Zoo's Progress » Edinburgh Zoo

Zoo's Progress
20-06-2010

I went to Edinburgh Zoo is 2002 and I was a little bit disappointed the Zoo had a huge reputation. There were a few empty enclosures However one of the things was this plan to improve the zoo and some of the things they were looking to achieve. I was on the website early in the week and was very impressed by some of the changes which have been made. Do regular Edinburgh Zoo vistors agree with what I am thinking ?

20-06-2010

Well Im no regular, but I visited at the end of May/Start of June, this was my first visit and I was blown away. I must be honest in saying I liked it just as much as Chester and I really didnt see many empty enclosures.

Infact I dont think I saw an empty enclosure. Ive heard quite a few bad things in the past about Edinburgh but I really enjoyed it!!!

20-06-2010

At any zoo visit there will always be empty enclosures, that is the nature of modern zoos, animals do not need to be on show all of the time for our enjoyment.
I would agree with you Andy 100%, about the improvements at Edinburgh, in the time since 2002, there have been many new additions to the stocklist, in that time we have seen the arrival of such animals as.

* = indicates species that have bred

koala
long nosed potoroo *
swamp wallaby *

Aye aye (no longer in the collection)
Mongoose lemur
red fronted lemur
red bellied lemur
Senegal galago *
Eastern pygmy marmoset *
red titi monkey *
yellow breasted capuchin *
brown capuchin *
common squirrel monkey *
gelada *
drill
Guinea baboon *
Japanese macaque (no longer in the collection)
purple faced langur *
white cheeked gibbon *

giant pouched rat
North American tree porcupine *
European souslik *
Azara's agouti

giant anteater *
southern three banded armadillo

rock hyrax

African hunting dog
European wolf
wolverine
binturong
Malayan palm civet * (no longer in the collection)
striped skunk
marbled polecat (no longer in the collection)
ratel (no longer in the collection)
European otter *
margay
Pallas cat *
Asiatic golden cat
Amur leopard
Sumatran tiger

Patagonian sea lion

Malayan tapir *
Indian rhino

warthog *
red river hog *
Negros island warty pig
vicuna
Lesser Malayan chevrotain *
Siberian musk deer *
Bactrian wapiti * (no longer in the collection)
white lipped deer *
Bawean deer
domesticated reindeer
Kirk's dik-dik
Heck's cattle *
Eastern bongo
lesser kudu *
nyala *
mishmi takin * (no longer in the collection)
Chinese grey goral *
Bharal (no longer in the collection)
Japanese serow * (no longer in the collection)
Turkmenian markhor (no longer in the collection)


And thats just the mammals, i know i have probably left some out, please feel free to add.
Very few of the mammal stock left from pre 2002, and i would say that is down to Ian Valentine.

20-06-2010

I love the European Souslik, amazing little animals!

20-06-2010

As a regular at Edinburgh Zoo I have to agree with Andy. Also there is still a lot that is on the wishlist at Edinburgh but is reliant on the money aspect, much of it based on being able change things such as plumbing and electrics around the site. Many people are impressed by Budongo Trail, Living Links and Rainbow Landings. I'll be posting the photos of the new sunbear enclosure later. If you think they are all pretty impressive then that is basically where the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland want to take the whole of the zoo in the future!
Many people comment on many of the enclosures but at Edinburgh, since Budongo Trail, the deep down feeling is every other enclosure whilst being adequate needs a major rebuild. Some staff are even finding little niggles with Budongo and they helped design it! Shows how our standards have risen!

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Biodiversity - the amzing way in which all life forms, plants and animals, are totally reliant on every other life form in some way, directly or indirectly. Without that diversity we are all in danger!

20-06-2010

Many of those that haven't bred are either all male, very young and not of breeding age or are very new to the collection. Some that are no longer in the collection have moved up to HWP.

I have to agree with Kiang that it is largely down to Iain Valentine turning the collection around so dramatically, enclosure designs and the way the animals are kept! Why shut an animal in at night if it would normally be outside roaming anyway. The more natural behaviours are encouraged, the greater the breeding success as can be seen by the number of * all down that list!

Barbary macaque * (12th June)

__________________
Biodiversity - the amzing way in which all life forms, plants and animals, are totally reliant on every other life form in some way, directly or indirectly. Without that diversity we are all in danger!

21-06-2010

There were always very few animals locked in at night at Edinburgh zoo long before 2002 and in fact one change is that the chimps are now locked in at night whereas they were left out in their old enclosure. Obviously the indoor area is much larger now anyway and I know it is for management purposes especially as the groups are being mixed at the moment. I don't think the zoo was all that bad before but changes are always more interesting.

21-06-2010

Aye Aye out of the collection? Where did the last one go?

3 Weeks Ago

All future developments could be in jeopardy if a piece of land cannot be swapped with Edinburgh city council, which lies to the east of the park, and is flatter, which is vital for linking the lower and upper areas of the zoo.
This youtube video made by the RZSS, is very informative, and explains the why's and where's of their proposal.

3 Weeks Ago

I can't see the link, only if I quote it.

1 Week Ago

I have to say, looking at Edinburgh Zoo's proposals and the land they want to swap, coupled with RZSS taking over the management of Corstorphine Hill for the benefit of both the public and wildlife, it would be to Edinburgh City Council's benefit! The land the RZSS want for the zoo can be seen from that side of the zoo and, quite honestly, needs something done to it as it's more of an eyesore, full of litter and debris. Also, as David Windmill mentions, this would be the site for the new animal hospital and stores area and would therefore cut the need for delivery vehicles to share a public area.

__________________
Biodiversity - the amzing way in which all life forms, plants and animals, are totally reliant on every other life form in some way, directly or indirectly. Without that diversity we are all in danger!