Adelaide, remember when Samorn the elephant and George the orangutan lived at the zoo?

GREATER the flamingo's death made headlines around the world. Remember these other much-loved Adelaide Zoo residents?

THE death of Greater the flamingo at the Adelaide Zoo caused a great deal of sadness and today we look back at some of the other Adelaide Zoo animals which won the hearts of Adelaideans and the captured our attention.

GREATER THE FLAMINGO

Greater the flamingo at the Adelaide Zoo with birdkeeper Vaughan Wilson. Photo: The Advertiser

Adelaide Zoo Flamingos, 'Greater' the flamingo among them, late evening, March 4, 1953. Photo: The Advertiser

SAMORN THE ELEPHANT

A gift from the king of Thailand in 1956, Samorn the elephant charmed children and adults alike at the zoo for 35 years by hauling them around the zoo grounds in a cart. Meaning "beautiful lady" in Thai, Samorn was admired by everyone as a gentle giant who loved her "mahout", Hero Nuus and enjoyed her regular contact with children. The three-tonne elephant retired from the role in 1982 and moved to Monarto Zoological Park nine years later. She died in 1994 and in 1998 her bones were put on display at the University of Adelaide medical school on Frome Road.

The highlight of a visit to the Adelaide Zoo was a ride in Samorn's cart. Photo: The Advertiser

At Monarto, during the Adelaide summer, Samorn took to protecting her skin from the harsh sun and insects by engaging in dust baths. This photo was taken in 1994, the year the elephant died. Photo: The Advertiser

GEORGE THE ORANGUTAN

George, the legendary Adelaide Zoo orangutan, delighted crowds for decades with his antics. Stories abound about George, including one of the night he escaped through his unlocked door and climbed a huge tree within the zoo grounds. Hoogen, who was his keeper at the time, had to rush to the zoo to talk him down. George climbed down the tree and hand in hand walked back to his cage. He would roll out his old hessian bag in front of his enclosure and people would throw peanuts and lollies which he would carefully drag in. He loved a smoke too!

George died in 1976 and his bones are now housed in the old elephant house near the Elephant Interpretation Centre.

George the orangutan with his hessian bag and Australian Rules footy. Photo: The Advertiser

NEWSBOY THE HIPPO

Newsboy the hippopotamus turned out to be a great attraction after his arrival in 1934. He was bought for a mere 175 pounds, raised through an appeal by the Adelaide afternoon newspaper, The News, and replaced the zoo's previous hippo which choked on a golf ball thrown by a visitor.

Newsboy enjoys a mouthwash from keeper Hero Nuus in February 1975. Photo: The Advertiser

PERCY THE CHIMP

Percy the chimpanzee was both cheeky and lovable and entertained zoo crowds in the 60's. With his brother William, he had been hand raised by Violet Adkins for 14 months when his mother was unable to care for him. This early association and closeness with humans made him even more of a rascal and endeared him to everyone who came in touch with him. Violet, wife of Charlie, head keeper of the Adelaide Zoo through the 1960s, also hand raised lions and tigers.

The Advertiser photographer who took this photo could not resist the caption; "Percy has no qualms of making a spectacle of himself". Photo: The Advertiser

A PAIR OF TORTOISES ... (TORTI?)

A pair of Galapagos tortoises arrived from San Diego Zoo in 1972 and tortoise rides became standard entertainment for child visitors. It probably would not be considered as 'best practice' these days, but hundreds of kids from that era can look back and remember their day at the zoo which included a ride in Samorn's elephant cart and a tortoise ride on the giant Galapagos tortoise!

Tammy Biela, 4, takes her tortoise ride. Photo: The Advertiser

KOALA FARM

Dale Barry, Robyn Whitehead and Sue Cameron enjoy a close encounter with a koala and its baby ay the Koala Farm in 1958. Photo: The Advertiser

The Koala Farm was separate to the Adelaide Zoo, situated in the north parklands and despite its name, housed a range of animals including kangaroos and snakes and was a great favourite with children. Many children's first encounters with our native wildlife was at the farm where the koala's were natural favourites and could be held, patted and touched. It closed in May 1960 after 33 years and many of the animals were transferred to the Adelaide Zoo.

For most Adelaideans who grew up from the 1950s to the 1980s, a visit to the zoo was an annual event. It was a full day's entertainment and a pretty cheap day out for our parents. We all had our favourite animals and once inside the gates would race in the direction of their cage or enclosure to see them again.

What are some of your memories of a day out at the zoo, who was your favourite and what are some of your memories of the animals? Share your memories below

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