Edinburgh Zoo Edinburgh Zoo News 2015

Here we go again, tell me the old old story, talk about grasping at straws or should that be bamboo. So the female giant panda has yet again been artificially inseminated which would have necessitated her being knocked out for this procedure. As anyone who has owned a pet will know, if you have to take your animal to the vets for an operation you have to sign a form of consent, as all medical procedure is risky while the animal is under the gas, necessary of coarse if the operation is in the best interests of the animal concerned, in the case of Edinburgh Zoo's £6000 per week rented Giant Panda I am not so sure I approve of her being knocked out every year in this desperate attempt at A.I. just in the vain hope that it will indeed produce a baby to keep the crowds coming and more importantly put £12.000 per week in the rent book. I think we are getting bored with all this now and I sure so are the public, animal welfare is now a major concern here now, absolute animal exploitation, nothing else.
 
Animal Friendly said:
Here we go again, tell me the old old story, talk about grasping at straws or should that be bamboo. So the female giant panda has yet again been artificially inseminated which would have necessitated her being knocked out for this procedure. As anyone who has owned a pet will know, if you have to take your animal to the vets for an operation you have to sign a form of consent, as all medical procedure is risky while the animal is under the gas, necessary of coarse if the operation is in the best interests of the animal concerned, in the case of Edinburgh Zoo's £6000 per week rented Giant Panda I am not so sure I approve of her being knocked out every year in this desperate attempt at A.I. just in the vain hope that it will indeed produce a baby to keep the crowds coming and more importantly put £12.000 per week in the rent book. I think we are getting bored with all this now and I sure so are the public, animal welfare is now a major concern here now, absolute animal exploitation, nothing else.
Click to expand...
IF this were exploitation, I would suggest the blame wouldn't begin or end with Edinburgh Zoo! Do Madagascar rent out their Aye Aye or Sifaka?
 
I think the zoo have massively downplayed the breeding compared to the first year. I don't really have a problem with them acknowledging in one news story that it is happening now (they have to make visitors aware the pandas are currently off show anyway so they couldn't keep it completely quiet). This is nothing like previous years with the months of build up to ovulation, it's a simple, she is ovulating, we're trying to breed them again, we'll let you know what happens. If you look on the posts on the zoo's facebook page people are constantly asking about the pandas and the breeding-if people want to know what's happening why is it wrong of the zoo to tell them?
 
"Here here"

I'm with you on this, Edinburgh are playing it cool and deserve the support of our positive community. Good luck to them. Risks need to be taken in conservation, rightly or wrongly, just like Gerry Durrell and countless others. Edinburgh needed to say something publicly but have not gone OTT.
 
Had a visit yesterday, missed the Banteng calf but were time limited so didn't get round everything.

Quick observations - Dinosaurs Return, it's in the old section at the top of the zoo next to the Anteaters that has been drelict for years, with a souvenir and refreshments kiosk on the area of the (old) adventure playground - all the playground stuff has gone. The kids liked it, but one was disappointed as only really the T-Rex is anything like life size (maybe the Dilophosarus).

Big Cat row is still open (in spite of the map saying it's not) and it looks like at least one Golden cat is still there (as usual I didn't see it)

Overheard keeper saying female pygmy Hippo has stopped breeding, and is off to Spain with a replacement female coming from Chester.

Wallaby walk-through was ok, saw a Joey come out then back into the pouch. Hog Deer are now apparently in the enclosure beside the wallabies, but didn't see any (Probably hiding from the visibly prowling tiger in the neighbouring enclosure!)

Question on tigers - do they still have two?

Tapir calf has almost lost it's spotty coat and is almost in adult colours.

Painted Hunting Dogs - only saw two, outside.

Duck Ponds are under re-development with new walkways and bridges

Baby Meerkats were out and about.

More of the older/smaller enclosures have been demolished and re-landscaped - the ones with small antelope species opposite the Monkey house are gone, the walls remain but the area at the rear now has a prone T-Rex and a chance to get your photo taken with it for £10!!
 
Last edited:
"The kids liked it, but as was disappointed as only really the T-Rex is anything like life size (maybe the Dilophosarus)."

Love that post!!!!

"Overheard keeper saying female pygmy Hippo has stopped breeding, and is off to Spain with a replacement female coming from Chester."

Colchester perhaps?

"More of the older/smaller enclosures have been demolished and re-landscaped - the ones with small antelope species opposite the Monkey house are gone, the walls remain but the area at the rear now has a prone T-Rex and a chance to get your photo taken with it for £10!!"

Heartbreaking!
 
Davef68 said:
Had a visit yesterday, missed the Banteng calf but were time limited so didn't get round everything.

Quick observations - Dinosaurs Return, it's in the old section at the top of the zoo next to the Anteaters that has been drelict for years, with a sounviner and refreshments kiosk on the area of the (old) adventure playground - all the playground stuff has gone. The kids liked it, but as was disappointed as only really the T-Rex is anything like life size (maybe the Dilophosarus).

Big Cat row is still open (in spite of the map saying it's not) and it looks like at least one Golden cat is still there (as usual I didn't see it)

Overheard keeper saying female pygmy Hippo has stopped breeding, and is off to Spain with a replacement female coming from Chester.

Wallaby walk-through was ok, saw a Joey come out then back into the pouch. Hog Deer are now apparently in the enclosure beside the wallabies, but didn't see any (Probably hiding from the visibly prowling tiger in the neighbouring enclosure!)

Question on tigers - do they still have two?

Tapir calf has almost lost it's spotty coat and is almost in adult colours.

Painted Hunting Dogs - only saw two, outside.

Duck Ponds are under re-development with new walkways and bridges

Baby Meerkats were out and about.

More of the older/smaller enclosures have been demolished and re-landscaped - the ones with small antelope species opposite the Monkey house are gone, the walls remain but the area at the rear now has a prone T-Rex and a chance to get your photo taken with it for £10!!
Click to expand...

Chester doesn't have pygmy hippo or hippos.
 
Davef68 said:
Had a visit yesterday, missed the Banteng calf but were time limited so didn't get round everything. Question on tigers - do they still have two?
Click to expand...

At the end of last year, the blog reported an exchange of males was imminent - however as of March the original male (Tibor) was still waiting to leave.. has he gone?
 
Didn't get a good look as only one on show was up high in the main enclosure (Looked Male with a mane) so couldn't see if it was Tibor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top