Edinburgh Zoo Edinburgh Zoo News 2023

Pertinax said:
Yes, age is one good reason they may have selected them as a pair. Probably further breeding wasn't the prime consideration anyway- having a same-aged pair for exhibit may well have been at the forefront of the selection, while at the same time adhering to the request for proven breeders.
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Additionally Yang Guang & Tian Tian’s genepools are both out their through their respective cubs which has been made possible through conservation.
 
Cobi said:
I’ve been critical of the current state of the zoo, especially the amount of empty spaces, but I think that assessment is a bit unfair.

Firstly there are bright engaging signs all over the zoo. Most enclosures have an extra large sign with a bright background and the name and image of the species.

These signs are great in allowing the visitor to instantly identify what is in the enclosure.

Living Links has just had a significant make over with redecoration of the visitor viewing areas, lots of new and engaging signage and new films explaining the work done there.

Previously closed off completely, the old panda enclosures are now open again with drills, as you mention, and red pandas and the indoor enclosure has been repainted as well as being outfitted for the monkeys.

Yes it’s a shame there are no longer tapirs but the enclosure is currently open and visible, nicely landscaped for Visayan warty pig overflow, so to speak.

The tiger enclosure is a relatively recent development and more significantly so is the excellent giraffe housing offering all weather close up viewing of these animals on two levels. Surely that’s the biggest enclosure in the zoo. The zebras, by the way, are due to leave the zoo and be replaced by another zebra species.

It’s far from perfect but I think this picture is unfairly bleak.
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Does anyone know where the zebras are going ? And where the new zebras are coming from?
 
Todays the day it would appear, very sad. Trying to track the flight, it’s not a FedEx plane this time it would appear to be China Southern but can’t seem to locate it.

They’ve deliberately kept it low key which is understandable I suppose, but by the sounds of it RZSS staff are going to stay there for a few months and in addition they are going to visit next year now too so we should get some updates.

I note that Alison isnt going, it was long thought that she would accompany them on their trip back (she even told me herself) must of been a last minute change.

Strange seeing the panda cam empty too.
 
Charles said:
Does anyone know where the zebras are going ? And where the new zebras are coming from?
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I don’t think it’s known where they are coming from but the new enclosure will be at the top of the zoo across from the giraffe house.
 
Additionally I see that there’s been a smattering of a certain “animal rights” group being (overepresented) reported in the media, stating how bad zoos are and that the pandas shouldn’t be at Edinburgh Zoo, it could be easily argued that if Yang Guang hadn’t been in captivity he would of died of cancer many years ago & it was only thanks to Alison who spotted it early…
 
Cobi said:
I don’t think it’s known where they are coming from but the new enclosure will be at the top of the zoo across from the giraffe house.
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What's going in the current zebra enclosure? I think it would be perfect for the Indian Rhino and a species of Asian hoofstock
 
GeeZee said:
Additionally I see that there’s been a smattering of a certain “animal rights” group being (overepresented) reported in the media, stating how bad zoos are and that the pandas shouldn’t be at Edinburgh Zoo, it could be easily argued that if Yang Guang hadn’t been in captivity he would of died of cancer many years ago & it was only thanks to Alison who spotted it early…
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Out of several BBC articles one quotes an animal rights organisation saying pandas shouldn’t be in zoos but in the wild for 2 lines out of the article and most don’t mention it at all.

I don’t agree with those organisations stance on zoo animals (and in the case of pandas they have deliberately missed the point they are just going to captivity somewhere else) but I don’t think it’s wise to fall into the trap of exaggerating the coverage of those opinions just because you don’t like them. The media will always seek comment like that - the overwhelming narrative is from the zoo or people who liked the pandas.

Labelling stuff xenophobic or saying any opinion that doesn’t follow being pro zoos is over represented just feeds into opposition. Better to correct the opinion than dismiss it or stifle it.
 
To illustrate

Headline article

Edinburgh Zoo giant pandas leave zoo for return to China

No mention of anti zoo opinion

Linked article

How is Edinburgh Zoo transporting two giant pandas? How is Edinburgh Zoo transporting two giant pandas?

A couple of lines from some anti zoo org that thinks China keeps all its pandas in the wild

Linked and much longer article, A couple of lines from someone saying pandas bred in captivity haven’t gone back into the wild. Which isn’t untrue though it isn’t particularly relevant.

'Rock star' pandas - not exactly a love story 'Rock star' pandas - not exactly a love story
 
Lafone said:
To illustrate

Headline article

Edinburgh Zoo giant pandas leave zoo for return to China

No mention of anti zoo opinion

Linked article

How is Edinburgh Zoo transporting two giant pandas? How is Edinburgh Zoo transporting two giant pandas?

A couple of lines from some anti zoo org that thinks China keeps all its pandas in the wild

Linked and much longer article, A couple of lines from someone saying pandas bred in captivity haven’t gone back into the wild. Which isn’t untrue though it isn’t particularly relevant.

'Rock star' pandas - not exactly a love story 'Rock star' pandas - not exactly a love story
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Hi lafone , I agree that’s why I used the term “smattering” and my earlier comment actually expressed that generally the coverage has been pretty good particularly in the mainstream, which is good to see.

I saw a few “local” articles that mentioned a certain group which is what spurned my comment, again - I just feel these groups miss the ball as you’ve eluded to yourself.
 
The pandas have clearly made an impact on many people as the flight is the number 1 tracked flight in the world currently with 5,232 people watching right now!
 
ZooTripper365 said:
The pandas are officially flying over the Scottish border as I write this. Thanks @Crowthorne for the code. Truly the end of an era for UK zoos and I can't wait to see what the future holds for the species.
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The future of the species appears to be as a cynical money-raising and reputation-building arm of the Chinese government.
 
You can say that again...

Maybe excited was the wrong word but it'll certainly be interesting on a worldwide scale. Watch out Atlanta...
 
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