Edinburgh Zoo Edinburgh Zoo News 2022

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Keelan

Well-Known Member
Visited here for the first time on 29th December and I was pleasantly surprised. I expected to see lots of small enclosures but that was not the case. This I a breuf rundown of my visit with my thoughts.
First time seeing: giant pandas, koalas, pygmy hippo, Chinese goral, gentoo and King penguins and cloud rats.
My highlights: budongo- the best chimp enclosure I have ever seen. I saw the chimp with the stillborn baby and I was amazed by it yet it was sad to see. Does anyone know which female this is. Giant pandas, hippos, rhinos, giraffes, banteng (they were so close).
Weeknesses- the lions- lions are one of my favorites and I felt this was a week point for the zoo. I found the enclosure to be dated and not the best for enrichment and compared to the tiger it is a poor enclosure. Instead, I would remove lions from that enclosure and add in more climbing areas and a netted roof. I would then use this as a leopard or snow leopard enclosure as I think it would suit them much better. I would still like to see lions stay in Edinburgh but a different enclosure (I don't know where. The rhino enclosure could be bigger but I like how you can get so close to them.
If anyone knows about any future plans for Edinburgh zoo then please post them thanks
 
Keelan said:
Visited here for the first time on 29th December and I was pleasantly surprised. I expected to see lots of small enclosures but that was not the case. This I a breuf rundown of my visit with my thoughts.
First time seeing: giant pandas, koalas, pygmy hippo, Chinese goral, gentoo and King penguins and cloud rats.
My highlights: budongo- the best chimp enclosure I have ever seen. I saw the chimp with the stillborn baby and I was amazed by it yet it was sad to see. Does anyone know which female this is. Giant pandas, hippos, rhinos, giraffes, banteng (they were so close).
Weeknesses- the lions- lions are one of my favorites and I felt this was a week point for the zoo. I found the enclosure to be dated and not the best for enrichment and compared to the tiger it is a poor enclosure. Instead, I would remove lions from that enclosure and add in more climbing areas and a netted roof. I would then use this as a leopard or snow leopard enclosure as I think it would suit them much better. I would still like to see lions stay in Edinburgh but a different enclosure (I don't know where. The rhino enclosure could be bigger but I like how you can get so close to them.
If anyone knows about any future plans for Edinburgh zoo then please post them thanks
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Stillborn chimp was born to Lianne.
 
Keelan said:
Weeknesses- the lions- lions are one of my favorites and I felt this was a week point for the zoo. I found the enclosure to be dated and not the best for enrichment and compared to the tiger it is a poor enclosure. Instead, I would remove lions from that enclosure and add in more climbing areas and a netted roof. I would then use this as a leopard or snow leopard enclosure as I think it would suit them much better.
Click to expand...
From what I've heard, Edinburgh are quietly phasing out lions from their collection, or at least the current Asian lions. The price's dominant male is set to be vasectomised, the other two males castrated, and the females moved to other zoos. I agree that their lion enclosure isn't the best, and would be better suited to another species, but I hope they don't ditch lions entirely.
 
Visited between Christmas and New Year and noted that the snowy owl enclosure has now been removed. Didn’t spot any signage to explain it/what has happened to the owls.
 
OkapiaJohnstoni said:
Visited between Christmas and New Year and noted that the snowy owl enclosure has now been removed. Didn’t spot any signage to explain it/what has happened to the owls.
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I went back in October, the enclosure was just empty with no signage saying where the owls were. Sad to hear it's gone completely, because it wasn't a bad enclosure
 
Jambi said:
I went back in October, the enclosure was just empty with no signage saying where the owls were. Sad to hear it's gone completely, because it wasn't a bad enclosure
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The snowy owls were of old age and unfortunately had to be put to sleep. The enclosure that once held them was no longer sturdy enough and had seen it's days so has been removed, wood was falling apart etc, and in it's place there will be permanent flower beds.
 
scrapula said:
and in it's place there will be permanent flower beds.
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Ah, the joys of Edinburgh once again going to the "try to remove any indication there was an exhibit there to begin with, and if anyone questions it put a sign up saying they are leaving the area to get overgrown deliberately in order to encourage wildlife" well in order to disguise the shrinking collection.... as also seen in the last decade or so with the old bush dog enclosure, the entire row of aviaries behind the Sun Bear exhibit, the old souslik exhibit, the row of enclosures opposite the Monkey House which used to hold chevrotain and pudu, the entire Carnivore Row, and so on and so forth :P
 
TeaLovingDave said:
Ah, the joys of Edinburgh once again going to the "try to remove any indication there was an exhibit there to begin with, and if anyone questions it put a sign up saying they are leaving the area to get overgrown deliberately in order to encourage wildlife" well in order to disguise the shrinking collection.... as also seen in the last decade or so with the old bush dog enclosure, the entire row of aviaries behind the Sun Bear exhibit, the old souslik exhibit, the row of enclosures opposite the Monkey House which used to hold chevrotain and pudu, the entire Carnivore Row, and so on and so forth :p
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It really is such a shame to see a collection head in this direction especially when it has so much potential. It was a shock to see the amazing variety of species they once held when I looked at an out dated map. When the Giant Panda’s depart in two years I dread to think of the footfall they’ll lose, already a lot of people seem to prefer the Five Sisters Zoo which is close by.
Also seems like the Asiatic lions are being phased out too, I hope that enclosure also doesn’t become a massive flower bed ;)
 
scrapula said:
already a lot of people seem to prefer the Five Sisters Zoo which is close by.
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I've been looking into Five Sisters recently, and it seems like a lovely little zoo with a good few species I've never seen before, like the brown bears and badgers. I'm planning a visit there in Summer, depending on where we're at with the bird flu outbreak by then because I notice they have a walkthrough aviary.
As for Edinburgh, I might visit one more time before the pandas leave, then I'll wait until after any big developments happen before I go again.
 
Jambi said:
I've been looking into Five Sisters recently, and it seems like a lovely little zoo with a good few species I've never seen before, like the brown bears and badgers. I'm planning a visit there in Summer, depending on where we're at with the bird flu outbreak by then because I notice they have a walkthrough aviary.
As for Edinburgh, I might visit one more time before the pandas leave, then I'll wait until after any big developments happen before I go again.
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Worth visiting just for the fossa! All flat grounded as well compared to Edinburgh's hilly structure.
I live part time in Scotland and when I'm up there I visit EZ 2/3 times a week with membership, but I only visit to see the giant panda's, sun bears and asian small-clawed otters now, I miss the brilliant birds walkthrough a lot
 
Jambi said:
I've been looking into Five Sisters recently, and it seems like a lovely little zoo with a good few species I've never seen before, like the brown bears and badgers. I'm planning a visit there in Summer, depending on where we're at with the bird flu outbreak by then because I notice they have a walkthrough aviary.
As for Edinburgh, I might visit one more time before the pandas leave, then I'll wait until after any big developments happen before I go again.
Click to expand...
I visited a year ago and the bird aviary was being rebuilt, so I’m not sure on its current status. Even without the walkthrough I would highly recommend it as there is still lots to see:)
 
Any news on if the tigers have been getting on ok? I watched the BBC series on the Edinbrough and highlands zoos and they were just starting to introduce them.
 
scrapula said:
The snowy owls were of old age and unfortunately had to be put to sleep. The enclosure that once held them was no longer sturdy enough and had seen it's days so has been removed, wood was falling apart etc, and in it's place there will be permanent flower beds.
Click to expand...

I messaged the zoo about this and they replied saying no solid plans for its future yet but for the time being will be a area for wild flowers to grow
 
Keelan said:
I saw the chimp with the stillborn baby and I was amazed by it yet it was sad to see.
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I went today and although I didn’t see the baby, the signs are up that she still has it. Hasn’t it been since September? I’m surprised it’s gone on so long. I’m wondering if there’s a point where it endangers the health of everyone else? And where that point is?
 
At least 0.0.3 Asian Short Clawed Otter pups have been born and are now venturing outside.
 
TeaLovingDave said:
Ah, the joys of Edinburgh once again going to the "try to remove any indication there was an exhibit there to begin with, and if anyone questions it put a sign up saying they are leaving the area to get overgrown deliberately in order to encourage wildlife" well in order to disguise the shrinking collection.... as also seen in the last decade or so with the old bush dog enclosure, the entire row of aviaries behind the Sun Bear exhibit, the old souslik exhibit, the row of enclosures opposite the Monkey House which used to hold chevrotain and pudu, the entire Carnivore Row, and so on and so forth :p
Click to expand...
Sad to see Edinburgh following the ideology of Marwellism.
 
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