Plan Your Visit to Edinburgh Zoo
We are open every day of the year, including Christmas Day, from 9am until:
| 6.00pm | April - Sept. |
| 5.00pm | Oct. & March |
| 4.30pm | Nov. - Feb. |
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Latest Arrivals at Edinburgh Zoo
April 2012
Edinburgh Zoo
This month we have seen a few new arrivals to our primate and hoofstock sections. She-ra our female pygmy marmoset has given birth to twins and Mya the female goeldi's monkey has given birth to an infant up in the Magic Forest. We also have a new baby saki-monkey in the primate walkthrough near the front of the Zoo and our hoofstock section have welcomed a new pudu and lesser kudu calves.
Also this month the nest rings have gone in for penguin breeding season.
Highland Wildlife Park
The peace and quite of the highlands is about to be broken with arrival of a new male Amur tiger called Marty and a male polar bear called Arktos later this month. For more information on their arrival please see our latest news section.
March 2012
Edinburgh Zoo
March is off to a flying start with the arrival of our meerkat clan from Cologne Zoo, the group of eleven have arrived safely and can be found near the sun bear enclosure. We have also received twelve new Northern rockhopper penguins from Vienna. They have joined our colony in the main penguin pool with the hope of increasing our breeding population.
Due to refurbishment of our penguin pool, our penguin colony will be relocated within the zoo, find out more.
The waldrapp ibis, black stork and white-napped cranes have all been moved into the bottom duck ponds, to the left of the sea lion enclosure. Visitors can now walk -through this exhibit and get even closer to these magnificent birds.
Highland Wildife Park
Another fairly quiet month up North, with the arrival of four Chinese goral's from Edinburgh Zoo and a new female Northern Lynx called Dimma (Swedish for fog), she will be joined by a male later in the year.
February 2012
Edinburgh Zoo
This month is all about the female of the species. We have seen the arrival of a new female jaguar called Rica. She has come to us from Krefeld Zoo, Germany. We are hoping she will get on well with Mowgli our resident male.
(Photo of Rica, courtesy of Krefeld Zoo)
Highland Wildlife Park
This is normally quite a quiet time for the park, however that may be shattered with their new arrivals. Two female musk ox have arrived and these polar titans are known for being rather bad tempered. We have mother and daughter at the moment who are currently off show to let them settle in. Eventually they will be on display in the main drive through reserve with a male expected to join them later this year.
Sadly, Remani the alpha female of the Japanese Macaque troop passed away during her sleep at the ripe old age of 23. The troop appear to be coping well and she will be sorely missed by them and all the staff at the park.
January 2012
Edinburgh Zoo
So far we have seen the arrival of the Giant Pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang, who appear to be settling in well and proving very popular. However not everything is black and white and we have seen a few new arrivals across the park.
Our pygmy hippos, Ellen and Otto have become proud parents to another daughter. 'Eve' was born on 31 December and appears to be doing very well. She can be seen in the indoor hippo house with mum for the time being. The pitter patter of tiny feet has also arrived in Living Links with our squirrel monkeys.
November 2011
Edinburgh Zoo
This month has seen the arrival of four new Darwin's Rhea, two males and two females from France. They seem to have settled in well and are on show opposite the stanley's cranes. A new male L'hoest monkey has joined our troop in the monkey house also from France.
A new addition to our Brilliant Birds exhibit is our Leaf Cutter Ants. They have successfully bene re-housed in the foyer and are on show to our visitors. Also in Brilliant Birds our green winged doves have successfully fledged one chick, keep a sharp look out for it on your next visit.
We are also delighted to announce the birth of a new female tapir calf. This is the third calf born to Sayang and Ka and we are very pleased with the youngster's progress. Why not pay them a visit on your next visit.
Highland Wildlife Park
The rutting of the deer has now finished and Snap (pictured) is the winner. He successfully saw off competition from Thor to become the alpha male, by mating with the most females. We should start to see the resulting calves being born in June next year.
All the other animals have started to 'bulk out' as they grow their winter coats.
The female red panda is now back on show after receiving treatment for a short illness.
October 2011
Edinburgh Zoo
The pri
mate section have been busy yet again with the birth of a L'hoest monkey, a brown capuchin in Living links, a guinea baboon and a drill monkey in the monkey house. A male Nyala calf was born into our herd this month
A new male Pudu has joined our collection from Bristol Zoo, his name is Evan and he will be joining our female Maya.
Highland Wildlife Park
The Elk are now back in their usual enclosure, since the successful removal of the ragwort. The rutting of the deer season has begun in the main reserve.
Sadly this month the keepers and vets made the decision to put Babu the male red panda to sleep. He was suffering from an aggressive incurable form of cancer. We know he was very popular with staff, visitors and volunteers and will be sadly missed.
September 2011
Edinburgh Zoo
Another exciting month, we have seen the birth of 3 Cochin-Chinese red junglefowl chicks in Brilliant Birds, a female nyala on the African plains and Northern Luzon giant cloud rat birth in magic forest.
We have also received two further marbled polecats, bringing our total up to five. We are delighted to announce we have been chosen by the species coordinator of the marbled polecats at Belfast Zoo to become part of the breeding programme.
Highland Wildlife Park
The cuteness just keeps coming, this month saw the birth of 3 Pallas cat kittens, mum has been very protective of them and the viewing window is currently off limits to visitors, however as the kittens continue to get older and explore their enclosure it is becoming easier to spot them, even from the walkway.
The two capercaillie chicks made their first public appearance along with the snowy owl chick. The capercaillies are particularly significant as there are fewer than 1500 left in the wild. The mother has been allowed to rear the chicks rather than humans hand-rearing them. This will give them a better chance socially and physically should they be reintroduced into the wild.
July 2011
Edinburgh Zoo
This month has seen the arrival of our new Egyptian Vultures. They arrived here from Sofia, Bulgaria and will hopefully become a breeding pair. They can be found in the old great grey owl enclosure near the Bongos.
We have also welcomed the birth of a white-lipped deer, four rock hyrax, a Nyala foal and a chinese goral baby.
Highland Wildlife Park
We have welcomed the arrival of Tomek our new European Bison Bull, he arrived from Fota wildlife park and appears to be settling in well.
The Bukhara deer foal is now out and about, she has been called Anoosheh (Afghan girl's name meaning lucky/happy) and the capercaillie chicks have been named Spey & Druie. Sadly we have lost one of the snowy owl chicks however the second chick appears to be doing very well.
June 2011
Edinburgh Zoo
The baby anteater made its first public appearance this month. It was born in March and will stay on its mother's back for another 18 months. Then we can find out if it is male or female.
This month also saw the arrival of a new female Sumatran tiger, Baginda, she has joined Tibor in the big cat enclosures.
Our primate section has also welcomed a new baby L'hoest monkey, Goeldi's monkey and a Black Howler monkey.
Highland Wildlife Park
The three male yaks, Vincent, Viking and Valiant seem delighted to have four new female companions. The girls have come from West Midlands Safari Park and appear to have settled in well. They have been given V names to celebrate their arrival, Violet, Vivienne, Veronica and Valarie.
The park has also seen a baby boom with 7 red deer fawn being born into the main herd, 2 capercaillie chicks and 2 snowy owl chicks all of which appear to be doing well.
May 2011
Edinburgh Zoo
Gentoo Penguins
Grèvys Zebra foals
Highland Wildlife Park
Two Scottish wildcat kittens have been born to Hamish and Seasaidh at the Highland Wildlife Park. This is great news. There are less than 400 Scottish wildcats remaining in the wild. Find out more about our 'Highland Tiger' project.
Two Pallas cats were recently received from a private collection at Highland Wildlife Park. Six vicuna also moved up to the Park from Edinburgh Zoo. They will join the mixed herds in the main reserve
.