Edinburgh Zoo Giant pandas coming to Edinburgh zoo?

I think zoos are far, far better at packaging and marketing new exhibits these days. You don't just pop a couple of Pandas into the primate complex, as London did...these days they'd have to have a whole forest trail with quaint little authentic gift shops and accessory exhibits, probably be opened on chinese new year, and be precededed by countless panda-related promotional gimmicks.....
 
yes, Expectation is the keyword here. The greater the build up and expectation, the more the public think they are getting out of an exhibit. 'Gorilla Kingdom' is probably a good current example.
 
johnstoni said:
I think zoos are far, far better at packaging and marketing new exhibits these days. You don't just pop a couple of Pandas into the primate complex, as London did...these days they'd have to have a whole forest trail with quaint little authentic gift shops and accessory exhibits, probably be opened on chinese new year, and be precededed by countless panda-related promotional gimmicks.....
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I think you will find they were put into the primate complex because it was an on the cheap way of displaying them rather than having to fork out real money which they have never really liked to do in the past
 
MARK said:
I think you will find they were put into the primate complex because it was an on the cheap way of displaying them rather than having to fork out real money which they have never really liked to do in the past
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Yes, that's exactly it I think. I can't remember now but ChiChi's old enclosure(now the site of the Lion enclosure) must have already been demolished or was scheduled to be soon?

The Sobell pavilion enclosure actually turned out quite suitable for the Pandas in some ways, as they liked to climb up into the roof structure- which many purpose designed Panda exhibits don't have. But there was no 'special' feel to the exhibit- you just came cross them in a cage. I often remember thinking- especially latterly as the Pandas got inactive, that it was rather a waste of a good monkey enclosure and what extra primate species they could have had instead...
 
It is completely indicative of the old management at London pre closure threat. It would be unthinkable now. The hype would start years before. When the last Pandas arrived I think the publicity amounted to having Cilla Black of 'blind date' appear.....I guess marketing has really come on since then..
 
Well if it does happen, i must say i am very excited about it, the zoo claims 2009 to open, they must have started the construction already!

and just my opinion wouldnt pandas be better at the highland wildlife park (as this is a more native habitat theme to them) if you know what i mean!
 
It would be a mistake to send the pandas to the HWP (despite the theme) because being at the city site, there is a better chance to market the pandas and therefore earn more money off them.
 
CZJimmy said:
It would be a mistake to send the pandas to the HWP (despite the theme) because being at the city site, there is a better chance to market the pandas and therefore earn more money off them.
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yes, but wouldt they get a much bigger enclosure with a little bit less shouting visitors?

its not always about publicity, in the wild pandas are quite secretive and i think it would be nice to give the animals a chance to live a more secluded life
 
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Tigerlemurguy said:
yes, but wouldt they get a much bigger enclosure with a little bit less shouting visitors?

its not always about publicity, in the wild pandas are quite secretive and i think it would be nice to give the animals a chance to live a more secluded life
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I'm not saying the pandas shouldn't get privacy, but the RZSS will want to earn something back for the huge fee that they will have to shell out in the first place. RZSS would be making a huge loss on the pandas if they were in the fairly remote location of the HWP and therefore would have to make cuts on other things (and this could further endanger the zoo's masterplan)

Also, Edinburgh is not like London (just comparing it to another city zoo) in that there is quite a bit of space at the site.
 
CZJimmy said:
I'm not saying the pandas shouldn't get privacy, but the RZSS will want to earn something back for the huge fee that they will have to shell out in the first place. RZSS would be making a huge loss on the pandas if they were in the fairly remote location of the HWP and therefore would have to make cuts on other things (and this could further endanger the zoo's masterplan)

Also, Edinburgh is not like London (just comparing it to another city zoo) in that there is quite a bit of space at the site.
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It would be good if they could get an elderly pair for the city site and a breeding pair for HWP. But that ain't going to happen. Lets hope the enclosure is built to accommodate all the panda need and not to get as many people viewing them as possible!

I hope they also design in mind a life after panda's (if that happens) always thought some of th giant panda enclosures with a little work would make good snow leopard enclosures
 
CZJimmy said:
It would be a mistake to send the pandas to the HWP (despite the theme) because being at the city site, there is a better chance to market the pandas and therefore earn more money off them.
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Actually I was just kidding about Highland. I know full well that Edinburgh wouldn't part with a pair of giant pandas. If given the opportunity who would?
 
Hope all go's well for the zoo with them, Guess they will get a brand new exhibit?
 
Pretty much uniquely for a species in captivity, giant pandas ARE about money. The amount Edinburgh must pay will dictate that their pandas will have to work it pretty hard for hordes of visitors. This isn't about boosting Panda numbers, China is doing just fine with their captive breeding effort. Edinburgh will want these animals to be on show as much as is possible.
 
i read somewhere, maybe on here actually, that the pandas are moving into the asiatic lion enclosure, which is large but would need alot of work doing on it to make it suitable for pandas, and also to allow better viewing for visitors. At the moment there is viewing window and a viewing platform up high, both of which are obstructed by trees to a certain extent. I was there last week and no work has been started renovating any enclosures other than the sea lions (unless the pandas are going to be housed in a brand new enclosure) and there is no mention of the pandas coming to the zoo at all
 
mjmorg89: from some sites that I have read, they seem to be arriving in autumn 2009, so if that is true, there is quite a bit of time to prepare an exhibit.
 
CZJimmy said:
mjmorg89: from some sites that I have read, they seem to be arriving in autumn 2009, so if that is true, there is quite a bit of time to prepare an exhibit.
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Yes prepare one but there is definitely not enought time to build a new purpose built enclosure.

Like it was mentioned before regarding the modification of the Lion enclosure, that will be done when the Lion are moved to the tiger enclosure.

Does anyone know whether the tigers have been moved to HWP yet?
 
I read that they are supposed to be coming in april 2009 and it also said maybe even earlier after the accident at the reserve in china. I would have expected some work to have been started, or at least some signs saying pandas arriving 2009 or some other kind of marketing. No the tigers are still there, well at least one of them is anyway (that's all i saw) and the lions are still in their enclosure. Personally i don't think the tiger enclosure is big enough for 4 lions and it would also need modifying before they could move in. Either the panda and new lion(tiger) enclosures will be rushed and not that great, or the pandas are coming a lot later than stated.
 
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