History of Edinburgh Zoo

Last updated

The entrance to Edinburgh Zoo in 2009 Entrance to Edinburgh Zoo - geograph.org.uk - 1298030.jpg
The entrance to Edinburgh Zoo in 2009

Edinburgh Zoo is a zoological park in Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland which opened on 22 July 1913. Edinburgh had previously been home to a zoological garden which failed to thrive. The new zoo is owned and run by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and initially opened as the Scottish National Zoological Park. Modern zoological methods allowed animals to survive in Edinburgh's cold climate.

Contents

Edinburgh is the only zoo in the United Kingdom to be incorporated by royal charter, and was the first zoo in the world to house and breed penguins. The zoo's penguins have been famous throughout its history, and since the 1950s have performed a daily parade around the park.

The zoo was largely unaffected by war, though some animals were euthanised for safety reasons during the Second World War. After the war the park housed a brown bear named Wojtek who had served with the Polish military. In 1972 one of the zoo's king penguins was adopted by the Norwegian military.

In the 21st century Edinburgh Zoo was briefly forced to close by the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak, and in 2005 received threats from the Animal Liberation Front. In 2000 a plan for the complete redevelopment of the zoo was begun. [1] [2]

Precursors

Scotland's first zoo was called The Royal Edinburgh Zoological Gardens, and predated the modern Edinburgh Zoo by some 70 years. After the death of James Donaldson, a wealthy Scottish publisher and bookseller, the gardens of his country house, Broughton Hall (the area now covered by Bellevue) were converted into a zoological park. [3] Occupying a 6-acre (2.4 ha) site, the park was situated about a mile to the north-east of Central Edinburgh, near East Claremont Street. [4] Naturalist John Graham Dalyell was one of the original promoters of the project and eventually president of the board of directors. [5] The Zoological Gardens opened in 1839 with a collection of stock zoo animals including lions, tigers, monkeys, bears and an elephant.

At the time, animals in zoos were typically held in poor conditions in small, cramped cages, and the Zoological Gardens presented no exception. As a result, its animals were frequently afflicted by disease, and also suffered from the harsh easterly winds of the Edinburgh climate. Despite these setbacks, the menagerie attempted to maintain its popularity by putting on concerts, acrobatics shows and displays of fireworks and Montgolfier balloons. Children were carried around the park on the back of the zoo's elephant, giving it a rare opportunity for exercise. Even with these entertainments, the Zoological Gardens were eventually forced to admit defeat. The park was closed and the site developed as tenement flats in 1857. Nothing now remains of the house or its gardens. [1] [6] [7]

Foundation

Map showing the location of the zoo's Corstorphine Hill site within Edinburgh Edinburgh Zoo location.png
Map showing the location of the zoo's Corstorphine Hill site within Edinburgh
Plan showing the main areas of land owned by the zoo and the dates they were incorporated into the park Edinburgh zoo plan of land with dates of development.svg
Plan showing the main areas of land owned by the zoo and the dates they were incorporated into the park

Edinburgh Zoo was created by Thomas Haining Gillespie, a solicitor from Dumfries who dreamed of establishing a zoological park in Scotland. At first he was told that tropical animals would never be able to live in a cold climate like Edinburgh's—a view that had to some extent been borne out by the failure of the Royal Zoological Gardens. In 1908, though, he was encouraged to read of the pioneering methods employed by Carl Hagenbeck, which were allowing tropical animals to thrive in the recently opened Tierpark Hagenbeck in Hamburg, Germany. [1]

In 1909, Gillespie and others founded a registered charity which was to become the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. The Society's first president was lawyer and politician Edward Theodore Salvesen, son of the Norwegian merchant Christian Salveson—a connection which would prove significant in later years. [1] A series of lectures given to the society by J. Arthur Thomson gave yet more momentum to the modern approach being spearheaded by Hagenbeck in Germany. [2]

Corstorphine Hill House, in the grounds of which Edinburgh Zoo stands The Mansion House, Edinburgh Zoo (geograph 1998997).jpg
Corstorphine Hill House, in the grounds of which Edinburgh Zoo stands

All that remained was to find a suitable site for the new zoo. Gillespie hoped for a site with plenty of sun and with shelter from the north and east winds. He also intended the zoo to be cheaply and quickly accessible via public transport. [7] The society secured an option to purchase the 75-acre (30 ha) Corstorphine Hill House estate for £17,000. The house had been built in 1793 as the home of Scottish accountant William Keith. Its current Scottish Baronial architecture is mostly thanks to remodelling by the Macmillan family in 1891. [7]

The zoological society found they were having difficulty gathering the necessary funds before the approaching expiry of the purchase option. Edinburgh City Council stepped in, purchasing the site outright in February 1913. The zoological society was granted full use of the estate in return for a 4 percent annual repayment of the cost. [8]

A further £8,000, raised with the help of the society's members, was set aside for the construction and stocking of the park. Initially the zoo occupied only the southernmost 27 acres (11 ha), while the land to the north was used as a golf course. The park was designed by town planner Patrick Geddes and his son-in-law Frank Mears. [7] Following Gillespie's vision, they modeled the park after the open designs of zoos like the New York Zoological Park and Hagenbeck's zoo in Hamburg. These modern zoological parks promoted a more spacious and natural environment for the animals, and stood in stark contrast to the steel cages typical of the menageries built during the Victorian era. The Scottish National Zoological Park, as it was initially called, opened to the public with a large collection of donated and borrowed animals on 22 July 1913, after only 15 weeks of work. [1] [2] [8] The zoo still occupies very much the same area of land today, though the park is being extensively redeveloped. [7]

Early history

In its opening year the zoo was incorporated by royal charter—though it was not granted the use of the "Royal" title until 1948, following a visit by King George VI. As of June 2011 Edinburgh Zoo was the only zoo in Britain with a royal charter. The original charter defined the zoological society's mission as being "to promote, facilitate and encourage the study of zoology and kindred subjects and to foster and develop amongst the people an interest in and knowledge of animal life." [2]

Thanks to the zoological society's connection with the Salvesen family, some of the zoo's first animals were three king penguins, arriving from South Georgia with a Christian Salvesen whaling expedition that docked in Leith in early 1914. [9] They were the first penguins to be seen anywhere in the world outside of the South Atlantic. The zoo successfully hatched the first ever captive king penguin chick in 1919. Penguins continued to arrive with whaling ships for years afterwards. Today, king penguins are perhaps the zoo's most famous animals. [2]

A tropical bird and reptile house was added in 1925, [7] followed by an aquarium, paid for by a grant, in 1927, and an ape house in 1929. [1] The now famous penguin pool was constructed in 1930—though it has since been rebuilt, in 1990, to include a new viewing area. [7] [10] It was in 1928 that the Corstorphine Golf Club finally evacuated the 47 acres (19 ha) to the north of the estate, allowing the zoo to expand significantly. This new area of the park was again designed by Mears, along with his partner Carus-Wilson, and was completed in 1937. [7]

Hagenbeck's modern zoo techniques proved effective, and Edinburgh quickly gained a reputation for its good animal conditions. 1934 saw the births in captivity of a sea lion and beaver, and in 1936 a baby chimpanzee followed. [1] A litter of wolves was born in 1938, and soon afterwards the first orangutan to be born in Britain. [1]

War years

Edinburgh Zoo was bombed twice during the Second World War, but remained mostly unharmed. [1] One of the bombs, in around 1940, was reported to have killed a giraffe. [11] Nevertheless, Edinburgh was, like all zoos in Britain, affected by the war. Since bombs could fall at any time, it was not considered safe to keep dangerous animals that might escape if their enclosures were damaged. In 1941 the recently born wolves had therefore to be euthanized, along with a collection of dangerous snakes, to guard against any possible danger to the public. [1] Despite the war the zoo continued to grow, with land to the east being purchased in 1942 and construction of a lake beginning soon afterwards. [7]

Post-war era

Gillespie retired from his post as director in 1950. In 1956 he was succeeded by Gilbert Fisher, who took over as director-secretary of the Zoological Society and effectively gained control of the zoo. [12]

The penguin parade in 1985 Edinburgh zoo penguin parade 1985.jpg
The penguin parade in 1985

It was around this time that Edinburgh Zoo's now famous Penguin Parade was established. A zookeeper accidentally left a gate to the penguin pool open, and was followed around the zoo by a train of penguins. Visitors were so delighted with the procession that it became a regular occurrence, and today around two-thirds of the zoo's penguins parade round the park every day. [1]

Woytek with a Polish soldier in 1942, some years before Woytek came to Scotland Wojtek the bear.jpg
Woytek with a Polish soldier in 1942, some years before Woytek came to Scotland

One of the zoo's famous inhabitants during the post-war period was Wojtek, a Syrian brown bear. Wojtek had been sold to a group of Polish soldiers during the war. He learned to help the soldiers by carrying crates of ammunition, and became an unofficial mascot. In 1944 the Polish II Corps sailed to Italy to join the British 8th Army. Wojtek had to be officially drafted into the Polish army in order to secure his passage on a British transport ship. In 1946 the II Corps were demobilised and settled in Scotland, at Winfield Camp near Hutton, Berwickshire. Wojtek retired to Edinburgh Zoo in 1947 and lived there until his death in 1963. During his time in the army the bear had developed a liking for cigarettes, and this may have contributed to his popularity as an attraction at the zoo. [2] [13] [14]

In 1972 the zoo gained yet more military credentials when king penguin Nils Olav was adopted by the Norwegian King's Guard. Norway's connection with Edinburgh's penguins began with the Salvesen family's links to the zoo, and renewed interest was sparked when a lieutenant called Nils Egelien visited the zoo with the King's Guard in 1961. On his return in 1972 Egelien arranged for the unit to adopt one of the penguins. Nils Olav was named after Egelien and in honour of King Olav V of Norway, and given the rank of lance corporal. A statue of the penguin now stands outside the zoo. [15]

Three-year-old polar bear Mercedes was given to the zoo in 1984, after she was rescued in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. She had begun wandering into the town in search of food. Because of the danger she posed to residents, Mercedes was tagged with a number so she could be tracked. When she could not be persuaded to return to the wild, a decision was taken to shoot her. A member of the Edinburgh Zoological Society collaborated with a cousin in Canada and they were able to rescue Mercedes, finding her a new home at Edinburgh zoo. The bear would become one of the zoo's most popular attractions. [16] [17]

In 1986, the society acquired the Highland Wildlife Park, a 259-acre (105 ha) safari park and zoo near Kingussie, 30 miles (48 km) south of Inverness. When opened in 1972 by Neil Macpherson, the Wildlife Park's goal was to showcase animals native to the Highlands of Scotland. [18] Today its focus has changed and it primarily houses tundra species, including some animals which have been moved from Edinburgh Zoo itself. [19]

21st century

In October 1999 the zoo had begun to explore the possibility of relocating in order to improve its facilities. [20] As of February 2000 the zoo had scrapped its plans to relocate, [21] instead announcing a "masterplan" for the redevelopment of the entire site. [22]

The foot-and-mouth scare of 2001 forced the zoo to close to protect the animals from possible infection. Since the zoo could not welcome any visitors, it faced significant financial losses. Questions were posed about the zoo's future, though in the end the park was able to reopen after only five weeks. [23] [24] Further help came in the form of a £1.9 million donation from an anonymous former resident of the city in early April, just as the zoo reopened. [25]

In 2005 the new Budongo chimp house was unveiled, [26] along with the Living Links to Human Evolution Centre, Britain's first primate behaviour research site. [27] In a scientific breakthrough in 2006 chimpanzees at Edinburgh were found to use word-like vocal labels for food. [28]

Polar bear Mercedes at Edinburgh Zoo in 2006 Polar Bear at Edinburgh Zoo.jpg
Polar bear Mercedes at Edinburgh Zoo in 2006

In late 2005 the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) threatened action over the holding in captivity of Mercedes, then Britain's only polar bear. The zoo had initially planned to retire their polar bear exhibit after Mercedes died. When zoo officials announced plans to create a new attraction, citing their responsibility to ensure the survival of the species, the ALF threatened damage to zoo workers' property and other scare-tactics. Edinburgh's treatment of polar bears had often been subject to criticism, punctuated by incidents like the death in 1997 of Mercedes' partner Barney, who choked on a plastic child's toy thrown into his enclosure. [29] In 2009 the zoo carried out their plans to create a new exhibit and improve conditions for Mercedes, moving her to the Highland Wildlife Park, where she was joined by a young male polar bear named Walker. [17] Mercedes was euthanized on compassionate grounds in 2011, suffering from severe arthritis. [30]

2007 council troubles

In January 2006 the zoo put forward plans to sell off 15 acres (6.1 ha) of land in order to raise funds for the ongoing redevelopment. [31] The plans were rejected by the council in October 2007 by a single vote, [32] leaving the zoological society "extremely disappointed". [33] In November the zoo announced that it planned to fight the council's decision. [34] A rumor circulated later that month that the zoo was considering a move to Glasgow, [35] though zoo officials insisted the rumor had no truth to it. [36] Organised opposition to the sale resulted in the zoo being allowed to sell only a small portion of the originally proposed land. [37] [38]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Zoo</span> Worlds oldest scientific zoo, in London

London Zoo, also known as ZSL London Zoo or London Zoological Gardens is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It was opened in London on 27 April 1828, and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. In 1831 or 1832, the animals of the Tower of London menagerie were transferred to the zoo's collection. It was opened to the public in 1847. Today, it houses a collection of 673 species of animals, with 19,289 individuals, making it one of the largest collections in the United Kingdom. The zoo is sometimes called Regent's Park Zoo.

The Saint Louis Zoo, officially known as the Saint Louis Zoological Park, is a zoo in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri. It is recognized as a leading zoo in animal management, research, conservation, and education. The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Admission is free based on a public subsidy from a cultural tax district, the Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District (ZMD); fees are charged for some special attractions. A special feature is the 2 ft narrow-gauge Emerson Zooline Railroad with passenger trains pulled by Chance Rides C.P. Huntington locomotives that encircle the zoo, stopping at the more popular attractions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bristol Zoo</span> Zoo in Bristol, United Kingdom

Bristol Zoo was a zoo in the city of Bristol in South West England. The zoo's stated mission was to "maintain and defend” biodiversity through breeding endangered species, conserving threatened species and habitats and promoting a wider understanding of the natural world".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schönbrunn Zoo</span> Zoo in Vienna

Schönbrunn Zoo is a 17-hectare (42-acre) zoo in the city of Vienna, Austria. Established in 1752, it is the world’s oldest zoo still in operation. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, being a part of the Schönbrunn Palace gardens. It generally receives more than 2 million visitors every year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln Park Zoo</span> Zoo in Chicago, Illinois, US

Lincoln Park Zoo, also known as Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens, is a 35-acre (14 ha) zoo in Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois. The zoo was founded in 1868, making it the fourth oldest zoo in North America. It is also one of a few free admission zoos in the United States. The zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detroit Zoo</span> Zoo in Oakland County, Michigan, United States

The Detroit Zoo is a zoo located in Royal Oak, Michigan, spanning 125 acres and housing more than 2,000 animals and more than 245 different species. It was the first U.S. zoo to feature bar-less habitats, and is regarded to be an international leader in animal welfare, conservation and sustainability by the Detroit Zoological Society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edinburgh Zoo</span> Zoo in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Edinburgh Zoo, formerly the Scottish National Zoological Park, is an 82-acre (33 ha) non-profit zoological park in the Corstorphine area of Edinburgh, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nils Olav</span> King penguin

Brigadier Sir Nils Olav III is a king penguin who resides in Edinburgh Zoo, Scotland. He is the mascot and colonel-in-chief of the Norwegian King's Guard. The name 'Nils Olav' and associated ranks have been passed down through three king penguins since 1972 – the current holder being Nils Olav III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland Wildlife Park</span> Zoo in Kingussie, Scotland

The Highland Wildlife Park is a 105-hectare (260-acre) safari park and zoo near Kingussie, Highland, Scotland. The park is located within the Cairngorms National Park. The park is run by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Zoological Society of Scotland</span>

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is a learned society and registered charity based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded by Thomas Haining Gillespie in 1909. In 1913, Edinburgh Town Council bought a large plot of land on Corstorphine Hill for the society - this later opened to the public as Edinburgh Zoo. The society received its Royal Charter in 1913. The principal objective of the society mentioned in the original charter is:

To promote, facilitate and encourage the study of zoology and kindred subjects and to foster and develop amongst the people an interest in and knowledge of animal life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wojtek (bear)</span> Syrian brown bear cub adopted in Iran by Polish soldiers during World War II

Wojtek was a Syrian brown bear bought, as a young cub, at a railway station in Hamadan, Iran, by Polish II Corps soldiers who had been evacuated from the Soviet Union. In order to provide for his rations and transportation, he was eventually enlisted officially as a soldier with the rank of private, and was subsequently promoted to corporal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Salvesen</span>

Christian Salvesen was a Scottish whaling, transport and logistics company with a long and varied history, employing 13,000 staff and operating in seven countries in western Europe. In December 2007, it was acquired by French listed transport group Norbert Dentressangle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Hagenbeck</span> German trainer of animals and circus manager

Carl Hagenbeck was a German merchant of wild animals who supplied many European zoos, as well as P. T. Barnum. He created the modern zoo with animal enclosures without bars that were closer to their natural habitat. The transformation of the zoo architecture initiated by him is known as the Hagenbeck revolution. Hagenbeck founded Germany's most successful privately owned zoo, the Tierpark Hagenbeck, which moved to its present location in Hamburg's Stellingen district in 1907. He was also an ethnography showman and a pioneer in displaying humans next to animals in human zoos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoo</span> Collection of wild animals

A zoo is a facility in which animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition and often bred for conservation purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tierpark Hagenbeck</span> Zoo

The Tierpark Hagenbeck is a zoo in Stellingen, Hamburg, Germany. The collection began in 1863 with animals that belonged to Carl Hagenbeck Sr. (1810–1887), a fishmonger who became an amateur animal collector. The park itself was founded by Carl Hagenbeck Jr. in 1907. It is known for being the first zoo to use open enclosures surrounded by moats, rather than barred cages, to better approximate animals' natural environments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoological Garden of Hamburg</span> Zoo in Hamburg, Germany

The Zoological Garden of Hamburg was a zoo in Hamburg, Germany that operated from 1863 until 1930. Its aquarium, which opened in 1864, was among the first in the world.

The Zoo Sauvage de St-Félicien is one of the largest zoos in the province of Quebec. Located in Saint-Félicien, the zoo is dedicated to wildlife conservation of the boreal climate and is managed by The Centre for Conservation of Boreal Biodiversity inc.

Thomas Haining Gillespie FRSE FSZS was a Scottish solicitor, zoological administrator, and broadcaster. He was the founder of Edinburgh Zoo and of its parent organisation the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. As a broadcaster on the children's radio programme Children's Hour he was known as "the zoo man", giving talks and answering questions on zoological matters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow Zoo</span> Zoo in Baillieston, Scotland

Glasgow Zoo, or Calderpark Zoo, was a 99-acre (40 ha) zoological park in Baillieston, Glasgow, Scotland.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Edinburgh Zoo". The Good Zoo Guide Online. December 2010. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Our History". Edinburgh Zoo. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  3. Sanders, Lloyd Charles (1897). "Donaldson, James (1751-1830)"  . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography . Vol. 52. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  4. "Broughton Hall". Engravings from Old & New Edinburgh. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  5. Boase, George Clement (1888). "Dalyell, John Graham"  . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography . Vol. 13. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  6. Macdonald, John. "Chapter Ten—1844-46". Life Jottings of an Old Edinburgh Citizen. OCLC   60735096 . Retrieved 10 December 2012 via Electric Scotland.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 McGowan, Peter (September 2007). "Corstorphinehill House, Scottish National Zoological Park or Edinburgh Zoo" (PDF). Survey of Gardens and Designed Landscapes. City of Edinburgh Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  8. 1 2 "A Zoological Garden for Edinburgh". Nature. 90 (2260): 683. 20 February 1913. Bibcode:1913Natur..90R.683.. doi: 10.1038/090683b0 .
  9. Gillespie, Thomas (1932). A Book of King Penguins. London: H. Jenkins. OCLC   2795079.
  10. "Walking on the wild side". The Scotsman. 13 October 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  11. Aitken, James (28 July 2003). "Evacuated from Edinburgh to The Craigs". WW2 People's War. BBC. Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  12. "Obituary of Mr. Gilbert Fisher". The Scotsman. 15 July 1985. p. 2.
  13. "Voytek - The Soldier Bear". Berwickshire Today. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  14. "Honour sought for 'Soldier Bear'". BBC News. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  15. "Penguin picks up military honour". BBC News. 17 August 2001. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  16. "Polar Bear Apocalypse". The Independent. 11 June 2006. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  17. 1 2 "Christmas has come early at Highland Wildlife Park" (Press release). Edinburgh Zoo. Archived from the original on 13 January 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  18. "Highland Wildlife Park". The Good Zoo Guide Online. December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  19. "Our Parks". Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  20. "Edinburgh zoo considers migrating". BBC News. 14 October 1999.
  21. "Zoo stays put". BBC News. 24 February 2000.
  22. "Edinburgh Zoo". Edinburgh Today. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  23. "Zoo reopens after disease scare". BBC News. 4 April 2001.
  24. "Zoos count the cost of closure". BBC News. 20 March 2001.
  25. "Zoo gets £1.9m from mystery donor". BBC News. 3 April 2001. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  26. "Chimps set for move at city zoo". The Scotsman. 29 January 2005. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  27. "Serious monkey business". The Scotsman. 12 November 2004. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  28. "Chimps Name Foods With Grunts". Discovery Channel News. 28 November 2006. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  29. "Animal activists in terror threat against zoo". The Scotsman. 29 August 2005.
  30. "Polar bear Mercedes put to sleep". BBC News. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  31. Ferguson, Brian (20 January 2006). "Zoo set to sell off 12 acres for new homes". The Scotsman.
  32. Ferguson, Brian (13 October 2007). "Who's a silly monkey for missing Zoo vote?". The Scotsman. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  33. "Response to Land Sale Decision" (Press release). Edinburgh Zoo. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  34. "Unknown". The Scotsman. November 2011. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011.
  35. Swanson, Ian (21 November 2007). "Zoo looks to Glasgow after council snub". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 30 January 2008.
  36. "City Zoo to Stay in Edinburgh" (Press release). Edinburgh Zoo. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  37. Edwards, Gareth (24 March 2008). "Zoo protesters enlist experts' help to fight land sell-off plan". The Scotsman. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  38. "Zoo's expansion thrown into doubt as land sale is rejected". The Scotsman. 9 July 2009.