We decided to spend a couple of days up in Edinburgh this week and so a visit the Zoo was top of the 'to do' list. I've been twice before, but many, many years ago. It was a fantastic day, (for the middle of November!), blue sky, sun and no wind whatsoever. The only minus points was the fact I'd forgotten my camera, (but I did manage to take a few photos with my mobile phone) and the fact that as I've got older, the Zoo seems to have gone from being on a steep hill to being built on a b***** great mountain!
I was certainly impressed with quite a few things and being able to get close to quite a number of the animals, (thanks to the way their enclosures, dens, etc, have been done), was great. I was also mighty impressed with the new Chimp House.. it's HUGE! The 22 Chimps (11 Males and the 11 Females) are living in luxury. They also have a large outdoor enclosure, so they have plenty of room in which to run around in.
I saw animals I had never seen before.. anteaters and koala.
Am I right in thinking that years ago, the Zoo had some Rockhopper penguins you could view through glass? I was surprised to see the new pool and just how many penguins there are.
I missed a few of the animals, the sun bears, (they must have been inside), Otters, (although there were signs pointing both ways to them), and there was no signs of any Beavers. There were a few enclosures that didn't seem to have anything in them and a couple of things were closed off.
I only saw the one sea lion.. I assume there is only one?
The view at the top of the 'mountain' when you finally reach the top is stunning. I was also captivated with the local wildlife up there. I saw lots of squirrels, magpies, a robin, etc.
The only things I would give minus points to were the big cat enclosures (they didn't seem very big), the areas that don't have anything in them, (which could have been given some attention) and the fact the 'Hilltop Safari Bus' wasn't in operation.
I look forward to visiting again in the near future.
Oh by the way.. can some kind person give me some info about one of the Tigers who seemed very thin and had only one eye? I'll post the photos tomorrow..
I was certainly impressed with quite a few things and being able to get close to quite a number of the animals, (thanks to the way their enclosures, dens, etc, have been done), was great. I was also mighty impressed with the new Chimp House.. it's HUGE! The 22 Chimps (11 Males and the 11 Females) are living in luxury. They also have a large outdoor enclosure, so they have plenty of room in which to run around in.
I saw animals I had never seen before.. anteaters and koala.
Am I right in thinking that years ago, the Zoo had some Rockhopper penguins you could view through glass? I was surprised to see the new pool and just how many penguins there are.
I missed a few of the animals, the sun bears, (they must have been inside), Otters, (although there were signs pointing both ways to them), and there was no signs of any Beavers. There were a few enclosures that didn't seem to have anything in them and a couple of things were closed off.
I only saw the one sea lion.. I assume there is only one?
The view at the top of the 'mountain' when you finally reach the top is stunning. I was also captivated with the local wildlife up there. I saw lots of squirrels, magpies, a robin, etc.
The only things I would give minus points to were the big cat enclosures (they didn't seem very big), the areas that don't have anything in them, (which could have been given some attention) and the fact the 'Hilltop Safari Bus' wasn't in operation.
I look forward to visiting again in the near future.
Oh by the way.. can some kind person give me some info about one of the Tigers who seemed very thin and had only one eye? I'll post the photos tomorrow..
