First visit to Edinburgh Zoo since the start of the pandemic, so great to be back finally. Edinburgh Zoo is one of my favourite places to explore and spend time discovering new and existing species. I was fortunate enough to visit the Zoo on a sunny day, alot of changes noted since my last visit, it's an unusual feeling walking around seeing many exhibits empty that once were always there, seems to be alot of construction work ongoing though; front of Mansion House near to where they used to have a holding paddock, restaurant and their new Dinosaurs exhibit. I was very aware that almost all bird species have either been kept offshow or exhibits closed due to avaian influenza I believe which included part of the Penguins enclosure and I assume Brilliant Birds transformation this year. Also unfortunately due to covid most primates were off limits too, Monkey House closed presumably permanently as monkey house sign removed including Drill cage though primates can still be seen at the back of the building and most other primates were lively in other exhibits, the Zoo definitely making an effort to keep humans away from primates which is a good sensible move on the Zoo's part. For example Monkey walkthough and Lemur walkthrough both closed.
Noticed that they have constructed a new path going through the middle of what was a long time ago the Maguari Stork enclosure. Enjoyed walking along the new path to the Giraffe House though it's a climb for sure, imagine in the summer they will run their safari tour buses to the top.
There's always a surpise on every visit and on this occasion it was Magic Forest, all species out and active unusually including the Pygmy Marmoset, Goeldi Monkey, Cotton Top Tamarin, Douricouli and Luzon Cloud Rats, didn't see a Cuscus though looked so puzzled on that one. Snowy owl enclosure gone including Margay cage outside staff area, Wee Beasties open again which is great with Taiwan Beauty Snake there. Red River Hog complex closed as well and Tapirs closed off and empty with several species moved across the Park.
Something I was sad seeing was that the Crowned Lemurs walk over tunnel has been removed completely and exhibit closed, shame to lose that it was great watching the Lemurs cross above you as you walk underneath, seeing the Sloth was great saw keepers feeding them and the Armadillos were very active! Brillian Birds will be interesting to keep an eye on, they still have the Lorikeet avairy so that may come back in future, miss having the Fish Tank, Leaf cutter ants and vivariums though from there but at least we've got Wee Beasties now, always a change within the Park.
Interested to see what the Zoo does with the lower part of the park too below Penguins Rock, I'm old enough to remember when they held there the Big Apes, Stump Tailed Macaques, Arabian Oryx, Warthogs, Bush Dogs and Chevrotain now it's completely empty. Also miss the Barbary Macaque rock and other parts of the park, Owl Walk and Big Cat Dens though aware of why they were removed, plenty of opportunity for future species and exhibits just not enough funding.
I heard rumours that they might have been getting tasmanian devils on Barbary Rock but that doesn't seemed to have to anything, maybe in future.
I checked my photos and records last night, and the enclosure I've always seen the species labelled in (and seen the animal/s in question on three occasions - Jan 2012, Aug 2016 and Oct 2019) was the penultimate one before leaving Magic Forest in the direction of Living Links. I was at the zoo with @ThylacineAlive on the 2016 occasion. There's at least one shot from the 2012 occasion in the gallery too.
