The 2012 Zoo Animals Series follows on from the success of the Ocean, Land and Air series. Released to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Melbourne Zoo, this series includes six uncirculated coins, each depicting a unique animal that can be found at the Melbourne Zoo; the Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo, Sumatran Tiger, Orang-utan, Western Lowland Gorilla, Southern Corroboree Frog, and Asian Elephant.
Using a colour/pad printing process, the Mint perfectly captures the colours of these species. The reverse was created by first striking the coin with a very detailed relief then applying coloured ink to further enhance the design. The result is eye-catching with precise, vivid details and intense colour, paying artistic homage to this stunning species. The obverse features Ian Rank-Broadley's image of Queen Elizabeth II.