Plan Your Visit to Edinburgh Zoo

Ediburgh Zoo Advert

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.

Plan your visit

How you can help

Ediburgh Zoo Advert

The natural world needs our help...and we need yours!  Please consider making a donation to support our conservation, education and research work, both within our parks and across the world.

Find out more

Spotlight on our staff

Veterinary Services

Simon_Girling

Simon Girling is the Head of Veterinary Services for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS). He joined us in 2009.

Simon and his team of veterinary experts, Romain Pizzi, veterinary surgeon and Donna Brown, Head Veterinary nurse ensure our animals receive the highest standards of veterinary care. Their work involves developing health plans for the animals at both parks, treating sick animals as well as arranging routine vaccinations blood tests and health checks.

Simon has also performed animal post mortems during the Edinburgh Science Festival. He explained what tests are used to determine a healthy animal.
 
Simon and Romain are supported by our resident vet nurse, Donna Brown. Donna is an invaluable member of our team and she regularly conducts the routine blood and faecal tests on many of the animals, as well as assisting with animal anaesthetics and health plans. 
 
Both Simon and Romain lecture to postgraduates all over the country in zoological medicine. He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer to Glasgow University Veterinary School for Zoological Medicine and a visiting lecturer to the Royal Veterinary College in London. Romain is a Special lecturer to Nottingham University in zoological medicine.  
 

Learn how Romain has become the first vet in the world to perform ground breaking keyhole surgery on an Asiatic black bear (also known as a Moon Bear) in Vietnam in our latest news section.

bear surgery vietnam 1

RZSS is currently running an appeal to raise funds to help modernise our veterinary hospital and to provide new equipment. To find out more on how you can help please visit RZSS Animal Hospital Appeal

Simon Girling: BVMS (Hons) DZooMed CBiol MSB MRCVS, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Recognised Specialist in Zoo & Wildlife Medicine