Edinburgh Zoo Edinburgh Zoo news 2024

Official announcement from the zoo confirming Asiatic Lioness Bindee's arrival:

"The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo has welcomed eight-year-old Asiatic lioness, Bindee, from Parc Zoologique et Botanique de Mulhouse in France. Bindee joins the wildlife conservation charity’s male lion, Jay, as part of a vital breeding programme for the endangered species which aims to conserve healthy and genetically diverse populations of some of the world’s most threatened species in zoos across Europe." :

Edinburgh Zoo welcomes endangered lioness Bindee
 
Hi,

First time posting but regular visitor to the zoo.

Visited today and spoke with a few keepers/discovery rangers. Looks like Qabid the rhino is staying until around April, this is due a paperwork mix up or something like that. Once he leaves there's plans to add 2 new rhinos.

Cheetahs to return around February but how many or what sex, I'm not sure.

Old Tapir enclosure behind the rhino is under development for a new species but no one would say what but it would be an exciting addition.

Jay and Bindee the lions are still separate but looking positive for a successful introduction in the coming weeks/months.

New bear species not confirmed but not denied either so that looks promising.

At least 2 exciting species being added next year that will be showcase species, with one likely the bear but the other had no hints.

Keepers discussed the worry about upcoming Hogmanay fireworks, definitely share their concerns as its been a rough year with Ginger and her kit passing from the shock.
 
The zoo have submitted a planning application to build new "Animal Day Dens" at the enclosure where the Giant Panda's were housed before their departure. I'm assuming this is in preparation for the new bear species arriving to improve viewing opportunities:

24/06303/FUL | Installation of a new Animal Day den constructed from timber with an associated steel frame. Additional minor landscaping works to be undertaken to suit the new construction. | The Gatehouse Edinburgh Zoo 134 Corstorphine Road Murrayfield Edinburgh EH12 6TS
 
SamMcTernan said:
Hi,

First time posting but regular visitor to the zoo.

Visited today and spoke with a few keepers/discovery rangers. Looks like Qabid the rhino is staying until around April, this is due a paperwork mix up or something like that. Once he leaves there's plans to add 2 new rhinos.

Cheetahs to return around February but how many or what sex, I'm not sure.

Old Tapir enclosure behind the rhino is under development for a new species but no one would say what but it would be an exciting addition.

Jay and Bindee the lions are still separate but looking positive for a successful introduction in the coming weeks/months.

New bear species not confirmed but not denied either so that looks promising.

At least 2 exciting species being added next year that will be showcase species, with one likely the bear but the other had no hints.

Keepers discussed the worry about upcoming Hogmanay fireworks, definitely share their concerns as its been a rough year with Ginger and her kit passing from the shock.
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Definitely some good stuff here. While I wasn't planning on visiting Edinburgh Zoo again in 2025, I may think about arranging a visit in Summer to see Haggis while she's still small (I don't know how long it takes for pygmy hippos to reach full size) along with the new cheetahs and whatever is going in the old tapir enclosure if they've arrived by then, though I feel as if I should wait until the upcoming new species and the two rhinos set to replace Qabid have actually arrived, or we know when exactly they're arriving so I don't miss out on seeing them.
 
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Planning on visiting aswell, for the first time at the end of January. I'm super hyped after hearing all the progress recently! Will have to do multiple trips after to see the upcoming developments
 
I visited a couple days ago for the first time since October. This is what I saw- some things already said but some not:

- I noticed some of the older signs around enclosures had been taken down- the signs installed when the meerkat enclosure opened (making them around 10 years old) were gone, and for good reason, as they were pretty worn.

- Unfortunately I did not get to see Haggis, as we forgot to visit his enclosure.

- The sun bear enclosure has had some planting work done on it- a lot of the grass and foliage in the enclosure has been removed, and the ground of the lower part of the enclosure is now mostly soil.

- Went through the koala enclosure- they seem to have done nothing at all with the enclosures that used to hold Tanami and currently hold Hairy and three-banded armadillos. Does anyone know whether these plans are still going through. I also saw all of the koalas awake.

- Finally saw the Pallas cat- the keeper came in to feed him, and he ran out vey fast from where the wall was next to the viewing window in the outdoor enclosure. He was very shy, walking slowly towards his food and then quickly hiding after. I doubt I'll see him again in the enclosure for a long time.

- The new Alpaca enclosure is between the entrance to Animal antics and the entrance to Living links, and is directly in front of you when you exit Magic forest. It is of reasonable size, with a small shelter and enrichment items, and the animals seemed happy.

- I saw Bindee (new female Asiatic lion.) She and Jay are separated, with Jay being in the holding cage and Bindee in the indoor area. She seemed to be comfortable, resting in front of the glass.

- The work being done on the former warty pig and malayan tapir enclosure seems to be on the old tapir pool, with it being refitted with new concrete and new step leading down to it. There didn't seem to be any work done on the main enclosure or indoor section.

Either way- lots going on! Will be exciting to see what happens in the future.
 
felis silvestris said:
Went through the koala enclosure- they seem to have done nothing at all with the enclosures that used to hold Tanami and currently hold Hairy and three-banded armadillos. Does anyone know whether these plans are still going through. I also saw all of the koalas awake.
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Planning permission has been approved for the proposed changes to the Koala enclosure, however they are still waiting on Edinburgh City Council approving the building warrant.

felis silvestris said:
- The work being done on the former warty pig and malayan tapir enclosure seems to be on the old tapir pool, with it being refitted with new concrete and new step leading down to it. There didn't seem to be any work done on the main enclosure or indoor section.
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I believe this enclosure is going to be home to Capybara once the works have been complete.
 
Quincey said:
Planning permission has been approved for the proposed changes to the Koala enclosure, however they are still waiting on Edinburgh City Council approving the building warrant.



I believe this enclosure is going to be home to Capybara once the works have been complete.
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Good to hear it is happening. Where did you hear about capybara arriving?
 
To add to what I said: some of the tiger signage around tiger tracks has been removed (the sumatran farmland recreation with the farm animals and the tiger) which is fair enough, as they were pretty old.
 
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