Moos' Blog

Edinburgh Zoo, operated by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), is a beacon of conservation, education, and zoological innovation in the United Kingdom. Its journey from a visionary’s dream to a globally recognized institution reflects over a century of dedication to zoological excellence.

A Rich Tapestry of History, Conservation, and Remarkable Stories

The first Edinburgh Zoological Gardens, not only wasn’t located on Corstorphine Hill where the current zoo can be found, but didn’t last long either. It was located at Broughton Park and functional between 1840 and 1861. It was a pioneering but financially troubled venture. Founded by John Douglas and supported by influential nobles, it featured exotic animals like tigers, bears, and elephants, alongside entertainment such as promenade concerts. Financial struggles, mounting debts, and eventual over-commercialization led to its closure. Highlights included Murdoch the elephant and a blue whale skeleton. The Zoo’s decline reflected the challenges of combining education with entertainment in Victorian zoos. More on Edinburgh’s first zoo here. It took nearly fifty years before a visionary Edinburgh lawyer with a passion for zoology was inspired to give the city its zoological garden again, and to establish a zoological society in Scotland to operate Edinburgh’s Zoo.

Founding Vision and Beginnings

So, the roots of Edinburgh Zoo lie in the vision of Thomas Gillespie, the lawyer, who established the Royal Zoological Society Scotland (RZSS) in 1909, and becoming its first honorary secretary. Early objectives, as set out in its charter, were to foster zoological knowledge and advance public interest in animal life. Gillespie drew inspiration from Carl Hagenbeck’s revolutionary ‘open zoo’ concept in Hamburg, which replaced the restrictive cages of Victorian menageries with open enclosures separated by natural barriers like moats. This innovative design allowed animals to thrive in naturalistic surroundings while offering visitors a more engaging experience.

Gillespie’s determination garnered substantial support and funding, enabling the purchase of an 34-hectare estate with the typical Mansion House on Corstorphine Hill in 1913 for £17,000 with assistance from the Edinburgh City Council. This strategic location provided ample space to create a zoo that emphasized openness and animal welfare he was looking for. This site became the foundation of Edinburgh Zoo, which opened to the public on 22 July 1913. The early layout of the new zoo was influenced by social visionary and town planner Patrick Geddes along with his son-in-law, Frank Mears, creating an inviting and forward-thinking environment, taking into account Carl Hagenbeck’s concept. The first animal acquired for the Zoo was a gannet, and on 12 July 1913, a procession of animals arrived from the train station to the Zoo, with two camels dramatically bringing up the rear.

By the end of 1913, the Zoo was incorporated by Royal Charter, and in 1948, following a visit from HRH King George VI, it became the only zoo in the United Kingdom honoured with the prefix ‘Royal’ in its name.

Penguins: A Signature Legacy

Edinburgh Zoo’s enduring association with penguins began in January 1914, with the arrival of three king penguins from a Christian Salvesen whaling expedition. The Zoo marked a global milestone in 1919 by successfully hatching the first king penguin chick in captivity. This achievement solidified the Zoo’s reputation as a pioneer in penguin care and science. The Zoo’s logo prominently features a king penguin, celebrating this long-standing connection.

In 1951, an accidental event led to the creation of the famous Penguin Parade. When a gentoo penguin escaped its enclosure, the keeper decided to see where it would go, resulting in a spontaneous procession that continues voluntarily to this day, captivating visitors from around the world.(Read more on Edinburgh’s penguins)

Famous Residents and Stories

The Zoo has been home to many famous animals over the years, each with unique and captivating stories. Wojtek, the ‘Soldier Bear’, was a Syrian brown bear adopted by the 22nd Company of the Polish Army during World War II. Wojtek became an honorary soldier, even helping transport ammunition during the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944. After the war, he retired to Edinburgh Zoo, earning a place in history.

Another iconic resident is Sir Nils Olav, a king penguin and mascot of the Royal Norwegian Guard. Knighted in 2008 under the instruction of King Harald V of Norway, Sir Nils remains a proud symbol of the Zoo's unique legacy.

The Zoo has also provided sanctuary for rescued animals, including Mercedes the polar bear, who was saved from being euthanized in Canada for wandering into a local town. Other notable residents include white rhino Umfolozi, who gave birth to 12 calves, earning her the nickname ‘Floozie,’ and young chimpanzee Cindy, who arrived in 1966 – born October 1965 - and passed away mid December 2018.

December 2011 two giant pandas (Tian Tian and Yang Guang) arrived from China. This marked a milestone for Edinburgh Zoo, drawing international attention. Returning to China in December 2023, these iconic animals have been a highlight for visitors for over a decade, underscoring the Zoo’s ability to bring rare and charismatic species to the public. However, their presence also highlights a complex challenge faced by zoos worldwide: the high costs and limited biodiversity returns associated with maintaining giant pandas. Read more

Animal Escapades

The Zoo's history is peppered with amusing animal escapades. In 1916, a polar bear named Starboard escaped, exploring the penguin and otter pools before being chased back to his enclosure by buffaloes and bison. In 1924, three sea lions managed to escape, with two being discovered in the Water of Leith at Roseburn.

Evolution in Design and Animal Welfare

Edinburgh Zoo’s original layout followed modern ideas of enclosure design with its ‘open zoo’ concept. And the Zoo has remained at the forefront of modern enclosure design, continually updating its facilities. The institution continually evolves to prioritize the welfare of its animals, providing enclosures designed to simulate their natural habitats. Keepers employ ‘environmental enrichment’ strategies to encourage natural behaviours, such as climbing, foraging, and socializing. One notable innovation was the award-winning underwater penguin feeding device, crafted from a modified traffic cone, which earned the Zoo the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) Innovation Award in 1999.

A relic from the past, the Chimps' Tea Party, was phased out in 1972. This anthropomorhic exhibition of young chimpanzees who were served food in a staged setting, started in 1933. While a popular attraction at the time, ethical considerations led to the end of the practice as attitudes toward animal welfare evolved.

In 1986 the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland acquired Highland Wildlife Park in Kincraig. Highland Wildlife Park is now home to over 200 amazing animals including native Scottish species as well as rare and endangered animals from around the world.

Conservation, Education and Research Leadership

Conservation lies at the heart of Edinburgh Zoo’s mission. In recent years, the zoo has reinforced its commitment to conserving threatened species and habitats. Its mission, currently ‘to save wildlife and empower people in Scotland and around the world to protect, value and love nature’ showed little change over time and always guided its educational and conservation activities globally to promote the conservation of threatened species and habitats.

Education has always been a cornerstone of the zoo’s mission. RZSS aimed to inspire public interest in zoology and deepen understanding of the natural world. Over the decades, Edinburgh Zoo has earned an international reputation for educational outreach and has continually adapted its approach to reflect advances in animal welfare and conservation. The opening of the Education Centre in 1976 marked a significant step in promoting awareness of wildlife and environmental issues. Today, the Zoo’s award-winning education programme has reached over a million pupils through onsite and outreach initiatives.

The Zoo is also a hub for conservation research. The 2010 opening of the WildGenes Laboratory cemented its role in supporting global conservation efforts with state-of-the-art genetic analysis, aiding the fight to save species from extinction.

Looking Ahead

Well ahead of Edinburgh Zoo's centenary in 2013, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) launched a £72 million redevelopment project that would see the entire zoo revamped over a period of around 20 years. This step was taken to create, besides a world-class visitor attraction, a conservation centre of excellence. It should make the Zoo flexible in meeting changing conditions and conservation needs. Therefore, the Zoo premises would be designed around four major biomes: Oceans & Wetlands, Grasslands, Woodlands and Tropical Forests. It was foreseen that in each biome the visitor would be 'immersed' in the habitat, which would not only enhance their experience but also increase the understanding of the animals to be found there. To cope with the undulating landscape and sometimes rather steep footpaths the visitors would be able to travel around the Zoo on a continuous transport system, which would link all four biomes. Further to this, the building and exploitation of the new Zoo should be environmentally sustainable.

The first phase of the project was completed by the opening of the new state-of-the-art chimpanzee enclosure, Budongo Trail, in 2008. This supposed to be located in the Tropical Forest biome. However, according to the Zoo’s website in 2024, the idea of the biomes and much more haven’t got materialised yet at time of writing (November 2024).

As always, to realise such a big dream financial resources should be available, and land of course. Apparently, there have been some hiccups with both the funding and the availability of suitable land adjacent to the Zoo grounds, necessary to fulfil their plans.

While engaged in redeveloping Edinburgh Zoo, the RZSS also built the 2030 Strategy called ‘Now is the Time’ that implements RZSS’ vision and mission with measurable goals. By 2030 the RZSS pledge to reverse the decline of at least 50 species [conservation], to create stronger connections with nature for more than a million people [engagement], and to enable more than 100 communities to better protect nature [community]. See the full 2030 Strategy for context and background.

A Legacy of Wonder

Over the past century, Edinburgh Zoo has evolved in tandem with society’s understanding of animal welfare and conservation. From its pioneering early designs to its groundbreaking penguin programmes, innovative enrichment techniques, and educational programmes the zoo remains at the forefront of zoological innovation. Its rich history, embodied by figures like Gillespie, Sir Nils Olav, and Voytek, hopefully continues to inspire new generations to appreciate and protect the natural world.

(Source: Wonders never Cease by John Lloyd, published by The ABR Company Limited, 2006; website Edinburgh Zoo, accessed 2009; website Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, accessed 2024; Our Town Stories{Edinburgh}, accessed November 2024; website Threadinburgh, The thread about the travails of Edinburgh’s first Zoo and an Elephant called Murdoch that called the city home by Andy Arthur, 16 February 2024, accessed November 2024)

Edinburgh Zoo in the 1950s and 1960s

Historical footage of Edinburgh Zoo. Former elephant keeper and now hilltop safari driver, Charlie Hewat, reminisces about the Zoo’s early days when, in the 1950s, a tram was running from the city centre to the zoo gates. He talks about Sally the Asian elephant that took many children for a ride sitting on her large howdah for a shilling a ride.

Charlie loved the zoo and - as a 19 years old boy - became an elephant keeper. He remembers how the zoo director at the time, Gilbert Fisher, would walk a young cheetah, Scrap, around the zoo and even along the main street outside the zoo, Corstorphine Road, until one day a motor bike back fired and the cheetah took off.

This is a clip from the 2013 BBC documentary ‘Animal Magic – 100 Years of Edinburg Zoo’, narrated by John Hannah (Scottisch actor).

Penguin enclosure; beautiful facilities with huge pond which you can cross by bridge; lot of birds were brooding at time of visit; special attraction is the parade of the penguins, when they walk outside the enclosure, once a day.

Otter enclosure; beautiful copy of the natural environment with a little stream and pond which the little playful rascals enjoy very much.  

Chimpanzee enclosure (Budongo trail); Indoors opened a few weeks before visit; Chimps already accustomed to their new environment (according keeper); three separate but interconnected enclosures with great climbing facilities; one of them to be enjoyed from a real theatre setting; a must see; Outside to be finished in a few weeks time.

African wild dog enclosure; enclosure that allows the animals to wander about and get away from the public; although the public already can walk the long wooden trail (few feet above the ground) along the enclosure more or less unobserved by the animals.

Enormous paddocks uphill for the ungulates.

Almost extinct Socorro dove hatches at Edinburgh Zoo

An incredibly rare dove that has been extinct in the wild since the early 1970's has hatched at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo. With less than 100 pure bred individuals of this species left in the world, a Socorro dove chick hatched on the 9th July before taking flight and fledging 14 days later.

Conservation charity the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), as part of the overarching EAZA Ex situ Programme (EEP), has successfully bred this incredibly rare species since 2005 and raised an astounding 12 chicks to date.

Not only that, but in 2008 RZSS Edinburgh Zoo and Paignton Zoo have collectively sent 12 Socorro doves to Albuquerque Zoo in the USA to form a satellite breeding group amongst North American collections, as part of a re-introduction programme. Subsequently, several birds were transferred from there to Africam Safari in Pueblo, Mexico in 2013 and the following year saw the first Socorro dove chicks hatched in Mexico for almost 40 years. The hope is that these birds will provide offspring to be reintroduced to their native habitat on the island of Socorro, Mexico, in the near future.

We are delighted to see another incredibly rare Socorro dove hatch, the first from a new breeding pair sent to us as part of the EEP.

Colin Oulton, Bird Team Leader for RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

"Male Socorro doves are notoriously aggressive in their pursuits of mates, which is one of the reasons breeding this species can be difficult," added Oulton. "It is incredibly sad to think that this species is now extinct in the wild and only around 100 exist in captivity. The hatching of this bird highlights the significant role zoos play in conserving species and helping to increase population numbers of rare animals. Due to coordinated breeding programmes with zoos across the world, this species has been saved and we are able to increase the numbers and hopefully reintroduce them back into their native habitat."

The young bird, which has yet to be sexed, is currently off-show at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo with its parents. However an adult Socorro dove can be spotted in the Brilliant Birds Enclosure at the Zoo.

(Source: RZSS press release, 03.08.2015)

Some additional information, such as contact details and involvement in breeding programmes.

Directions to Edinburgh Zoo

Due to the residential nature of Edinburgh Zoo's location it is recommended to take the bus or bicycle to go there. The Zoo can be easily accessed via public transport with high frequency bus services from Edinburgh city centre.

Address:
134 Corstorphine Road
EH12 6TS
Edinburgh
Scotland
United Kingdom

public transport

by train

There are two trains stations in the centre of Edinburgh; Edinburgh Waverley Station and Edinburgh Haymarket Station. Train timetables and ticket information are available here.

From Waverley and Haymarket stations, take the buses listed below (from Edinburgh city centre) to Edinburgh Zoo.

Alternatively, if you are coming from further a field why not take the First Transpennine Express

by bus

Edinburgh Zoo can be easily accessed via public transport with high frequency bus services from Edinburgh city centre. There are two bus stops outside the front entrance. Lothian Buses 12, 26 and, 31 all stop outside and can be picked up near both Haymarket and Waverly Station or in the city centre. The 100 Airlink Service also stops regularly outside our front entrance and operates between Edinburgh Airport and the City Centre.

The following Lothian Buses pass the Zoo every few minutes:

• Bus #12: Seafield - Leith - Princes Street -Haymarket - Zoo - Gyle Centre

• Bus #26 : Seton Sands/Tranent - Portobello - City Centre - Zoo - Clerwood

• Bus #31 : Bonnyrigg - City Centre - Zoo - East Craigs

All Lothian Buses are now low-floor and fully accessible for wheelchairs and foldable buggies. More information here.

Other Services:

• 900 Citylink - Glasgow - Edinburgh

• 909 Citylink - Stirling - Edinburgh

• 904 Citylink - East Kilbride - Edinburgh

For the latest Citylink timetables and fares check here.

by bicycle

The Zoo is very close to Carrick Knowe cycle route (access from Downie Grove), which in turn connects by minor roads and other cycle routes to most of the city. To work out your best route, see the Spokes Edinburgh Cycle Map (available at most book and bike shops, or online here). An online cycle route planner is also available here.

Cycle parking (Sheffield racks) is available on the pavement immediately outside the zoo. There is currently no visitor bike parking on the site, but this is something they are looking into.

by car

Please note that car parking spaces are limited and there is a £4.00 car park admission cost. During the day, some parking can also be found within the vicinity of the Zoo but please note this space is also limited due to the residential nature of the Zoo's location.

Download the current Zoo map & guide here.