Edinburgh Zoo Edinburgh Zoo news 2011 #1

Cheers Glasgowanimal!

Also I did see a polecat during my visit! Lovely wee thing! Very difficult to photograph though with only the small slats through to the window.
Good news about the repairs too!
 
Can anyone tell what is currently in the former wolf wood enclosure, last time i believe it was the young maned wolf cubs, is this still the case?
 
Last time I was there - in late October - the maned wolves were still in the old wolf-wood.
 
Nisha said:
16 Staff have lost their jobs in an effort to save money :(
Zoo wields the axe as 16 jobs go to save money - Scotsman.com News
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It is very sad indeed when loyal staff have to be paid off, it is also sad that there is not enough money in the kitty to renovate the sea lion enclosure, it would appear that this zoo are hoping finances will improve on arrival of the giant pandas, I am sure it will, will it however be enough to justify the huge costs involved in bringing them here. I recall in the early nineties when unfortunately London Zoo was not in the best financial state and giant pandas Bao Bao and Ming Ming came to the park for some time. What I would like to know is did London's gate receipts increase dramatically on their arrival, do any of the members on here know. I do appreciate that London had giant pandas before the arrival of this pair, however as I remember they were sent to the zoo on loan and not subject to some huge rental fee.
 
It is sad to hear. On a slightly different note, am I the only one who finds the Scotsman's constant use of the word 'pen' in relation to enclosures incredibly irritating?

It might be appropriate for lambs but I have never seen a gorilla in a pen!
 
Shirokuma said:
It is sad to hear. On a slightly different note, am I the only one who finds the Scotsman's constant use of the word 'pen' in relation to enclosures incredibly irritating?

It might be appropriate for lambs but I have never seen a gorilla in a pen!
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They do use it in America sometimes;). The famous scientist George Schaller described in his observation of the Gorilla 'Guy' at London zoo.. 'sloshing water at his audience and dashing about his pen'.
 
kiang said:
Can anyone tell what is currently in the former wolf wood enclosure, last time i believe it was the young maned wolf cubs, is this still the case?
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The mother and female cub of the maned wolves. the males have moved to another collection.

The male zebra has been "done" to prevent further breeding after this years foals. His genes are now extremely well represented within the population now.

The Visayan Warty pigs are now in the old bush dog enclosure and the warthogs are in the old warty pig enclosure. this will keep them away from the building work as well as they were opposite from where the pandas are to go.

With all the bad news recently the keepers are still doing a really good job, despite the low moral. Indeed, I would go as far as to say that in delivering what it can as regards conservation, education and research Edinburgh Zoo and RZSS generally is still delivering. Unfortunately the media has a tendency of sensationalising. The zoo has just been unfortunate that circumstances in many of these situations have been outwith its control.

The zoo is budgeting on the pandas giving a 20% increase on visitor numbers. Whilst the huge increases in visitor numbers isn't generally seen in countries where several other zoos already have pandas, where few or none have pandas tend to be very high so lets wait and see. Also, despite some American zoos claiming to be losing money on pandas, none of them are planning on handing them back!

It is my personal opinion that the years to come will see many improvements at the zoo. Often bad times allow for a review and there are a lot of good people at the zoo and RZSS in general.
 
Thanks for the update Simon, interesting movements within the porcine collection, any further moves planned?
How is the former gorilla house looking?

As a side note, i would like to see the goral go back into the former warthog enclosure and move the thick billed parrots out of the former macaque enclosure and replace with say a pheasant species mixed with the laughing thrush, creating a series of enclosures and species linked to the giant pandas.
 
If the visayan warty pigs are in the bush dog enclosure, where have the bush dogs moved to? Im hoping to visit this weekend. Maybe get a sneaky look at the panda area if its not too covered up!

I agree simon - the media should maybe try giving the day to day staff some praise for a change! Is there any news about the director that was suspended, or what is happening there?
 
I should also ask is the former rainbow landing exhibit ready for reopening, stocked full of primates?
I would have thought the management would have wanted it open for Easter, maybe summer holidays at the latest, to see them through to the arrival of the pandas.
 
With the panda exhibit, the only place you can see any of the work is the south side of the penguins. A lot of in filling of the moat has taken place. That's about all that can be seen. From what I've heard it is going to be perfect for the pandas and quite good from the visitors point of view as well!

I'm not aware of any other moves at the moment. Sadly the bushdog enclosure became vacant after they were humane eutanased. They have been suffering severe health problems for some time now. Despite lots of work from the vets, keepers and all involved it was decided to take the decision. They were in more than they were out and for the animals themselves it was the best action to take. If they were moved to another collection they would have most likely taken whatever they had with them.

Nothing as regards the Rainbow Landings building. It was possibly decided that with all the other upheaval it was probably best to hold that. Having seen the artists impression of the new entrance there shall be more ticket points plus at least 1 possibly 2 fast track points for members and internet bookings.

Interestingly, the money for the refurbished entrance and shop and the work for the pandas had already been ring fenced before the restructure. It was possibly this that started the process that led to the redundancies at the end of November (despite the press reporting it just a few weeks back!) Even more interestingly, Edinburgh Zoo and RZSS is far better placed financially than is let on. It has taken out a loan, but even if all goes by their worst expectations, it can be paid back in a very short time scale. They have a lot of assets that can act as collaterol other than the zoo itself!

Don't believe everything you read in the papers. The board is taking the time to listen to staff, members and visitors alike in order to advise and support the appropriate directors and managers deliver the zoo Edinburgh should and can be! There is more work going on behind the scenes than is apparent!
 
Can you explain what the issue was with the bush dogs? How many were put to sleep? Are you saying they had a contagious illness which was proving untreatable/curable?
 
johnstoni said:
Can you explain what the issue was with the bush dogs? How many were put to sleep? Are you saying they had a contagious illness which was proving untreatable/curable?
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I am sure the management of Edinburgh Zoo have acted with the up-most professionalism in euthanasing the bush dogs,
 
If I remember correctly it was some kind of parasitic type illness. The vets and keepers have been trying for some years to get things right with the bushdogs, they have been plagued with problems since they arrived at the zoo. I've been there for almost three years as a member and two and a half as a volunteer and all I have seen is an all out effort to try and get things right for them. That has included where they source their food from and enrichment in the enclosure. It certainly isn't down to lack of effort on the staff's part! I can't remember the exact science behind the illness but it was discussed at one of the many talks in the events programme a couple of years ago. They have certainly had a bit of a roller coaster ride with them. The decision was very much a last resort!
 
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