Bears’ Picnic is a highlight on the zoo calendar and is celebrated each year to mark the zoo’s favourite bears’ birthdays.
Wang Wang was born on 31 August and will turn 19 this year, while Fu Ni will turn 18 on 23 August.
Zoos SA Chief Executive, Elaine Bensted, said the weekend will be a wonderful way to bring the zoo community together to wish Wang Wang and Fu Ni farewell.
“As this will be our last picnic with Wang Wang and Fu Ni, we’d love to see everyone come along to Adelaide Zoo over the weekend of 24 and 25 August,” she said.
“The two days will be packed full of fun activities, keeper talks and of course everyone’s favourite – Wang Wang’s scented enrichment bubble bath.
“It has been such a pleasure hosting Wang Wang and Fu Ni in Adelaide and they have a very special place in the hearts of so many.
“This is the just start of many opportunities for everyone to say their farewells, and we look forward to sharing more about these events and the arrival of two new pandas to Adelaide Zoo very soon.”
Visitors are invited to pack their favourite teddy and a cosy picnic rug for the two-day event, which will include animal feeds, fun enrichment created by the zoo’s volunteer BEEZA (Behavioural and Environmental Enrichment for Zoo Animals) team, face painting and craft activities.
TAKE A LOOK AT OUR PHOTOS OF THE 2024 TEDDY BEARS’ PICNIC:
The weekend is also an opportunity for Giant Panda lovers to learn more about the species and their conservation.
ACTIVITIES
Giant Panda Talk & Enrichment | 1:15pm in Bamboo Forest
Gather in the Bamboo Forest for a special keeper talk as Wang Wang and Fu Ni tuck into panda cake and enjoy a special birthday enrichment!
Free Face Painting
Take the kids along for face painting and watch as the artists turn little faces into vibrant works of art!
Costumes & Storytelling
Discover a world of imagination at the Nylon Zoo, as you swirl and dance in costume around the Central Lawn before ducking in for storytelling inside a giant inflatable panda bear.
Teddy Bear Sleepover
Drop your teddy bear off to experience a once-in-a-lifetime sleepover at Adelaide Zoo! Their dedicated teddy carers will treat them to a wild night, and you’ll get all the photos when you pick up your teddy!
Arts & Crafts
Embrace your inner artist and get crafty with free and fun art activities, including a special goodbye message to Wang Wang and Fu Ni.
Colouring-in
Get creative with the Australian Dental Foundation team on Sunday with colouring-in activities throughout the day plus the chance to win some incredible prizes.
Excitingly, since Wang Wang and Fu Ni arrived in 2009, numbers of Giant Pandas have increased in the wild and their conservation status has improved from endangered to vulnerable thanks to the work of conservationists across the globe.
Free entry for Zoos SA members.
Tickets: Adults $46 | Child $24.50 | Family Pass $115
CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS
For more information and all enquiries please visit the Adelaide Zoo website.
What: Teddy Bears’ Picnic and Panda Farewell
When: Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 August 2024 | 9,30am – 5pm
Where: Adelaide Zoo | Frome Road, Adelaide
Who: Everyone
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: all photos by Adelaide Zoo
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