Edinburgh Zoo Edinburgh Zoo faces crisis

Must be worrying times for staff at the zoo would hate to see my favourite keepers go.

I think Mr Windmill has done a good job over the last 8 years he seemed to have a passion for making the zoo a good zoo can only hope his successor does the same and when he does leave I hope a certain man will follow and go to !!!!!
 
Mr Gelada said:
Must be worrying times for staff at the zoo would hate to see my favourite keepers go.

I think Mr Windmill has done a good job over the last 8 years he seemed to have a passion for making the zoo a good zoo can only hope his successor does the same and when he does leave I hope a certain man will follow and go to !!!!!
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I presume that's a typo, and you hope someone will go too, rather than go to... where? bed?

Are there stirrings of discontent at Edinburgh? On the comments which follow the news piece above, the following posting appears:

"They have a novel way to make cutbacks easier, use the Middle ManagerS to VICTIMISE,DEHUMANISE AND BULLY,the current LOYAL staff into submission , forcing them to leave through stress, therefore making the transition easier and saving money on wage bill.I must congratulate the Chief Exec on allowing his LOYAL staff to be treated in this manner."

Of course, any internet site attracts nutters, and anyone WHO SUDDENLY WRITES IN ranDOm capITALs is certainly suspect, but nonetheless, interesting...

The consensus on the Edinburgh paper's message board seems to be that Blair Drummond is a better place than the zoo. Which just goes to show how utterly mad some people are.
 
I would say it's a short term dip that has to be addressed. Sadly it does mean that some staff will be made redundant, all good staff as well. There are some feelings of unrest among some but generally everyone is fully behind the zoo in general.

There are a number of things causing this, primarily a big drop in visitor numbers. This could be caused by a number of things, not least the current economic climate at large. Other zoos are also having to revaluate plans and operations. Edinburgh Zoo is just being much more open about this.

Edinburgh Zoo is still rated very highly within the zoo community, the difficult thing is getting this, and necessary changes in todays zoos, over to the general public. Much of the general public want to see elephants, giraffes, reptiles and meerkats, the later down to a certain advert about car insurance.

There are many things happening behind the scenes and changes to be made that could have a big effect on the animals collection and the visitor experience and I'm sure everyone at the zoo will be making changes as well in order to ensure that Edinburgh Zoo continues to be consiered one of the best zoos and most forward thinking zoos.

Many zoos have been in a similar situation, London, Twycross and Durrell to name only three, and many more will be in the future. Considering zoos don't receive government money yet still strive to ensure education programmes fit with any national curriculum, keep the animals in tip top condition and fund some of the most successful conservation programmes it's surprising more zoos haven't been in similar or worse situations!

Edinburgh will bounce back! Incidentally, the sister park, Highland Wildlife Park is not being affected by these cuts.
 
I understand that Edinburgh Zoo has closed it's Rainbow Landings walk through lorikeet exhibit. Is this caused by the downsizing of the staff? Will they keep it as it is until next year's seasonal staff can run it again, or is it to be turned into something else?
 
Secret Squirrel said:
I understand that Edinburgh Zoo has closed it's Rainbow Landings walk through lorikeet exhibit. Is this caused by the downsizing of the staff? Will they keep it as it is until next year's seasonal staff can run it again, or is it to be turned into something else?
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I noticed this and it is a shame. If the financial difficulties are due to staff, could the zoo not use volunteers to run it?
Mind, it has also been noted that the lorikeets didn't always eat and therefore it was decided to be a failure. It would be nice to see it reopen as just a walk-through aviary if nothing else.
 
Volunteers will not and, quite rightly, should not be used to carry out the work of paid staff. . Rainbow Landings wasn't run by seasonal staff and the staff facing redundancy are all good full time staff. Truly tough times ahead in the short term hopefully. It is highly unlikely that Rainbow Landings will reopen as a lorikeet walk through. Watch this space as it were!
 
Simon McGlary said:
Volunteers will not and, quite rightly, should not be used to carry out the work of paid staff. . Rainbow Landings wasn't run by seasonal staff and the staff facing redundancy are all good full time staff. Truly tough times ahead in the short term hopefully. It is highly unlikely that Rainbow Landings will reopen as a lorikeet walk through. Watch this space as it were!
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Thanks for your input. I didn't mean to imply that Rainbow Landings had been run by seasonal staff. I know very well it wasn't. What I meant was, in the absence (due to financial problems or whatever) of full time staff to run it presently would it be reopened with seasonal staff next year? If it is to be redeveloped into another exhibit that would be a shame but part of the reality of the business. It would be interesting to see what is put in its place given the tightening of belts necessary at the moment.
 
I'd volunteer for the experience if I lived anywhere near. I'm going to do the 3 [I think it's 3] months volunteering at Chester as soon as I can drive :)
 
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