Reading this article concerning the giant panda experience, I see that there is another great cost to the zoo relating to these animals, as well as the large annual rent for them to the Chinese and the bamboo, the annual insurance premium is thought to be in the region of one million pounds a year!!
Edinburgh Zoo Edinburgh Zoo news 2012 #3
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Reading this article concerning the giant panda experience, I see that there is another great cost to the zoo relating to these animals, as well as the large annual rent for them to the Chinese and the bamboo, the annual insurance premium is thought to be in the region of one million pounds a year!!
Yes I was aware that the £1,000 premium was for four people, which is £250 each for one hour panda experience, I wonder if they will get many takers?, more money than sense springs to mind. Recently we discussed on another thread that for a family on a limited budget a day trip to London Zoo would be a financial impossibility at about £100 for the day out, and yet Edinburgh think it realistic to charge £1,000 for a group of four to feed the pandas with their bamboo for one hour,
mazfc
Well-Known Member
I have to admit that initially the price took my breath away at first glance, but then I thought about it in comparison to other places.
My friend and I were looking at big cat feeding at Longleat: £250 each for 2 and half hours. Equates to the same cost for an experience that could perhaps be done in other places. The pandas can't be seen anywhere else in the uk.
This is not to say I approve of the price, but as I said about zoo prices on another thread Prices are set at what the market will bare. If it too much it'll be dropped but I have a feeling it won't be.
My friend and I were looking at big cat feeding at Longleat: £250 each for 2 and half hours. Equates to the same cost for an experience that could perhaps be done in other places. The pandas can't be seen anywhere else in the uk.
This is not to say I approve of the price, but as I said about zoo prices on another thread Prices are set at what the market will bare. If it too much it'll be dropped but I have a feeling it won't be.
Absolutely, you are right, but what crosses my mind is if an individual or a company wants to pay this amount of money for just one hour of pleasure, wouldn't the money be better spent, i.e. pay Edinburgh Zoo £1,000 to allow 100 kids in who come from special schools or kids whose family's cannot genuinely afford the admission price to enjoy the whole zoo for the day?, would more pleasure and satisfaction be gained from this rather than paying this money just for a privileged few to feed the pandas, that's if they are not asleep
Happy to confirm that it has now been caught
The Press Association: Rare missing bird returned to zoo
Had my first visit to the zoo last Saturday, had a really great time and really enjoyed the zoo.
Actually got to see the male panda out and about outdoors which was great, made for some great photos.
The main bit of news (well maybe) is when I asked where the Margays were, according to the keepers they are off show whilst being introduced to each other and apparently the introductions are going well, she seemed to think they would go on show near the Sun Bears, perhaps in the enclosure next door where its labelled Aardwolf, although I didn't see any in there.
The entrance enclosures could use some work, there was an empty walk through enclosure (previously for birds I'm guessing) and the sea lion pool is a bit of a poor first impression. Where is the sea lion going? They didn't say in the talk but they suggested he was moving.
If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask. I saw 14 new species of Mammal, so I was a happy lad!
Actually got to see the male panda out and about outdoors which was great, made for some great photos.
The main bit of news (well maybe) is when I asked where the Margays were, according to the keepers they are off show whilst being introduced to each other and apparently the introductions are going well, she seemed to think they would go on show near the Sun Bears, perhaps in the enclosure next door where its labelled Aardwolf, although I didn't see any in there.
The entrance enclosures could use some work, there was an empty walk through enclosure (previously for birds I'm guessing) and the sea lion pool is a bit of a poor first impression. Where is the sea lion going? They didn't say in the talk but they suggested he was moving.
If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask. I saw 14 new species of Mammal, so I was a happy lad!
He's due to move to a collection in Poland any time now.
IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know what is planned for the sealion pool?
Absolutely, you are right, but what crosses my mind is if an individual or a company wants to pay this amount of money for just one hour of pleasure, wouldn't the money be better spent, i.e. pay Edinburgh Zoo £1,000 to allow 100 kids in who come from special schools or kids whose family's cannot genuinely afford the admission price to enjoy the whole zoo for the day?, would more pleasure and satisfaction be gained from this rather than paying this money just for a privileged few to feed the pandas, that's if they are not asleep
Depends who they are trying to impress, I don't think a company would care much about an overall 'enjoyment quotient'. If they want general kudos they might go down the special children route, if they want to impress Mr Rich Useful Bloke they'll go down the one-on-four panda experience.
Another escape situation in the zoo, this time involving a 600kg Heck bull which was on the loose for about 40 minutes, until zoo keepers and vets used tranquiliser darts and managed to restrain the animal.
An Edinburgh Zoo spokeswoman said: "An adult Heck cattle bull escaped from its enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo for 40 minutes.
"It stayed within the locality of the enclosure.
"Edinburgh Zoo visitors were immediately escorted to indoor areas in the zoo.
"Edinburgh Zoo's trained team of expert keepers and veterinarians safely and effectively darted the animal. Staff are establishing the circumstances of the escape, and have secured the area."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-19470677
An Edinburgh Zoo spokeswoman said: "An adult Heck cattle bull escaped from its enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo for 40 minutes.
"It stayed within the locality of the enclosure.
"Edinburgh Zoo visitors were immediately escorted to indoor areas in the zoo.
"Edinburgh Zoo's trained team of expert keepers and veterinarians safely and effectively darted the animal. Staff are establishing the circumstances of the escape, and have secured the area."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-19470677
Sorry I posted this in the Whipsnade thread by accident... now in the right place:
Does anyone have a list and numbers of who lives in the rock dens? When I went I saw one golden cat, two wolverines, several leopards/jaguars. Wondered if anyone had a recent list or a guess at what it is at the moment?
Does anyone have a list and numbers of who lives in the rock dens? When I went I saw one golden cat, two wolverines, several leopards/jaguars. Wondered if anyone had a recent list or a guess at what it is at the moment?
Lesley4444
Well-Known Member
As far as i know there are..
2 Amur Leopards
2 Jaguars
2 Wolverines
2 Golden cats
Going to the carnivore talk on the 27th so might have more information for you after that
2 Amur Leopards
2 Jaguars
2 Wolverines
2 Golden cats
Going to the carnivore talk on the 27th so might have more information for you after that
Last time I visited, at the end of July, starting at the bottom of the slope before "Carnivore row" as a useful placemarker:
Rockhopper penguins
"Empty" enclosure (actually held two Binturong, the female Bali and the new male Ali, which were being held there whilst the old male Billy remained in the new Binturong enclosure while the zoo finalised his departure to Linton)
Empty enclosure
Tibetan Golden Cat - new male called Kaan.
Amur Leopard - female called Zane
Amur Leopard - male called Skodje
Jaguar - male called Mowgli
Jaguar - female called Rica
Two Wolverine enclosures - Male called Xale and female called Kirka; their enclosures were open to one another when I visited so I do not know which one lives where.
Tibetan Golden Cat - female called Swai-fai
Sumatran Tiger enclosures, housing a male called Tibor and a female called Baginda
Rockhopper penguins
"Empty" enclosure (actually held two Binturong, the female Bali and the new male Ali, which were being held there whilst the old male Billy remained in the new Binturong enclosure while the zoo finalised his departure to Linton)
Empty enclosure
Tibetan Golden Cat - new male called Kaan.
Amur Leopard - female called Zane
Amur Leopard - male called Skodje
Jaguar - male called Mowgli
Jaguar - female called Rica
Two Wolverine enclosures - Male called Xale and female called Kirka; their enclosures were open to one another when I visited so I do not know which one lives where.
Tibetan Golden Cat - female called Swai-fai
Sumatran Tiger enclosures, housing a male called Tibor and a female called Baginda
Is there a big restriction on letters available when naming binturong?
They have attempted to mix the Leopards on three occasions; however results were "unsatisfactory" to put it as diplomatically as possible and no further mixings are planned.
The female Jaguar arrived only relatively recently, and is believed to be too young to be mixed with the male as yet - however they regularly call to one another and seem very interested, so the zoo is cautiously hopeful for whenever they eventually are mixed.