ZOOS South Australia needs public and private sponsors to help it dig out of a $24 million financial black hole.

Zoo chief executive Professor Chris West said sponsors had shied away from new commitments during the global financial crisis and he issued a plea for South Australians to rally behind the zoo.

"If you want us to continue to have one of the best zoo-based conservation organisations in the world, then come in, visit, support us, become part of our programs," Prof West said.

"And of course, in the run up to a possible indeed likely baby panda, clearly there is a real opportunity for a corporate partner to scoop an enormous amount of public interest, warmth and media profile, because then they could be associated with panda babies."

The not-for-profit conservation organisation's huge debt includes $6.7 million to pay for its giant pandas.

This was due largely to the failure of the Federal Government to deliver on $5 million promised by former Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer.

But Professor West said yesterday he had "no regrets" about bringing the giant pandas to Adelaide, because they were a massive tourist attraction.

Adelaide Zoo is the only major metropolitan zoo in Australia which is not run and owned by the State Government.

Professor West said the zoo ran into trouble securing sponsors for the $27 million new front entrance, fence and conference centre.

The State Government came through with a one-off capital grant of $18.9 million. The grant, the largest ever given to the zoo, was in addition to the $3.126 million in operating funds provided each year in the state Budget.

Yesterday, Environment Minister Paul Caica announced the Government had advanced $2 million of the zoo's 2011-12 allocation to help ensure its operations.

Professor West told The Advertiser Zoos SA's operating costs had grown from $7 million per annum five years ago to $21 million forecast for the next financial year.

In December last year, The Advertiser revealed the zoo's $6.7 million panda debt, largely due to the fact the $5 million Mr Downer promised in the lead-up to the 2007 Federal Election never arrived because Labor won.

When Mr Downer was contacted yesterday for comment on the zoo's financial difficulties, he said: "Honestly, I don't know anything about it. Up to the zoo."

The Federal Government is paying $1 million a year for 10 years to the Chinese Government for the international breeding program that aims to save the critically endangered species.

The Chinese Embassy did not answer any calls from The Advertiser.

Mr Caica said the Government was prepared to assemble a review team to work with the zoo board and the Westpac Bank to assess the critical issues which led to the financial difficulties.

"The Government became aware earlier this year that the Royal Zoological Society is experiencing financial difficulties," Mr Caica said in a ministerial statement.

Mr Caica told Parliament that as of March 31 this year, the zoo had a Westpac debt of $24.4 million an amount larger than it had originally intended borrowing.

"The reason for this was, in part, because the amount the zoo had hoped to raise in private sponsorships fell well short of projections largely due to the effects of the global financial crisis," he said.

"The Government has been informed that while the pandas have indeed attracted many more people through the zoo's gates ... its revenues have increased in the form of a rise in sponsorships, memberships and events.

However, these revenues have not been able to match the increase in the zoo's operating expenses."

Mr Caica said the Government was helping develop a framework which lead to restoration and maintenance of an appropriate financial base at the zoo and the implementation of practices aimed at preventing these circumstances arising again.

Originally published as Help us bear our burden