RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

About RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo is owned by The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS). The Society was founded in March 1909, and the Zoo opened in July 1913.

Set in 82 acres of sloping parkland, the Zoo is situated three miles to the west of Edinburgh city centre.

The zoo’s mission is: ‘Connecting people with nature. Safeguarding species from extinction.’

Edinburgh Zoo is one of Europe’s leading centres of conservation, education and research. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland works collectively with many other zoos and conservation agencies in the UK, Europe and around the world in co-ordinated conservation programmes, to help ensure the survival of many threatened animal species. They support various conservation projects in the wild through funding and expertise.

Edinburgh Zoo’s extensive education programme aims to raise awareness and understanding of the fragility of life on this planet, and our responsibility to help care for it.

The Zoo is also one of Scotland’s most popular visitor attractions, with over 800,000 visitors a year. Apart from getting close to over 1.000 rare and endangered animals, there are many different ways to enjoy your day out. You can experience a busy programme of educational events and activities – ranging from keeper talks through to hands-on animal encounters – and a wide-range of eating experiences, several play areas and a fantastic gift shop.

Official website: www.edinburghzoo.org.uk

Giant pandas at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

RZSS and the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) entered into an agreement in 2011 to undertake specific projects in areas of mutual benefit in the fields of giant panda conservation, education and research. As part of the agreement, two giant pandas (Tian Tian and Yang Guang) arrived at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo on 4 December 2011.

This  was  the  result  of  five  years  of  talks  between  Scotland,  China  and  a  team  of  people  from  RZSS  and  was  witnessed  by  the  UK’s  Deputy  Prime  Minister  Nick  Clegg  and  China’s  former  Vice  Premier,  later Premier,  Li  Keqiang.

As a condition of the main agreement between CWCA and RZSS, a second and subsequently a third agreement were signed with the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP). Five thematic areas of research were outlined, alongside a mechanism through which CCRCGP and RZSS would deliver the research (both in China and Scotland). These are:

  1. Field ecology
  2. Genetic management
  3. Breeding and infant care
  4. Veterinary management and research
  5. Cognitive evolution and behavioural research

RZSS facilitated 40 giant panda-related research projects worldwide, through funding, part-funding and collaborations, and our experts are currently working with nine universities in the UK. All this research stems from the Giant Panda Symposium, held in Edinburgh in 2013, when RZSS gathered over 60 experts from around the world to develop a five-year research plan for giant pandas.

RZSSEdinburgh Zoo was the home to the UK’s only giant pandas from 2011 until 2023.

 

    Latest News

    RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

    Giant pandas and stem cell research @ RZSS

    2015-10-04

    Iain Valentine, RZSS Director of Giant Pandas, writes: In terms of European giant panda zoos, RZSS is pretty unique. We have three agreements with our Chinese colleagues. One is the ten year loan of Yang Guang; one the ten year loan of Tian Tian; and the other is a research agreement. The giant panda zoo […]

    Edinburgh Zoo’s Tian Tian won’t give birth in 2015

    2015-08-25

    Chris West, CEO of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said on August 25,2015: “Based upon our scientific data, the window has now passed during which Tian Tian would have given birth; therefore RZSS has to advise that we now do not believe that our female giant panda will have a cub. “Tian Tian is […]

    Edinburgh Zoo Panda Update: June 26, 2015

    2015-06-29

    Many of you have been asking about whether or not Tian Tian is pregnant and Iain Valentine, Director of Giant Pandas for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, has provided this latest update: “Scientific data does suggest Tian Tian has conceived, however this is not pregnancy. Giant panda pregnancies are extremely complex. Pregnancy begins when […]

    AI @ Edinburgh Zoo on March 26, 2015

    2015-03-26

    “Artificial insemination took place on Tian Tian in the early hours of Thursday March 26, 2015 at Edinburgh Zoo. The procedure was carried out by the expert team of three veterinarians at RZSS, alongside Chinese colleague Doctor Wang Chengdong from the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas (CCRCGP). Only semen from male panda […]

    Edinburgh Zoo’s Education Goes Beyond the Panda

    2015-03-04

    Developed over the past 18 months, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) unveiled their completed ‘Beyond the Panda’ innovative teaching and learning programme. Developed in conjunction with the Confucius Institute for Scotland’s Schools and supported by the Scotland China Education Network (SCEN), it was created with generous funding from Jaguar Land Rover (China). The […]

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