ENJOYYANGGUANGAND TIANTIAN'SLASTMONTHS AT EDINBURGHZOO
This is the official publication for members of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), the wildlife conservation charity (Scottish registered charity SC004064).
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Art Director George Walker
Photographer Laurie Campbell
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Edinburgh journalist Ida Maspero met giant pandas
Yang Guang and Tian Tian and the staff caring for them at the zoo.
There's always something going on at Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park, but this year will be an even bigger one for both parks and for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).
In the Highlands, construction has started on Scotland's Wildlife Discovery Centre, which will connect people with nature and enable visitors and communities in the Cairngorms National Park to protect endangered animals. The centre will have three hubs: the discovery hub, the learning hub and the hilltop hub, which will offer views of the Saving Wildcats conservation breeding for release centre in an offshow area of Highland Wildlife Park.
Excitingly, the first of the young wildcats born in the centre will be released into the wild in the Scottish Highlands this year. You can find out more about how we're preparing them for the challenges of life in the wild in this issue of your membership magazine.
This year's conservation work will also mark a step forward in our efforts
to save rare native invertebrates and provide a boost for Scotland's biodiversity. Following the success of our pine hoverfly breeding programme, we are turning our attention to the dark bordered beauty moth, an exquisitely beautiful insect currently only found in two sites in Scotland and one in England. There are always moving moments when you're working with animals, but surely one of the most emotional in the coming months will be saying goodbye to our giant pandas when they return to China. Yang Guang and Tian Tian have helped to inspire millions of visitors to protect, value and love nature.
We are planning a giant farewell, as part of which you can enter a prize draw for the opportunity to feed one of the pandas. Visit our website for more details - and good luck!
edinburghzoo.org.uk/pandas ?lJ
Freelance writer Jonathan McIntosh spent an afternoon observing the antics at Edinburgh Zoo's Budongo Trail.
Giant pandas
Don't miss the opportunity to come and see Yang Guang and Tian Tian before they return to China later this year.
Enjoygreat daysout at EdinburghZoo and HighlandWildlife Parkas often as you like, plus...
Free entry to 12 other zoos and wildlife parks with whom we have a reciprocal arrangement, including Chester Zoo and Belfast Zoo
Regular updates via our member emails -contact membership@rzss.org.uk or sign up on our website at rzss.org.uk/memberemail
Exclusive access to Edinburgh Zoo via the members gate during weekends and the school holidays
There's free parking for members at Edinburgh Zoo, so don't forget to get your ticket validated
Photography by Laurie Campbell.
THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION CHARITY
RZSSworks with local communities in Scotlar:ia and also. through our conservation programmes. armmd the world. Among all our com,, unities. we want to remove barri rs to connecting with nature -whether those barriers be physical, mental, monetary or simply someone's perception that a zoo isn't a place for them.
We've pledged to enable more than 100 communities to better protect nature by 2023. That pledge is based on the groundbreaking 2021 Dasgupta Review, an independent global report on the economics of biodiversity. At RZSS,one of our key takeaways from the Dasgupta Review was that a healthy community builfis healthy nature and healthy nature builds a healthy commur:iify.
We've star:tea by looking locally and rethink·.l'lgour commu Jtywork in Scotl nd. Our two site at Edinburgh Zoo ar:ia Highland Wildlife Park are beautiful !fjateways into nat e and animals.
To ensure our co , munity work has a clear purpos . we have built strong relationships with a wide variety of partner orgar:iisations. including community g ,oups and charities.
Howeve equity and inclusivity isn't just a out bringing people to the zoo. We're also carrying out outreach work more widely, including through Zoodle, our online digital learning environment, which has now reached every continent in the world.
In 2022 we supported more than 4,000 efugees to visit Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park.many of them from Ukraine and Afghanistan. Through our refugee programme we provide free entry and usually also offer an activity such as a tour or a workshop. We have been lucky enough to receive funding, including generous donations from our catering partners, Compass, which have enabled us to also provide bus travel, food and goodie bags for these visitors.
A volunteer who came with one of the refugee groups contacted us afterwards to share their experience: "ft was amazing to see people enjoying their day. Individuals and families who at the beginning had been quite quiet and keeping themselves to themselves were by the end interacting with others, smiling and excited. It was lovely to see.·
That kind of feedback shows the power of a safe space where people can
Beccy Angus, RZSShead of discovery and learning, highlights some of the wonderful initiatives happening as part of our pledge to enable more than 100 communities to better support nature by 2023
come together and. for a minute, spend time outside with others, enjoy social interaction and not have to worry.
We have also developed a nature-andcurriculum-based programme that our discovery and community officers, Jaima and Rebecca. are delivering to children being supported by Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity (ECHC).
The patients and their families have the opportunity to connect with animals and nature in an interactive way adapted for them. Jaima and Rebecca set up a drop-in workshop in the family area at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, where people who might be visiting their children, or popping in for day surgery, can also come and interact with us. There are some great activities on offer. using our animals as the theme for the engagement. It takes people away from the reason they're at the hospital for a while.
In the afternoons. Jaima and Rebecca go into the wards and lead similarly themed activities for those who can't leave their beds or their rooms.
The partnership also includes free respite visits for parents and guardians to take time away from the hospital and enjoy nature at Edinburgh Zoo.
Groups of young adults who are either homeless, on the brink of homelessness or are experiencing care deprivation now visit Edinburgh Zoo every week for six weeks. It's part of the Cyrenians' Key to Work programme. which helps participants learn vital teamwork and communication skills by completing and presenting nature-based projects. Similarly, we work with the charity Right
There, which is also focused on people experiencing homelessness. After they brought a group of people to the zoo. one of their support workers contacted us about the impact the trip had made: "The guys are coming out of their rooms in our accommodation, interacting more with support workers and each other. It's allowed us to give them the care and support that they need while building trust at the same time."
We work in collaboration with many charities and community groups such as these to find out what people need and how RZSScan be of support -and how we can make sure that accessibility and inclusion are at the heart of our community work. It is important that our zoos are community spaces and that we make the connection to nature and animals even deeper, better, bigger and lovelier. And, when Scotland's Wildlife Discovery Centre is complete, we will have a wonderful space at Highland Wildlife Park to do even more.
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Create stronger connections with nature for more than a million people
Enable more than 100 communities to better protect nature
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HRH The Princess Royal visited Edinburgh Zoo to help us celebrate 10 years of groundbreaking research at the RZSSWildGenes laboratory, as well as the three-year extension of a vital partnership to protect giraffes in the wild. Our Royal Patron enjoyed a tour of the UK's only zoo-based conservation genetics lab and learned more about the partnership between RZSS, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF)and Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This enabled us to bring giraffes back to the capital in 2021 and also
Two female koala joeys born at Edinburgh Zoo to mums Kalari and lnala have started to emerge from the pouches where newborns spend their first few months.
Loma Hughes, animal team leader at RZSS,said: "We are delighted both joeys are doing well and we are beginning to see them more and more. They are the only Queensland koalas in the UK, which makes every newborn really special.
"With their species facing many threats in the wild, the two new girls give our charity an incredibly exciting opportunity to engage and inspire even more visitors to help protect, value and love wildlife around the world."
supports giraffe translocations in Uganda.
Dr Helen Senn, head of conservation and science programmes at RZSS,said: "From studying capercaillie populations in the Highlands to evaluating tiger diets in Nepal, we have found that working together across different organisations and communities is the only way to make real progress in saving wildlife.
"We are thrilled to be able to share our expertise with GCF and deliver a joint programme of field conservation, genetics and veterinary projects across Africa."
Work has started on the £8m Scotland's Wildlife Discovery Centre, due to open next year at Highland Wildlife Park. Innovative digital technology, citizen science and outdoor learning will combine to inspire visitors and communities in the Cairngorms National Park to protect nature. Ben Supple, RZSSdirector of engagement and business development, said: "With more than a million species at risk of extinction, we must act now to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity. We all have a role to play, which is why we are developing Scotland's Wildlife Discovery Centre. A network of three hubs across the park will bring to life the challenges facing wildlife in Scotland and around the world. Crucially, we will also focus on protecting nature and the actions that we can take in our everyday lives."
Construction has now begun on the main discovery hub, which will use digital technology to immerse visitors in stories of Scotland's wildlife past, present and future. And work is also underway on the learning hub, offering the chance to find out more about wildlife conservation through STEM,outdoor learning and citizen science.
In the months to come, the hilltop hub will take shape, overlooking the wildcat conservation breeding for release centre. Park visitors can find out why Scotland's wildcats are on the brink of extinction and what RZSSand partners are doing to save the species.
With your support, Scotland's Wildlife Discovery Centre can become a truly special place to enjoy nature. To donate, visit rzss.org.uk/support-scotlandswildlife-discovery-centre
To celebrateValentine'sDay,our keepers treated HighlandWildlife ParkArctic foxesJack and Sarahto some delicious enrichmenttreats, includingheartshapedice pops.
Enrichmentisan important part of the animals'daily care, encouragingthem to be more active and improvingtheir mental and physicalwellbeing.
NORTH AFRICA
RZSSWildGenes have undertaken the first global assessment of genetic diversity for a critically endangered antelope with support from partners. Addax are an extremely threatened antelope that once roamed across Africa's Sahara Desert. Findings from the study will support a global management plan for the species, which has fewer than 100 individuals left in the wild due to threats including climate change, hunting and habitat loss.
SOUTH ATLANTIC AND AFRICA
Thanks to data collected for the RZSSWildGenes team, we can understand more about the movements of endangered northern rockhopper penguins, who only breed on seven small islands in the South Atlantic and Indian oceans. With our research partners -RSPB,British Antarctic Survey and the Tristan da Cunha government -we have developed a management plan to protect these penguins in the wild. We're also working to aid African penguin conservation with our membership of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).We don't house African penguins, but the WildGenes team do analyse samples provided by the EAZA biobank network to assess the genetic status of individuals in the breeding programme.
UGANDA AND BEYOND
Our partnership with Giraffe Conservation Foundation and Glenmorangie has been extended for another three years. This vital initiative has already enabled us to bring giraffes back to Edinburgh Zoo and support translocations of giraffes in Uganda to boost their populations. Glenmorangie's commitment to the partnership also means further investment into genetic research of the giraffe in Africa to help grow their numbers across the continent.
INDONESIA
There are only a few Roti Island snake-necked turtles - one of the rarest turtles in the world - left in the wild in Indonesia. Critically endangered, these turtles have been heavily targeted by the international pet trade. We're collaborating with Nordens Ark to reintroduce the species with a breeding for release centre designed to develop a genetically diverse captive population. The RZSSWildGenes team is also working to make sure the correct subspecies is bred for the release programme.
In Britain, habitat loss means the dark bordered beauty moth is currently only found in two sites in Scotland and one in England. Working as part of the Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms partnership, RZSSaims to breed and release hundreds of caterpillars and moths into suitable habitats to boost Scotland's wild population. The first breeding season produced 497 eggs from 40 individuals collected in the wild. These precious eggs have overwintered in dedicated breeding facilities, ready for what are hoped to be the first releases and a bumper breeding season in 2023.
Special girl from a special species. Baer's pochard ducks are critically endangered, making Patricia both rare and sought after. Don't be fooled by the soft exterior, though. Underneath those downy feathers, she's a champion diver and can stay submerged for 40 seconds, reaching a depth of two metres when looking for food. Are you ready to take the plunge?
Rare,critically endangered cheeky monkey, GSOH. Loves the high life in the rainforest treetops and spending time with friends. Currently resides in the Magic Forest at Edinburgh Zoo. Sharply coiffured, thanks to many hours grooming, has a long tail for balance and likes rustic dining, especially tasty morsels of meat, fish, vegetables and tender vegetation.
Live life in full colour with stunning Himalayan monals Monat Lisa and Monalsodium Glutamate. The national bird of Nepal, these fabulous pheasants can be found beside the wildcats at Highland Wildlife Park. Males have impressively vibrant plumage in blue, green, purple, red, and orange -and Lisa is lovely too!
MEET SOME OF THE RZSS SPECIES WHO ARE STILL WAITING TO BE MATCHED UP WITH AN ADOPTER. COULD YOU BE THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE FOR ONE OF THESE LOVABLE LONELY HEARTS?
Bold, scaly, leader of the tegu lizards. Desperately seeking a sun lover to enjoy fun days out. Highly intelligent, known as Hannibal to friends. Surprisingly warm-blooded and keen to meet someone who shares similar interests: eating out -preferably on insects, spiders and snails -and hibernating in winter.
Searching for soulmates. Trio of peace-loving geckos in need of the perfect partner. Enjoy playing hide and seek in the Wee Beasties area at Edinburgh Zoo. A vulnerable species, these geckos will be stuck on you thanks to the adhesive effect of tiny pads on their feet that allow them to cling to surfaces.
Could you be the one? Calm, docile spider who likes nights out for late dinners and fine dining on small vertebrates. At home in the Wee Beasties exhibit or the deserts and dry scrubland of South America. Has eight legs and covered in extremely sensitive hairs, just like cats' whiskers, to help move around in the dark.
Looking for someone special?
Handsome forest-and woodlanddwelling deer enjoys eating foliage and grasses in the drive-through reserve at Highland Wildlife Park, or socialising with family and friends. Has eye-catching antlers that shed every year, but don't worry: they grow back!
A crush on you? Loving and caring snake with reputation for giving very friendly hugs seeks companion to set up a nest in the Wee Beasties exhibit. Tizer is non-venomous and likes eating food whole, but don't let those table manners put you off. Also enjoys peaceful naps under logs and rocks.
Experienced house-hunter has outgrown their current shell. Looking for someone to join them on viewings for a potential new home in the Wee Beastiesexhibit. Ocean dweller, likes living near the shoreline and enjoys romantic sea views. Has a soft body with a hook-shaped tail and strong legs to hang on to the inside of their shell.
In 2016, the status of giant pandas in the wild was changed from endangered to vulnerable, thanks to conservation efforts in China. There are an estimated 1,864 giant pandas living wild and around 600
unchtime on a frosty January morning finds me expectantly watching a panda's back, alongside a chattering huddle of young visitors from overseas. Female Tian Tian has her back turned to us, leaning against the window, her round black ears twitching as she munches on a bamboo stalk.
The group of youngsters soon drifts off. Tian Tian eases herself over and reclines facing us. She reaches for another spray of bamboo, sniffs, and nibbles the tips. Her eyes close. Beside me, panda team leader Alison Maclean whispers: "She's quite shy, so usually feeds with her back to visitors. But you can tell that she's really relaxed and enjoying what she's eating
she lies down and shuts her eyes."
In his own house next door, male
Yang Guang 1scurled up fast asleep.
"This time of year, their routine is mostly
sleeping and eating!," Alison laughs.
As the days lengthen, both pandas are beginning to eat more, piling on weight toward breeding season in spring. And when the weather improves, they'll spend more time in their large outdoor enclosures -Tian Tian often playing in her pond and Yang Guang surveying his surroundings perched up in a tree or lounging on one of the purpose-built panda platforms. This will be their last summer in Edinburgh.
After 12 years here, the pandas' return to China could be as early as October. Under the terms of the agreement with the China WildlifeConservation Association, they would originally have returned in 2021, but Covid travel restrictions saw their stay extended and enabled us to give more people the chance to come and say goodbye. "It's been such a bonus having the
pandas with us for an additional two years, giving our visitors precious extra time to see them," says RZSShead of living collections Darren McGarry.
The commitment and passion of the tight-knit panda team shines through. Alongside Darren, team leader Alison and head of veterinary services
11 /t's been such a bonus having the pandas with us for an additional two years, giving our visitors precious extra time to see them"
Head of Living Collections Darren McGarry
Professor Simon Girling have been working with the pandas every day.
"We're sad to see these lovely animals go," Darren admits. "It's been an amazing experience working with them -a real privilege and a life-changing journey for us an:
That journey started at least two years before the pandas' arrival. Darren had to negotiate the details and wade through the paperwork, while Alison spent plenty of time at the Wolong Panda Centre in Wolong National Nature Reserve learning all about the species· natural habitat, behaviour and care in captivity. With 30 years' of experience caring for various bear species, Alison was the natural choice as lead keeper. "But they're quite unlike any other bears I've worked with in the past." she says. "For example. with most species. you'd keep things stimulating for them by not sticking to a rigid routine. But pandas C)
thrive on routine. We had to rewrite the rule book.·
The terms of the agreement also required Alison and her team to collect daily data -vital statistics, urine and stool samples, and the amount and kind of bamboo being eaten. ·The first few years were a really steep learning curve,· she adds, explaining how the team had to come to grips with the two pandas' unique behaviours, complicated feeding needs (see page 21) and very different characters.
Having already met Yang Guang and Tian Tian at the BifengxiaGiant Panda Base in China, the team finallywelcomed the two to Edinburgh in December 2011. From day one, their contrasting personalities were evident. Yang Guang
seemed relaxed and interested in human company, and engaged well with training. "He'squite happy being watched by visitors,even while eating,· says Alison."He comes to us for comfort when frightened by a noise."
Tian Tian, on the other hand, proved to be shy with people. "She keeps to herself and can be moody and a bit aggressive when disturbed," Alison explains. "She cooperates well one-toone with staff she trusts, but can swipe and snarl at anyone she dislikes. She's less comfortable having visitors watch her - in that respect she behaves more like a wild panda. In summer, she'll drag her bamboo into a small shady grove of trees where she's harder to spot."
Head vet Simon also worked hard to gain both bears' trust, to the point where they cooperated voluntarily with
Darren McGarryhealth checks and medical procedures, including breeding efforts and Yang Guang's testicular cancer diagnosis and subsequent operation in 2018.
He notes: "From a vet's point of view, they're a unique species to work with - metabolically, they exist on a knife edge." His role has been a challenge at times, as "much about panda medicine is imparted verbally by Chinese counterparts, rather than being physically written down somewhere accessible to western veterinarians. In addition, many medications and techniques commonly used in the west are not always recognised in China." As a result, Simon and the team have pioneered aspects of treatment and care, making substantial contributions to scientific knowledge (see page 22).
The team attempted breeding almost every year from 2012 to 2020 during the tiny annual window of fertility in spring. Having tried a natural mating in 2012, it was soon clear the two bears were just not compatible partners. Darren explains: "Female pandas are picky and in the wild will select their mates from a number of competing males. Of course, if you only have one male on offer, as we do here, it doesn't always work out."
Subsequent pregnancies through artificial insemination didn't result in success either. "Wecouldn't identify a definitive medical reason for why she's not produced a cub," says Simon, "but they are complex animals, not least because they have delayed implantation. This means the fertilised egg only begins to develop in the womb four or 0
11 Female pandas are picky and in the wild will select their mates from a number of competing males 1' Head of LivingCollections
five months after mating, and only if conditions are perfect.·
Simon theorises that light levels may play a role: ·rn nature, breeding is linked to food availability,which in tum is linked to daylight length. Pandas' natural home is semi-equatorial, so the number of daylight hours do not vary as much throughout the year as they do at our latitude. It's quite possible that, because our days shorten more rapidly after the summer equinox, the panda's finely tuned circadian rhythm doesn't allow a pregnancy to continue. We know that pandas in Finland and Adelaide have also not bred so far.·
Darren muses: "Havinga cub would have been the icing on the cake, there's no denying it -we all put so much work into it and spent many years on that rollercoaster.However, even though we've not had a cub, we have learned and achieved so much on the research side.·
Another panda peculiarity is their extreme sensitivity to noise disturbance -something the wider zoo team has had to bear in mind at all times. "The silence and tranquillity of the forest is what struck me when I visited their natural habitat in the mountains,· Alison explains. "Earthquakes are common in that part of China -low vibrations and far-off rumbling noises would be an earthquake alarm to pandas, and they have a huge auditory spectrum. So, they find thunderstorms, high winds
:::J and heavy equipment very upsetting."
This sensitivity to noise is what j prompted the pandas' move to a new enclosure in 2019. Their original home at the south-west end of the
Yang Guang and Tian Tian will head back to China later this year
Beyond the Panda, we've given talks to audiences of all ages and walks of life,· says Darren. "We'vefound that engaging with the pandas inspires people to understand more about our work in helping to protect wildlife around the world."
The pandas' own conservation storyof habitat fragmentation due to human development -mirrors the plight of hundreds more threatened but less iconic species. These days, wild pandas are found mainly in 20 small pockets of forest in the mountains of Sichuan. "They were once widespread as a lowland species,· explains Simon, "but were pushed higher into the mountains by human development.·
While China has previously focused on captive breeding, a portion of the income from its panda-lending programme is now dedicated to restoring and connecting these fragmented pockets of forest by creating bamboo corridors.
"Savingthe panda is only part of the picture. Bamboo forests need the panda as much as the other way round," Alison explains. "Giant pandas are an excellent example of a keystone or 'umbrella' species -by conserving their environment, you're also securing the future of so many others in the same unique ecosystem.·
zoo site was very close to the old Corstorphine Hospital, earmarked for major redevelopment. The pre-emptive move aimed to protect the bears from construction noise. "Their new home at the top of the hill has been a huge success," says Alison. "There's more suitable outside space, including trees to climb, and the sloping hill enables better opportunities for public viewing."
Of course, the adorable black-andwhite bears have been a huge draw for visitors. "Through programmes such as
While we would love the pandas to stay and there would be many benefits given they are settled here and we have so much experience caring for them, we have always known Yang Guang and Tian Tian would have to return when the agreement came to an end. However, the wealth of knowledge the team has built up will continue to be published and shared with other zoos and institutions around the world.
Even though we've not had a cub, we have learned and achieved so much on the research side"
Head of LivingCollections Darren McGarry
e are currently looking after more than 30 wildcats in the Saving Wildcats conservation breeding for release centre, an area of nearly 10 acres in Highland WildlifePark away from public view.
The population includes breeding pairs of wildcats from the UK conservation breeding programme managed by RZSS.It also includes their offspring from 2022 who -with support from national and international partners -we plan to release into the wild this summer. To start bringing Scotland's population back from the brink of extinction, we hope to release a minimum of 20 wildcats annually.
The centre has two main sections: a breeding facilityof eight enclosures, which can each be divided to separate the males from the females, and an even larger area of 20 pre-release enclosures with lots of natural features and hiding spots. Last year's kittens are being moved into these pre-release enclosures in preparation for their release into the wild.
The only people with access to the breeding centre are the keepers from the Saving Wildcats project, who keep their impact to a minimum. ·we don't want to disturb the cats more than we need to, but they still require daily food provisions and fresh water," says Saving Wildcats conservation manager David Barclay.
The adult cats in the Saving Wildcats programme have already become shyer around humans since taking up residence. They like to hide on the platforms and walkways high in their enclosures. In the pre-release facility, there's even more space and opportunity for the young cats to hide away among the trees, bushes and undergrowth. We use a complex arrangement of CCTVto monitor the cats' welfare, with cameras looking into each enclosure. In the wild, wildcats are most active at dawn and dusk, and the same goes for the animals here.
With as little human contact as possible, we need to encourage these young cats to develop the life skillsthey will need on release. particularly when it comes to hunting and foraging for food. To do this, we use some traditional enrichment techniques for carnivores in zoos. such as hiding small pieces of food around the enclosures. or making it difficult to reach in boxes or on climbing poles. But we're also developing and exploring new techniques to provide food for the cats that fit with their natural activity patterns. including automated feeding boxes.
Our keepers vary the type of food the cats are offered and the times at which it's supplied, so they don't learn to expect food to be delivered at a certain point in the day. And if they're given something large such as a rabbit, that might be left in the enclosure for a couple of days to mimic how the cats feed in the wild. We've also been trialling a feeding box that opens at a preset time; if the cat's not quick enough to find the food and remove it, the box closes and reopens an hour later.
Conservation Manager David Barclay11 We don 1 t want to disturb the cats more than we need to, but they still require daily food provisions and fresh water
1
'
"Ifs all to help develop some of the cats' natural behaviours so that, when they're released into the wild, they can locate and capture food and do what they need to do to survive," explains David.
"There's no manual or guidebook to breeding wildcats for release, but we're trying to learn from other successful carnivore recovery projects, such as the Iberian lynx recovery project, and adapt those for wildcats.
"Our experienced team of keepers is complemented by an external advisory group of some of the best people in carnivore conservation and felid management and recovery in Europe. And we have fantastic partnerships with NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland and the Cairngorms National Park Authority, as well as Junta de Andaluda, who manage the Iberian lynx project, and with Nordens Ark in Sweden.
"This is a very ambitious project, but without it, we would see the end of wildcats in Scotland, which none of us are really prepared to face."
CLOCKWISEFROM LEFT: Wildcat kittens;offshow breedingenclosuresat Highland Wildlife Park; three of the adult cats
Writer Rich Rowe learns about an RZSSconservation breeding programme that aims to boost populations of a tiny invertebrate every bit as important as any of Scotland's big, charismatic species
t first glance, Balerno Common on the north side of the Pentland Hills just outside Edinburgh appears an unlikely location for a major conservation breeding programme. But this soggy half-land of hummocks and hollows, pools and ditches is home to one of the last-known Scottish populations of a species that, although small in stature, makes an immense contribution to ecosystem health.
As viewers of the recent BBC Winterwatch series will have seen, the area is the focus of RZSSefforts to boost populations of the pond mud snail - a species of freshwater snail shaped like an ice-cream cone and no bigger than a fingernail, which lives in ponds, marshes and ditches.
Typically found in very clean water, pond mud snails are one of nature's supreme waste recyclers. They graze on algae and decaying plants, and then return nutrients back into the ecosystem - a cycle that helps support a whole network of specialist plants and animals. The snails are also an excellent indicator species for such temporary, or ephemeral, freshwater habitats.
Sadly, however, the pond mud snail is just one more example of a species in trouble - with habitat loss due to land use change and pollution the chief culprits. Once common across the peaty lowlands of England and Wales, and recorded as far north as Perthshire, pond mud snails are now incredibly rare across the UK In Scotland, they are only known to be in seven locations, including Balerno Common.
Just a short hop from Scotland's capital, it's a site that comprises two quite different areas of habitat: the Red Moss of Balerno, a dome-shaped area of lowland raised bog cared for by the Scottish WildlifeTrust, and Bavelaw Marsh, an expanse of open water and fen. Together they form a site that is unique within the Edinburgh area in its diversity of both species and habitat.
Given its work all around the world, it's not often that the RZSS team can look out from Edinburgh Zoo and see a direct line to where its efforts are being concentrated.
"Ifyou stand at the viewpoint on top of the hill at the zoo, you can see exactly where we are working," smiles Dr Helen Taylor, conservation programme manager at RZSS."It's really nice to be involved in a project that has such a close physical connection to the zoo and to the local community."
The breeding programme began in 2017, initially in partnership with Buglife, another conservation charity that had surveyed the common and rediscovered a population of pond mud snails. 0
It was the first time that the snalls had been found in the area for well over a century.
Given their size, love of peaty water and fondness for hiding away in mud, the snails are not the easiest to work with. Breeding them, however, is relatively simple, if a little chaotic. The animals are able to self-fertilise, which is ideal when the aim is to produce lots of snails, but gives very little control in terms of tracing parentage and ensuring genetic diversity of populations. The latter is important as it helps species adapt to changing circumstances, such as climate or disease.
Breeding takes place in a low-key shed at the back of the zoo where the snails are kept in jars and tanks. The adults lay egg 'rafts' on the glass sides -squares of jelly that contain two rows of tiny eggs. It takes a keen eye to see what's inside. "When the eggs have snails in them, they are dark like a tiny dot," says Helen. Once hatched, the miniscule snails are fed on lettuce, exclusively organic and soft enough for their radulas -a flexible band of microscopic teeth -to chew up.
Being at a zoo, the conservation team is able to call on keepers to help with animal husbandry as well as on-site
vets if any health screening is needed. "We have all the expertise on site to contribute holistically to a project like this," says Helen.
Over the past few years, visitors to the Red Moss of Salemo may well have spotted members of the RZSSteam carrying out regular monitoring of snails in the area. It's not a glamorous line of work "We wade through the marsh with a large net and then spend hours sifting through the mud and vegetation collected with our fingers to feel for the snails," says Helen.
To date, the release of adult snails has been small scale, with just 40 individuals released into each of two ponds in 2018. But that's not enough, says Helen. "I want to go big and release hundreds. We're not messing around. It has to be a numbers game in the hope that it is enough to carry them through."
For now, the population is in a precarious position: with the snails currently known to inhabit just one or two ponds at Salemo, any change of land use or a pollution incident could prove disastrous. Little wonder that Helen is keen to spread the risk
"The more snails there are in more places, the more secure the overall population,. she says.
The plan is to start further annual releases this year, timed for between August and October when water levels are usually steady and the snails have time to bed in ahead of winter. But this kind of reintroduction is not always an exact science. While the RZSSteam is making its best judgement on what's right for the species in terms of suitable habitat, ultimately, it's the snails that will decide.
"To me, the success of a reintroduction programme is based on producing a self-sustaining population that doesn't need human intervention
Conservation project officer Kasia Ruta works on our pond r:nud snail programme"If you stand at the viewpoint on top of the hill at the zoo, you can see exactly where we are working"
Conservation Programme Manager Dr Helen Taylor
- but that's a long old road," explains Helen. For now, it's a case of step by step. "Ifthe snails are still there in a year, that's a start, but we need that population to grow and be there several years down the line."
For RZSS,one of the key points when getting involved in any kind of reintroduction is to commit for the long haul, including a rigorous post-release monitoring programme. "Regardless of the species, you can't just be there for two years and walk away," stresses Helen. "It doesn't work like that."
Of course, snails are not known for their lightning speed or ability to cover great distances, but the habitat is such that widespread dispersal is far from impossible. After all, the Red Moss of Salerno is really just one huge pond with interconnecting channels that come and go at different times of year.
"We honestly don't know how far these animals can move or migrate, or whether that movement is
inadvertent, such as a surge of water or even hitching a ride on a duck's foot," notes Helen. "There must be a way for them to move between sites, but we're not exactly sure what that mechanism is or how far they go."
If the team can make this work at Salerno, it will be in a position to explore other sites locally where the snails used to be present. Such progress would bring more of that all-important connectivity and enable these tiny animals to contribute to functioning, resilient ecosystems in the wider Edinburgh area.
"One of the things that I'm proud of at RZSSis that we work at both ends of the taxonomic scale," says Helen. "It's great that we work on species such as wildcats and beavers, but if we want to work with those species and reintroduce them, then we have to also work at the other end of the scale.
"Ifwe lose the invertebrates that play such a key role, then there isn't a functioning ecosystem into which we can release other species. One can't exist without the other."
The wolverine looks like a small, stocky bear about the size of a medium dog. ln fact, it is the largest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, which also includes badgers, otters and ferrets.
As with the Marvel mutant, this wolverine has super senses too. It can smell a meaty meal 6m (20ft) under the snow -that's about two storeys deep -and will also use its razorsharp hearing to detect hibernating prey.
The wolverine is well adapted for the snow forests of North America, Nordic Europe and Russia. Its thick, oily fur repels moisture. When walking, its paws spread to almost twice their resting size, making snow-shoes.
Wolverines know to store their leftovers in the freezer! Once they've eaten their fill of a carcass, they will bury what's left in the snow and retrieve it later, when food is scarce. Their sharp teeth and powerful jaws can crush through frozen meat and bones.
Wolverines are nocturnal, solitary animals that can roam home ranges of up to 1,500km 2 They're highly territorial -males mark their territory with their pungent scent and will only share their range with females.
In early spring, female wolverines give birth to two to three babies, called kits, in their cosy dens often dug deep under snow. The kits are born blind and have white fur, which may act as camouflage in their snowy surroundings. Kits can stay with mum for up to two years.
Though not threatened internationally, wolverines are vulnerable in Europe. Our two at Highland Wildlife Park, Tina and Astrid, are part of the Endangered Species Breeding Programme. Tina gave birth to two kits in 2016 -the first time the species had been successfully bred in Scotland -and to three in 2019.
Acomplex tale of family,politics, love and community inspires my latest trip to Edinburgh Zoo. While this story may sound like something from a Game of Thrones plotline, the characters who are central to my travels are not duelling kings and queens, but the chimpanzees who call Edinburgh Zoo home.
I arrive at the zoo's extensive Budongo Trail enclosure to meet :::J Callum Gibson, leader of the 10-strong w gi team working here. "Chimps are really j::;: socially complex primates," he tells me. "They can be best friends one 5 day and enemies the next. You need
to be observant and have plenty of patience when monitoring their mood and behaviour so that you can support them as best you can."
Opened in 2008, Budongo Trail is one of the world's most innovative
chimpanzee enclosures, specially designed to stimulate the chimps into exhibiting behaviours that would be observed in the wild. There's a large outdoor area with a huge climbing frame as well as a sequence of indoor pods, each with their own temperature, humidity and lighting to allow chimps to choose the hangout best suited to them. Arriving at the light-filled Pod One, hanging out seems to be the operative state of being, as chimps recline cosily in high nest baskets.
As I pass, I'm watched by one of the males, Frek, described by Callum as a "lovely and clever· chimp, who is adored by the females, "much to the annoyance of the current and former alphas, Liberius and Oafzeh".
Further on, I see young siblings Masindi and Velu playing noisily while mum Heleen relaxes.
"Chimps are socially complex primates. They can be best friends one day and enemies the next"
Budongo Trail Animal Team Leader Callum Gibson
RZSS supports chimpanzees in the Budongo Forest in Uganda through our work with the Budongo Conservation Field Station (BCFS).
Combining research and conservation to ensure sustainable management and use of the forest reserve, the BCFS team monitors the health of wild chimp populations and also works with local communities helping to
Masindi is the youngest chimp in Budongo Trail,born on 3 February 2020. Velu is her older brother. As Callum explains, the keepers here have had to adopt careful strategies to look after these two. "We started having issues with Velu, who was running off with his sister Masindi against her will. Velu was doing what many teenage chimpanzees do at this age: pushing his boundaries.
"This behaviour was becoming an issue and none of the chimps were scolding him for it. We stepped in when Masindi got hurt, and separated Heleen and Masindi into a group with Lianne and Sophie at the end of 2021."
Central to the community structure of chimpanzees in the wild is what's known as fission-fusion social organisation. Large groups of chimps
dissuade hunters from setting bush meat snares.
Ex-hunters and forest-edge communities are helped to start an alternative source of livelihood that is not dependant on forest resources, and in return act as conservation ambassadors.
Our chimpanzees are also part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP).
ABOVE:Lucy and Lianne
BELOW:Visitor entrance to the Budongo Trail building
come together for resting or feeding before splitting off into smaller subgroups throughout the day. When it came to reuniting the troop in April 2022, Callum and his team adopted a similar approach, while including some very strategic moves.
"The first stage of our fission-fusion strategy involved mixing all the chimps together again, minus Velu, Heleen and Masindi,"Callum explains.
"We created separate groups and made a rota detailing which chimps would be moving between them each week to get re-familiarised with other troop members. Reintroducing
chimps, even if they've been together for years, can be intimidating.
"I don't think we stuck to any of the plans we'd set out for each week! Chimps do what they want and their social politics can change quickly. Juggling their personalities, social dynamics and relationships made fission-fusion that bit trickier. That's why it was so important that we kept an eye on the chimps' behaviours so we could tweak our strategy when needed."
The next stage of Budongo Trail's fission-fusion strategy revolved around reuniting Heleen, Velu and Masindi.
"We reunited this family trio for the first time in November 2022," says Callum. "It was super nerve-racking at first because Velu would be throwing Masindi around playfully and you hoped he wouldn't get too rough with her. Thankfully, Heleen was there to watch over everyone enjoying themselves.
"I think this reintroduction was so successful due to the huge effort of the team and because Masindi had grown bigger and more confident. Velu is focusing more of his time on the troop's females, so his sister isn't as interesting to him. Plus, he's being kept in check more by Liberius and Oafzeh."
After a month of monitoring these family reunions, it was time for the final act of Budongo Trail's fissionfusion strategy: reuniting the entire gang. Callum and the team started bringing them together for short stints C)
to see how everyone got on. The success of these reconciliations led to all the chimps staying with each other overnight on 14 December: a huge milestone in this challenging journey.
"We saw positive behaviours from everyone. They just immediately clicked again. There was a day of intense grooming and interaction, which was so nice to see," says Callum.
At Pod Three I see this harmony first-hand as Lucy and Louis, Budongo Trail'soldest chimp, diligently groom one another while Masindi deftly swings around with a cheeky glint in her eye.
It's only during the calm of the past few months that Callum and the team have been able to reflect on their
successes. "The team's continued patience and observations helped us switch up plans week by week Things wouldn't have been as successful without their hard work," says Callum. "It'sbeen a huge achievement getting the chimps back together."
Warning - this section may be upsetting for some readers
Currently, Budongo Trail has a troop of 15 chimps - a number that'll hopefully expand in the near future as Heleen may be pregnant again. However, the countdown to the arrival of an infant will always be filled with both excitement and trepidation for Callum and his team as newborns are so vulnerable.
Lianne has never successfully reared a baby and, tragically, she experienced a stillbirth nearly two years ago as well as losing another little one earlier this year.
As Lianne sleeps soundly nearby, Callum talks me through the keepers' decision to allow Lianne to keep her stillborn baby with her before eventually removing it when the time was right.
"Wewanted to give her the opportunity to grieve her baby. However, this process went on for longer than was healthy, so we stepped in. We had to navigate this emotional situation sensitively, but it's also sparked
important conversation about this sad and unavoidable part of life."
As Lianne watched Heleen successfully rearing Velu and Masindi, and showed positive maternal behaviours, the Budongo Trailteam decided to give her a chance at having another baby. Very sadly, though, shortly after Lianne gave birth again in February, some fighting broke out in the troop and her newborn did not survive. She is being monitored closely to broaden understanding of how pregnancy affects chimps and for her own welfare.
"Lianne'swellbeing is our main concern and we're here to support her however we can," says Callum. "We'lluse the daily observations we've been gathering to make the decisions best for Lianne."
Learning from each other Budongo Trail also houses the Budongo Research Unit, which the RZSSruns in partnership with the :::J University of St Andrews. As part of w gi this cognitive research programme, j::;: the primates are presented with puzzle boxes, images and touchscreen games to study their intelligence, and to
provide an "enriching and enjoyable" part of the chimps' daily life.
For Callum, the lessons learned from Budongo Trail's fission-fusion strategy have added valuable insight into this research examining how chimpanzees think, learn and communicate in the world around them.
"The findings from both our cognitive research and fission-fusion techniques will be shared with researchers studying chimps in zoos and the wild," says Callum. "This pooled knowledge can be fed directly into ensuring we're providing the most stimulating enrichment activities and designing new enclosures that meet the chimps' needs. We're so lucky to have our partnership with the University of St Andrews."
Luckily,the end of my Budongo Trail tour coincides with the chimps' lunchtime, giving me a brief window into their social complexities. Some altruistically share food and make sure the older chimps have got their fill.Others snatch the best of the afternoon's offerings before settling on a prime snack spot. Those looking to sneak away with another's stash are swiftly reprimanded.
I'm reminded of an important lesson learned from time spent with my own loved ones around the dinner table: all's fair when it comes to family and food. Relationships, even with the ones we love most, are inevitably complicated!
"There was a day of intense grooming and interaction, which was so nice to see"
What's your earliest memory of Edinburgh Zoo?
I fell in love with the zoo when I visited as a child in the 1950s. In those days, Edinburgh had double-decker trams that I used to ride to the zoo. I'll never forget the thrill of riding on the zoo's then star attraction, Sally the Indian elephant. Each visit was always so exciting and my fascination with the place has never left me since.
When did you kickstart your career at the zoo?
I first applied in 1959 when I was 18, but I was told to wait a year as there weren't any vacancies. In 1960, I finally landed a role as a keeper in the antelope house. On my first day, I met my boss and animal collection manager, Mr Mack, who'd been working at Edinburgh Zoo for almost 40
years. As soon as he handed me my dust coat and instructed me to start cleaning the enclosure, I knew my RZSScareer was ready to begin.
How did your career develop in the early years?
A couple of years after joining the charity, the head keeper of the elephant section asked me about looking after Sally the elephant, who had arrived at the zoo in 1939. The elephant section consisted of two elephants alongside two giraffes, two pygmy hippos and eight camels. I knew I couldn't turn down the opportunity to work with such marvellous animals.
What was it like meeting Sally again - this time as a zoo employee?
I had to get to know Sally before joining
the elephant section. During our first meeting, I was advised to walk in front of the bars of Sally's enclosure so she could sniff me with her trunk to get accustomed to me. Later that day I was brushing the enclosure and before I knew it Sally had grabbed the brush from me and broke it in half! This happened another four times. But Sally came around to me eventually,
How did the relationship develop?
Sally was wonderful. When you entered her enclosure in the morning, she always gave you a gentle roar - which is a form of greeting for elephants. She was hugely intelligent and had many talents, including playing the mouth organ with her trunk. She was also extremely particular about her routine. You always had to wish her goodnight when bedding her down. One time I forgot, and Sally angrily bashed about. Safe to say I never made that mistake again!
What did a typical working day look like during the 1960s?
You had to wear smart riding britches, leather leggings, boots, a shirt and tie,
and a green uniform with an RZSS badge that had a gannet in the middle -the gannet was the first animal to be recorded in the care of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. You clocked in at 8am and worked until 7pm in the summer and 5pm in the winter. If somebody asked you to come in to help, you worked as long as it took to get the job done. There was no such thing as overtime!
Back then we had a lovely children's farm, near where the Magic Forest is today. I remember taking an orphaned baby camel to the farm to be cared for. I used to come in at night to make sure it always got its bottles of milk. You never minded working extra because you did it for the love of the animals.
You left Edinburgh Zoo in 1972 to work for Scottish Water, returning in 2006. What drew you back?
My son's girlfriend was working in the zoo and told me about a job at Rainbow Landings -an exhibit where visitors could interact with lorikeets and other exotic birds -and I was lucky enough to get it. When this closed in 2010, I went to work in the car park and the shop before joining the Hilltop Safari, which saw me shuttle visitors to the top of the park in a Land Rover with a trailer attached. After this service was decommissioned in 2013, I went on to drive the mobility vehicle as part of the visitor engagement team, which is where I stayed until this year.
What's been your favourite thing about working at Edinburgh Zoo?
I love talking to people. I've picked up a lot of knowledge about the zoo over the years and it's great to be able to pass on the inside scoop to visitors! It's also been so important telling people about the vital role that the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland plays in protecting animals around the world.
Tell us about some memorable characters you've encountered during your career at the zoo.
Gilbert Fisher -the director secretary of RZSSfrom 1956 to 1971 -used to walk his cheetah, Scrap, around the zoo. He would even take Scrap out on Corstorphine Road. Although on one trip, Scrap got a fright when a motorbike backfired and took off like a bullet! Another time, Mr Fisher had an idea to offer rides around the zoo on the Arabian camels. We put head collars on the camels and I tried to ride one of them, but quickly ended up on its neck. Unsurprisingly, we didn't go ahead with this plan! When I was a head keeper, Mr Fisher used to invite us for tea in the Mansion House library every Saturday morning. Work chat was strictly prohibited as he always wanted to hear about your life outside the zoo. He was a lovely man.
What are your favourite residents and parts of Edinburgh Zoo today? That's impossible to answer! I love the giraffes, they're such gentle giants. The sloths are brilliant too. Living Links is one of my favourite enclosures. Budongo Trail is also wonderful. Dr Jane Goodall said it was one of the best ape houses she'd ever seen when she visited in 2008exceedingly high praise from someone so respected.
What makes Edinburgh Zoo such a special place to work? Its atmosphere, its people and its animals. Everyone has always been so friendlyfrom my very first day back in 1960 to my last day on January 25 2023. We're like one big family. To quote Sir David Attenborough when he visited: "Edinburgh Zoo has shown not only what zoos can be, but also what they should be." There aren't many jobs out there as good as what I've had at Edinburgh Zoo!
What big plans have you got in store for your retirement?
I retired in January this year. I'm sad to leave RZSSand Edinburgh Zoo behind, but I'm 80 now and looking forward to my next chapter. In fact, I plan to write many chapters in my book detailing the stories, characters and incredible experiences that I've been lucky enough to have known throughout my career. No more spoilers, though, you'll just need to wait patiently for its
If you have fond memories of Edinburgh Zoo or Highland Wildlife Park, you might like to consider remembering RZSS in your Will. By pledging even 1%, you can help protect wildlife and ensure that people enjoy our parks for years to come.
More information is available online at rzss.org.uk/giftsinwillsor for a chat in confidence, please email supportus@rzss.org.uk or call us on 0131 314 0380.
11 /'ve picked up a lot of knowledge about the zoo over the years and it 1s great to be able to pass on the inside scoop to visitors 11
Edinburgh Zoo
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Visit our marquee to meet a host of crafters, artists, makers and creators selling their amazing work -with nature at the heart of it all! Support local producers and help create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved. Free with entry
To book: edinburghzoo.org.uk/springmarket
(part of Edinburgh Science Festival)
Edinburgh Zoo
1, 2, 15 & 16 April 9.00am-11.00am
Join our zoo rangers for an exclusive pre-opening tour and learn all about the latest research and discoveries going on at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. Breakfast will then be served in our restaurant followed by crafts and experiments for all the family to enjoy. Prices and more information online.
To book: edinburghzoo.org.uk/sciencefestival
Edinburgh Zoo
lltlf®ffl 10.00am-3.00pm ,
Full-day art workshop with natural
history artists Rebecca Jewell and Sandy Ross-Sykes.
Suitable for adults ..d.and teens. £5
To book: edinburghzoo.org.uk/ bestiaryworkshop
(part of Edinburgh Science Festival)
Edinburgh Zoo mmfl6.00pm-8.00pm
Discover the process of gin distillation with the chance to sample different tipples. Learn about the science behind our tasetebuds and hear from gin experts and our very own 'mixologist' from the RZSS WildGenes laboratory, who will inspire you with the latest conservation work ::Jwe are doing around the globe.
Adult: £38 (includes daytime zoo entry)
Adult member or patron: £26
5 To book: edinburghzoo.org.uk/sciencefestival
(part of Edinburgh Science Festival) tl:l:WJ 10.00am-2.00pm
Visit our pop-up hub to learn with University of St Andrews research experts about the evolutionary origins of curiosity, insight and innovation among the resident primates. Free with entry
To book: edinburghzoo.org.uk/sciencefestival
Edinburgh Zoo
1:INWJ 1.00pm-3.00pm
Enjoy a two-course roast dinner lunch served in the Mansion House over the Easter weekend.
Adult: £50 Adult member or patron: £35 Child: £33 Child member: £22
To book: edinburghzoo.org.uk/easterlunches
Edinburgh Zoo tAC;f;.fflflJ
Edinburgh Zoo
24 & 25 April, 2 & 3 May, 6 & 7 July, 3 & 4 August, 9 & 10 October
Back by popular demand, wildlife photographer Laurie Campbell returns with his Nature Photography Workshops.
Full price: £155 Member or patron: £140
To book: edinburghzoo.org.uk/photography
Edinburgh Zoo ma 11.00am-12.30pm
Celebrate the coronation with a morning of fun for the little ones. Let your tots take reign by dressing as kings, queens or something royally special, and enjoy an interactive performance with our children's entertainer, followed by craft activities.
Child: £20 Child member: £10
To book: edinburghzoo.org.uk/royalrugrats
Edinburgh Zoo ti•mw6.30pm-8.00pm
After a successful first year at the zoo, we're celebrating our prehistoric beasts with an event worth travelling back in time for! Join palaeontologist and evolutionary biologist Professor Steve Brusatte for an evening talk all about dinosaurs.
Full price ticket: £6 Member: £4
Edinburgh Zoo ma 3.00pm-5.00pm
Celebrate this historic day with an afternoon tea in the Mansion House.
Adult: £37 Adult member or patron: £25
Child: £27 Child member: £18
To book: edinburghzoo.org.uk/coronation
Edinburgh Zoo
Ell!lll9.00am-1.00pm
Perfect for budding photographers, this workshop is tailored for children aged 11-15 to develop their skills with expert wildlife photographer Laurie Campbell.
Child: £85 Child member: £78
To book: edinburghzoo.org.uk/ juniorphotography
We are proud to stock a wonderful range of sustainably produced soft toys, made using recycled plastic bottles. Every purchase helps to save wildlife and empower people in Scotland and around the world to protect, value and love nature
Ravensden Eco Mini Collection Koala, Meerkat, Squirrel Monkey, Red Panda, Rhino, Giant Panda, Ring-Tailed Lemur, Lion, Flamingo, Otter, Penguin Chick 14cm, £10 each
Keeleco Emperor Penguin 25cm, £15
Keeleco Huggy Giraffe range: Blanket, 32cm, £8.50
Soft toy, 17cm, £7.50
Ring Rattle, 14cm, £8.50 EG
AVAILABILITY
E Edinburgh Zoo shop
Highland Wildlife Park shop
G Online shop
We sell a range of products featuring Anthony's stunning pencil drawings of animals from Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park
Artist Anthony Wyatt has been working with RZSSsince 2005, initially drawing animals at Edinburgh Zoo, including our first koalas, and later on visiting Highland Wildlife Park to document the animals there too.
Mluse a camera and take multiple photographs to capture the character and the essence of the animal I'm working with, ff says Anthony. "I want my drawings to be very easy for visitors to relate to. Each one should be individually recognisable by a keeper somewhere. ff
Anthony travels up from his home in Wales at least once a year to meet RZSS animals and take photographs that he later translates into his highly detailed
pencil drawings. These are then made into prints, cards, keyrings and magnets. A lot of work goes into the drawings. It took two years for Anthony to be able to capture the essence of a sun bear, for example. ulfyou get it right, you just know it works, ff he says. uvou need to get the right angle and the right expression -not cute, but real, in a way people can relate to."
Other animals Anthony has drawn include pandas Yang Guang and Tian Tian, chimpanzee Masindi, wildcats, Arctic foxes, and polar bears Walker and Arktos at Highland Wildlife Park.
"I've had some fantastic times with the animals," he says. urm very lucky. ff
Go behind the scenes in your zoos. Get closer to the animals you love and help to protect them in the wild.
Enjoy a closer relationship with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland through a series of special events and behind the scenes experiences.
Find out more at rzss.org.uk/patrons or call 0131 314 0380
"Nature is so important and, if we're not careful, we're going to lose so much of it. Being a patron is our way of giving a helping hand to protecting the natural world and wildlife"
STEPHEN AND ELAINE RZSS PATRONS
Car retailer Arnold Clark has been supporting us since May 2016. It provides a vehicle for Beyond the Panda, an educational programme where pupils investigate and discover more about China, its culture, language, geography, giant pandas and other wildlife. The project is delivered by Sandie Robb, RZSS project coordinator for languages.
Thanks to Arnold Clark's support, this project can be delivered to schools across Scotland, including the islands, and the north of England, engaging around 5,000 children and adults each year. The vehicle is branded with the Arnold Clark logo and an image of our panda so it can be easily spotted when out on the road.
Apex Hotels came on board as a supporter towards the end of last year. They are interested in the RZSSWildGenes project to protect the critically endangered Siamese crocodile, as well as Saving Wildcats and Budongo Conservation Field Station.
These projects are particularly important to them as they link with animal mascots in each of their Edinburgh hotels. With lots of guests staying at Apex Hotels throughout the year, we are grateful for the opportunity to tell visitors to Edinburgh about vital conservation work being carried out by our charity and supported by the business community.
Your Cat Good Causes announced their support of Saving Wildcats at the start of the year with a wonderful article in the February edition of Your Cat magazine all about the project.
Independent UK law firm Burges Salmon joined our corporate partnership programme in November last year, having sponsored a Giraffe About Town sculpture in the summer.
As a silver corporate partner, Burges Salmon enjoys a range of benefits, including corporate volunteering days. A group of around 15 employees from the company spent a day in the zoo last summer, helping with bird of prey training, clearing the wallaby walkthrough and getting to know more about the zoo.
Corporate partners are an important and loyal group of RZSSsupporters, working together to protect nature.
They are the sole sponsors of Embo, one of the male wildcats in the conservation breeding for release centre, helping to bring wildcats in Scotland back from the brink of extinction. Embo has been paired with Torr and they had a litter of two kittens this breeding season.
Your Cat will be keeping their readers up to date on Embo and the other cats in the project through regular articles.
Above:
Giant anteater using its tail as a shade
Below: Sara the giant armadillo
Bottom: Jess (centre), Helen and the ICAS Atlantic Forest team
At RZSSwe have been supporting the conservation projects run by the Wild Animal Conservation Institute (ICAS) in Brazil since July 2010. In November 2022, I had the dream-come-true opportunity to see their work in the wild by going on a trip to Brazil with RZSSconservation programme manager Dr Helen Taylor.
Our time was split between three field sites: the Atlantic Forest, the Pantanal and the Cerrado, where we tracked giant anteaters with the ICAS Giant Anteaters & Highways team.
Anteaters are crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk) so we were tracking in the evening. As the sky changed from vivid orange to yellow, purple and blue, I suddenly realised we were surrounded by giant anteaters. The location was one of the last decent areas of habitat among a mosaic of soy and eucalpytus plantations. I'd expected to see one or two of them, but I was shocked by how many we saw!
The Giant Anteaters & Highways project is the most incredible initiative because ICAS is looking at the problem from a community perspective - making the highway safer for people and for wildlife. The work they're doing is
very important and it was one of the best examples I've ever seen of a conservation project integrating itself with the people around it.
Elsewhere on the trip, we got to see the original ICAS field site in the Pantanal, where founder Dr Arnaud Desbiez's work with giant armadillos first started. At that point it was just Arnaud and a stack of camera traps, finding out about a species that was previously very little understood because they spend most of their time in burrows underground.
We were hoping to trap an individual called Sara in order to attach a GPS tracker to the carapace of her shell and learn more about her lifestyle. It was far from a given that she would enter the trap. Fortunately, we only had to wait about two hours before the trap pinged and I had the opportunity to see her.
Giant armadillos are the most amazing-looking animals; I've never seen anything similar. Even the smaller armadillo species don't prepare you for how bizarre they look and how beautiful at the same time although they do smell like wild pigs!
Sara was also huge, more than double the size of the large hairy armadillos at the zoo. She was incredibly calm - she just looked around, took in what was going on and decided it wasn't worth worrying about.
Both these experiences were amazing, as was the whole trip. It was lovely to see how hard Arnaud and his team had been able to work, thanks to nearly 13 years of partnership with RZSS.
1
'Asthe sky changed from orange to yellow, purple and blue, I suddenlyrealisedwe were surroundedby giant anteaters" JessWise
