Zoos SA president Kevin McGuiness spoke with 891 Breakfast this morning to dispel some of the rumours that where being created around the Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Zoo's latest five year plan and discuss how the organisation plans to return to profitable operations.

After restructuring the zoo's $25 million debt and addressing a grant issue last year, Mr McGuiness said he believed the organisation was in 'much better shape'.

"Overall we are pretty happy with the progress that is made, we think there is more work to do, but we ended the year on a pretty positive note and we are fairly optimistic about the future."

Mr McGuiness said, despite rumours, the five year plan for the zoo did not revolve around the pandas producing an offspring, wide spread staff cuts or the construction of apartments on the land bordering Monarto Zoo's enclosures.

Ticketing costs

Mr McGuiness said he realised that cost-of-entry tickets pricing to both zoos was a sensitive issue, and the five year plan did not include any moves to increase admission charges.

"We've made a deliberate decision in the five year plan not to factor in any increase in admission prices."

He said people needed to consider the value, compared to other similar cost entertainment venues, with a full day available to be spent at the zoo and partial proceeds of the tickets used for conservation and research projects run by the zoo.

Mr McGuiness said an April family discount price had been well received earlier this year, and may be offered again in the future.

"Running zoos is an expensive business.

"We'll continue to look at it, but at this stage we think the pricing we've got is reasonable."

Staffing level changes

Forecasted reductions in Full Time Equivalent (FTE) roles at the organisation, taking staffing levels from 202 to 184.

"This plan has been underway and in progress for probably around six months."

The majority of the positions had already been cut, with changes primarily made to administration and marketing roles.

"We value our staff very highly, but we do need to make sure we have a cost structure that is realistic."

Mr McGuiness said no members of the Zoos SA board had been stood down from their roles since the announcement of the organisation's debts.

"The board is elected by the members, [so] it's really a decision for the members in terms of who they want running the zoo."

No pressure on pandas

Mr McGuiness said that no focus had been placed on Australia's only giant pandas Wang Wang and Funi to breed.

The construction of the panda accommodation and new entrance to the Adelaide Zoo had placed considerable financial pressure on the organisation, but Mr McGuiness said the pandas were still proving to be very popular.

"The business plan that we have set actually assumes no new births in the organisation."

Developing Monartoo Zoo land

Mr McGuiness said there was an opportunity for Zoos SA to 'realise the value' of land the organisation owned adjacent to its Monarto Zoo.

"How we realise that value is yet to be determined."

He said there were lots of options available to the organisation to utilise the land to reduce debt, but it would be done in a way that enhanced the value of the Monarto Zoo.

"There won't be apartments at Monarto," he added.