Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo is the second most important zoo in the UK, second only to the famous London Zoo. Edinburgh Zoo was created by the Royal Zoological Society at the beginning of the last century, and has long since become a favorite destination for residents of the Scottish capital and tourists. Suffice it to say that over 600,000 people visit the pavilions and aviaries in a year.
Video: Edinburgh Zoo
ContentsHighlights
The grounds of Edinburgh Zoo are set on the picturesque Corstorphine Hill, offering great views of the city’s streets and neighborhoods. The zoo covers an area of 33 hectares and houses approximately 1,075 animals representing 171 species. In addition to showing animals and birds, zoo staff members study animal behavior and help protect rare and endangered species.
The Scottish Zoo’s calling card is the world’s largest population of captive penguins. The enclosures and pools contain penguins of several species, and to make it easier for visitors to observe the seabirds, viewing platforms and underwater tunnels have been created for tourists. It is noteworthy that back in 1919 the first case of a penguin born in captivity was recorded here.
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Edinburgh Zoo is home to pandas, koalas, lions, monkeys, pygmy hippos and armadillos. One of the endangered species, the Amur or Far Eastern leopards, of which there are no more than 70 left in the wild, can be seen here.
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It is pleasant to walk around the zoo, as it is drowned in greenery. In the picturesque garden there are about 120 species of trees, there are many flowerbeds and beautiful alpine slides. Fruit plants grow in the zoo, and local gardeners have even learned to grow bananas in the open ground.
.Tourists come to Edinburgh Zoo to hand feed the animals, take interesting photos and relax with friends. A souvenir store and three cozy cafes are open to visitors. The territory also has spacious green lawns for picnics and a playground for children.
.Animals at Edinburgh Zoo
The most visited places at Edinburgh Zoo are the penguin enclosures and the huge swimming pool, which is 3.5 meters deep and contains 1.2 million liters of water. A lot of guests come to watch the amusing penguin parade. The keeper lets the birds out of the cage and they come out to socialize with tourists. Among the many birds lives an unusual penguin, whose name is Niels Olaf. In addition to his name, he has the rank of knight and the position of chief colonel, and is also considered a favorite of the royal guards.
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The Brilliant Birds exhibit features many exotic birds that do well in the capricious Scottish climate. Balinese starlings, purple turaco and Nicobar pigeons can all be seen here.
The chimpanzee collection is housed in the Budongo Trail interactive complex. This is a large outdoor area where the animals have the opportunity to behave as they would in the wild. By observing their habits, it is easy to see the similarities between the behavior of chimpanzees and humans.
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Koalas are kept in a eucalyptus garden. This area of Edinburgh Zoo is not always open to visitors so that the animals have time for privacy. Next to the koalas is a herd of marsh wallabies.
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Edinburgh Zoo is home to the UK’s only male and female giant pandas. They live in separate enclosures, as in the natural environment pandas only meet to mate once a year. Space to view the animals is limited, so tourists are asked to follow a number of rules. To visit the pandas you need to buy a separate ticket. There are so many people who want to get here that seats are booked in advance. The session lasts 15-20 minutes. Pandas are not allowed to be photographed with a flash.
.Tourists can visit Living Links, a research center dedicated to human evolution, which houses several species of primates. There is also a permanent exhibit, “Wee Beasties”, featuring reptiles, amphibians and insects on the zoo grounds, next to the penguins. Keep in mind that the exhibit is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
.Visitor information
Edinburgh Zoo is open to visitors: from April to September from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm, in October and March from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, and from November to February from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm.
.An adult ticket costs £17, £14.5 for pensioners and students, and £12.5 for children aged 3 to 15. For children under the age of three, admission is free. Discounts are available for family groups.
.How to get there
Edinburgh Zoo is located in the west end of the city, at 134 Corstorphine Road. It is accessible by bus numbers 12, 20, 21, 21C, 22, 22B, 26, 31, 38, 900, 904, 909, N26, X2 and X6.
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