The Western Australian State Government has announced a $20 million expansion of Perth Zoo that will triple the size of the popular giraffe and zebra habitat. This redevelopment represents the most significant transformation of the zoo’s African savannah exhibit in over three decades.
Master Plan 2040
The expansion is part of Perth Zoo’s master plan 2040, which outlines a long-term vision to modernise facilities and deliver world-class exhibits centred on conservation, education, and animal welfare. Other projects in the master plan include an orangutan rainforest precinct, a conservation science precinct, a nocturnal house, and an Australian bushwalk and rainforest.
Enhanced Animal Welfare
The African savannah has been one of the zoo’s most popular attractions for the past 30 years, immersing visitors in a dry riverbed landscape lined with African plants and featuring rhinoceros, lions, and meerkats. Under the new plans, giraffes and zebras will roam together in a much larger habitat, with the hope that ostriches and antelopes will eventually join them to create a more natural savannah environment.
New Facilities
The project will also include an expanded meerkat habitat and a new children’s playground with exploratory tunnels designed to mimic the animals’ underground burrows. A new visitor hub will increase the zoo’s educational offerings and amenities.
Timeline
Construction is expected to begin in 2028, with further details to be released as planning progresses. The expansion aims to improve animal welfare by providing more space and enabling mixed-species living, which is closer to the animals’ natural behaviours.
