Simon McGlary
Well-Known Member
I was on the Spring Tour (was supposed to be winter but was cancelled due to a number of reasons) today, led by Animal Collections Manager Darren McGarry. I always find these tour really good, not only for the information about the animals focussed on during the tour but some of the background information and future plans and how things are hoped to work out. With only 11 people on the tour it was really good with a couple of really interesting previews as well!
It is hoped that at some stage we might be able to get a breeding pair of painted hunting dogs while our currebnt pair would move on to a collection which just wants a pair! There are alternative plans should this fall through but it seems even the studook keepers feel that Edinburgh has been exceptionally unlucky with the individuals moved here and that, despite that, has done an excellent job looking after them! The highlight of the tour was definitely a visit into Budongo Trail and a view of the new 11 chimpanzees. They are so obviously different from Edinburgh's 11. Their legs are less developed muscularly and spend more time down low! It also appears that the Edinburgh 11 are both exceptionally well trained for health checks but are also much more sure of themselves and are very much a group that can function as a unit! The introductions are going to be extremely complex with upwards an absolute minimum of 121 introductions with a space between them!
Finally it is hoped to open up something similar to Living Links for birds to research bird cogntion sometime in the future and have more Living Links type partnerships! Prepare to see more unusual species. Edinburgh really doesn't do the same as every other zoo! In fact, RZSS in general is more than happy to stand out has having the most different and studied collection!
It is hoped that at some stage we might be able to get a breeding pair of painted hunting dogs while our currebnt pair would move on to a collection which just wants a pair! There are alternative plans should this fall through but it seems even the studook keepers feel that Edinburgh has been exceptionally unlucky with the individuals moved here and that, despite that, has done an excellent job looking after them! The highlight of the tour was definitely a visit into Budongo Trail and a view of the new 11 chimpanzees. They are so obviously different from Edinburgh's 11. Their legs are less developed muscularly and spend more time down low! It also appears that the Edinburgh 11 are both exceptionally well trained for health checks but are also much more sure of themselves and are very much a group that can function as a unit! The introductions are going to be extremely complex with upwards an absolute minimum of 121 introductions with a space between them!
Finally it is hoped to open up something similar to Living Links for birds to research bird cogntion sometime in the future and have more Living Links type partnerships! Prepare to see more unusual species. Edinburgh really doesn't do the same as every other zoo! In fact, RZSS in general is more than happy to stand out has having the most different and studied collection!
