Perth Zoo

Perth Zoo is a 41-acre zoological park located in South Perth, Western Australia, on the southern foreshore of the Swan River opposite central Perth. Opened in 1898, it is Western Australia's oldest zoo and houses over 1,200 animals from around 160 species. It is notable for its conservation and breeding programs for native and exotic species, landscaped botanical gardens, and its role as a major educational and tourism attraction near Perth CBD.

Visitors can expect a landscaped zoo with distinct precincts including Australian Bushwalk, African Savannah, Asian Rainforest and Primate Trail. Enclosures house native Australian animals such as kangaroos, koalas, numbats and quokkas, along with exotic species including elephants, orangutans, tigers, giraffes and reptiles. The site includes shaded walkways, gardens, picnic lawns, keeper talks, close-up encounters, playgrounds, cafes and a gift shop, all within a compact, walkable layout overlooking the Swan River and Perth city skyline.

Opened on 17 October 1898 by the Acclimatization Society of Western Australia, Perth Zoo is the oldest zoo in Western Australia. Established on land granted in South Perth, it initially focused on acclimatization of European animals and later shifted to conservation, education and breeding of native and threatened species. Several heritage-listed structures remain, including the 1898 bear caves and original entrance.

The zoo plays a significant role in wildlife conservation, education and community engagement in Western Australia, operating breeding programs for threatened species such as the numbat, western swamp tortoise, dibbler and Sumatran orangutan, and maintaining extensive botanical collections.