acre non profit park edinburgh capital scotland land lies south facing slopes hill provides extensive views city built owned scotland receives visitors year makes scotland second popular paid tourist attraction catering tourists locals zoo involved scientific pursuits captive breeding endangered animals researching animal behaviour active participation conservation programs world zoo world house breed zoo britain house giant zoo member british irish association granted stars zoo gardens diverse tree collections history scotland founded registered charity edinburgh lawyer hill site purchased society help early vision park modelled open design hamburg zoo promoted natural environment animals stood stark contrast steel typical built victorian era opened public incorporated later year following visit majesty king society granted privilege adding prefix royal remains zoo royal charter united_kingdom long association began january arrival king christian expedition docked subsequent successful hatching king chick hatched captivity seen outside world famous daily parade started accident escape birds proved popular visitors daily feature zoo today retired appointed director secretary zoo held post till retired society acquired miles south zoo park work providing appropriate captive habitat possible scotland public trips sites organised frequently zoo retains original charter drives active breeding programme biodiversity conservation initiatives provides multiple ways public help support mission including membership club animal adoption donations animals exhibits trail named trail facility houses troop common males david louis paul females pearl main building features viewing galleries lecture theatre interactive games displays designed teach visitors lifestyle social structure living links living links built field station research centre study behaviour exhibit features housing common known housing collection king arrived january zoo current pool named rock metres long metres deep deepest point contains million litres water houses colonies king giant leased giant male named meaning sunshine female named meaning china cost year zoo spent building enclosure especially remain zoo maximum years returned china currently zoo united_kingdom houses giant brilliant birds opened walk housing species exotic birds including chestnut backed victoria crowned selection amphibians invertebrates fish displayed building main entrance hall including blue poison frogs figure banded blind cave fish colony ants opened houses males named female named offspring born died decorated inspired artwork features garden plants opened zoo swamp new home visitors close daily keepers demonstrate natural skills animals audience visitors keepers use positive reinforcement training animal means animals perform shows forced tricks animals vary shows mammals notable species zoo collection include oriental small asian lions sun bears tigers giant african wild dogs greater red river north american swamp striped scottish wild cats white faced ring tailed birds notable bird species zoo collection include darwin chilean egyptian eastern white scarlet great red fronted rainbow southern military animals zoo animals held military rank bear adopted iran enlisted 22nd allow travel troops posted served middle_east battle retired polish troops scotland sir king mascot colonel chief adopted city given rank lance corporal promoted time corps visited city died successor inherited rank visited august awarded honour approved king ceremony crowd people joined zoo hear citation king fifth norway read described way qualified receive honour dignity future developments rock located tigers totally overhauled leopard jaguar leaving collection asian lion tiger scottish remain new tiger enclosure developed meadow current enclosure red rejoin collection later year research conservation national centre research state art enclosure opened princess royal enclosure house includes large outdoor area separate indoor areas observation areas lecture theatre public principal sponsor long term study conservation group approximately africa amidst opening trail described wonderful facility probably better living wild area like forest gets caught wire snare countries like shot food commercially addition trail zoo home field station research centre study developed partnership living links houses originating forests south_america offers researchers unique opportunities study behaviour july invasive brown rats scottish island deemed provisional success years observation time rats observed island declared officially rat free environment minister june rats rare local wood mouse known mouse local populations island invested employing new_zealand estimated brown rats operation approximately mice captured mice returned island late remaining introduced stages joint application submitted scotland approved scottish government allowing trial european beaver trial successful european beaver reintroduced united_kingdom extinct scotland 16th century hunted meat medicinal properties use zoo gardens acquired society hill site nursery owned planted great french parks site raised famous apple today zoo diverse tree collections species south facing aspect allows grown outside increasingly seen discipline right focus habitat creation food animals animals visiting public controversies organisations remain critical work include voiced quality enclosure housed polar bears stated times zoo fails conservation work opposing zoo plans house elephants received public backlash twitter recommended red river birth protest took place tag thursday february twitter campaign started major support friday february announced campaign successful zoo attempt home following internal issues allegations relating senior staff zoo subject investigations relating charitable status held inquiry scotland director fired suspended zoo suspended chief operating officer acting chief executive investigated allegations july zoo monkey house closed escaped enclosure animal vaulted electric fence tried escape whilst visitors looked zoo came criticism plans charge person visitors watch animal spokesman criticised idea largely timing event scheduled place months zoo announced million loss profits making like money making drive february zoo told conduct review financial controls following inquiry complaints zoo run report cleared zoo misconduct found areas governance improved zoo visitors forced seek shelter family escaped keepers ran taken refuge monkey house later described scenes zoo workers pursued animals equipment including guns drama lasted hour adult recaptured unharmed august scarlet escaped zoo went loose city hole cage keepers noticed missing later day spotted miles away street near city centre missing nearly week recaptured miles zoo september zoo customers indoors bull escaped enclosure animal feet long horns loose minutes zoo workers managed
Edinburgh Zoo