Edinburgh Zoo Giant pandas coming to Edinburgh zoo?

Exactly. China is in control of it's Panda situation. So why raise money for 'panda conservation' for a country that allowed two large mammal extinctions recently? But I'm not attacking Edinburgh in general....any zoo to invest like that in an existing group of chimpanzees is phenomenal. I just hope the polar bear exhibit isn't far away.....but you kind of know that to justify the expenditure, they will bring in more bears, and maybe that's why they have hesitated to do it.
 
johnstoni said:
Exactly. China is in control of it's Panda situation. So why raise money for 'panda conservation' for a country that allowed two large mammal extinctions recently? But I'm not attacking Edinburgh in general....any zoo to invest like that in an existing group of chimpanzees is phenomenal. I just hope the polar bear exhibit isn't far away.....but you kind of know that to justify the expenditure, they will bring in more bears, and maybe that's why they have hesitated to do it.
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I do think it's a little bit more than the polar bear. Whilst that is the most striking example of an enclosure in need of improvement there are other areas of the zoo that really could do to be improved. I do like Edinburgh zoo, and we all agree that it is an amazing collection, but I still think some priority should be given to existing species. I think Edinburgh were similarly accused when the koalas were brought in. All we can hope is that money made from Pandas will allow this.
 
Edinburgh bears.

If Edinburgh do intend to continue with Polar Bears and build a new enclosure, then I imagine it would be at the city zoo- which after all is a visitor attraction throughout the year. The Highland Wildlife Park is a far more seasonal location, and as I see it, a very expensive new exhibit for Polar Bears would be rather wasted up there( as far as visitors seeing it). Perhaps HWP should consider Brown bears though- as an ex-native species and one for which they could create a decent and spacious habitat without too much expense.
 
How expensive does a polar bear exhibit need to be, though? Was the Dublin exhibit hugely costly? Apart from the pool, and laying the fencing, a large grassy open space for Mercedes would surely still be far less costly that anything involving large amounts of rockwork/concrete/underwater viewing. I would imagine Edinburgh would want to build something impressive, so you're probably right about her staying in Edinburgh, but they could realistically create a low-impact, large and open bear facility at the park, which could then house brown bears after she passes away.
 
It seems there are two options here;

1. they decide to have Polar Bears long term and build something 'state of the art' for them, presumably with large pool and underwater viewing facility etc. Add Mercedes and new polar bears for an 'arctic exhibit...'

2. They build a large but cheaper enclosure for her which after her lifetime could later be used by another bear species. (But at this stage in her life she is just as likely to exhibit stereotyped behaviour in any enclosure she is put into)
 
I am pretty sure Lanka the sloth bear was not a young animal when she arrived at London zoo....for the first six months to a year she was almost constantly head-weaving, but improved steadily over time, a testament to the enclosure and enrichment programme at London. So I would anticipate some improvement in Mercedes....plus I think what a great many people wish to see is a better habitat for her, with more choices, space and stimulation, regardless of how she performs inside it.

It really will highlight her situation if Edinburgh do go ahead with Pandas first.
 
I agree with Pertinax that a big polar bear enclosure would be at Edinburgh, I think they'd want to do the whole underwater viewing thing. I would like to see her go to HWP, but I doubt it's going to happen.

Surely the ideal scenario would be for them to build a low cost polar enclosure at HWP, something big and open and natural and then at a later date build the Edinburgh Zoo, high profile, under-water viewing, real-ice and snow machines, all sing all dancing bear enclosure. Mercedes could move to the HWP until she dies, then Edinburgh could have bears at both sites. Alternatively, as Johnstoni says, Brown Bears could go in the HWP exhibit. I guess it's too big a investment.
 
It's also rumours that Rotterdam Zoo will have giant pandas. What i know they wanna have them where the lions and the hyenas are today, but i think they should be in the Asia part. In Scandinavia, the only zoo which is capable too have pandas is Odense Zoo, they have pretty much space, and it's a nice zoo too. :)
 
It'll be sad in a way if Panda's become more widespead, firstly because of the cost taking from other uses and secondly it will take some of the allure away for the zoos that do have them and the event of seeing one in person in a zoo... I still remember seeing one at Auckland Zoo in their 3 month stay in '88 when I was five...
 
New twist in the tale, the zoo has had to release a statement confirming that the plan to bring a pair of giant pandas to the zoo are still on after reports today (daily star for one), that the royal bank of Scotland had pulled the plug on funding for the project, but the RZSS maintain the pandas will still arrive and another sponsor for the project will be found, from the private sector.

Pandas still coming to Scotland, says zoo - Scotsman.com News
 
From a reliable source at the Society, the talk is now 'when the pandas arrive' rather than 'if'!!

any more news and i will update
 
I do find that local politics more or less have destroyed the visionary scope of the Edinburgh Zoo Masterplan and that the local politicians have lacked any leadership to come up with other forms of cash (if they could not agree to a land sale cum Costorphine Hill housing plan).

The present Council does not know by half what a national gem and indeed for Scotland (sorry to those south of the border, I do not want to start another William Wallace revo ;)) the Edinburgh Zoo really is. The Zoological Society and its zoos are respected far and wide across the UK borders. To me (and hell yes, I am a Dutchman! :D) it seems mind boggling that they refuse to come up with some cash upfront.
 
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To give some extra background to this, The sale of land was betweem the previous administration and the RZSS. Unfortunately the council hadn't consulted the neighbours about their plans. the way the media has portrayed things it makes the RZSS look like the bad guys. It appears that the zoos immediate neighbours are in support of the zoo's plans. Plans which are effectively now on hold and, as Kifaru says, are visionary.

When taken as a visitor attraction alone it is second only to Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. Taken as a whole entity, and as a major part of RZSS, Edinburgh Zoo, its staff and volunteers are probably some of the most passionate, committed and visionary people I have come across (even if I do say so as a volunteer myself).

Back to pandas, there are a number of reasons the RZSS want pandas, from my understanding. First off, they are such an iconic species to have in a zoo. The income it would generate, not only for the zoo but Edinburgh and Scotland as a whole is incredible. The most important thing, though, is the ability to show a key species in research and breeding of endangered species. People know about pandas and recognise them as the WWF logo. They are an ideal way to educate people on the subject and science of conservation, as has been done with Budongo Trail and chimpanzees.

Edinburgh Zoo and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland deserve all the support they can get. They continually meet and exceed every requirement and target given to them and less successful organisation, like the council, seem to kick them in the teeth!

It is my personal belief the the RZSS will have pandas in Scotland, they will remain on the same site in Edinburgh, Highland Wildlife Park will continue to become a greater attraction in the North of Scotland and in the long term the RZSS will become a greater success than ever.
 
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Edinburgh Zoo

Hi i have to agree with Simon McGlary on the subject that the zoo should get more support than it does it does a great job with the conservation of endangered species through its daily talks and education programmes and deserves to be given the opportunity to be a world class zoo that Edinburgh and Scotland can be proud up WAKE UP SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT AND EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL.:(
 
kiang said:
Now with the masterplan knocked on its head, the talk has turned to the giant pandas, and the zoos chief executive has said there is a chance that the pandas could end up at an as yet unnamed Glasgow based exhibit!

Edinburgh Zoo pandas could be housed in Glasgow after cash bid fails - The Daily Record
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The idea of bringing Giant Panda's to Scotland is not and never has been a new thing. Back in the late 80's and upto the mid 90's there was a major effort from Pat Lally (then Provest of Glasgow) along with Richard O'Grady to bring these animals over from China however, the Government of the day was not impressed and blocked the deal which had been made and was less than a week from completion. Just before O'Grady died, the day before, he was remenising about it and about the plans to have a chimp island with Jane Goodall at the helm...If Edinburgh Zoo do get the go ahead for the new zoo in the Glasgow area, they will still come up against the lethargic dross of the Glasgow layabouts. You can build the best zoo in the world, but if the local population lacks the impedis, the energy to go and visit, or they have the same attitude as they did with Glasgow Zoo - lets vandalise and burn the place down, then you shall always loose the battle. Then again, if the plans get passed, then lets hope they Society gives employment to those who did work at Glasgow Zoo...:eek:
 
Giant Pandas

I do firmly believe that the pandas will be housed in Edinburgh Zoo with the Whitson wood being ear marked for their enclosure with keeping with the biomes there the new animal attraction in the west will have a Amazonia feel to it with animals from the amazon basin i think thats the idea would some one correct me if i am wrong here.

The move of the panda s to the west coast to me is i would not say a threat to the council but as a warning to them as having the panda s in Edinburgh would boost visitor numbers to the capital and the ecomomy and I am sure the council wouldn't want to throw that away after all they do need their heads read could do a better job there myself and Glasgow council and South Lanarkshire are showing the zoo more support than Edinburgh.

I am also hearing that the zoo may have to reduce to a smaller size to fund its masterplan the C.E.O states that the zoo may have to be smaller but it will be still world class.:)
 
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