NEWS

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is a partner in a number of conservation projects around Scotland, one of which is the Cairngorms Wildcat Project. This project is working to secure the future of the Scottish wildcat through practical conservation; raise awareness of the plight of this iconic species and promote public support of its conservation. As part of this partnership, the Society will be placing camera traps around the Cairngorms National Park in the hope of catching a glimpse of this rare, native mammal.

The staff here are currently testing the new camera traps to make sure they work and to get to grips with the technology. Over the last weeks, the cameras were placed around the Park to catch what wild creatures wander around after the gates close. One morning, while going through the footage, staff were surprised to get a picture of what looks very much like a wildcat. They are a difficult species to identify (looking very much like a tabby cat), but the one in the image has the striped tail and the size is right. Fingers crossed that the success will continue when the camera traps go out into the wider world.

POLAR WINTER
"Mercedes" the polar bear is now well settled in her huge new 4 acre enclosure and seems to be enjoying all the new sights and sounds, particularly the snow (photos courtesy of Andrew Smith). She moved from Edinburgh Zoo to the Highland Wildlife Park, arriving here on the 19th of October.

After a massive fundraising campaign and the help of the Royal Engineers who constructed a fantastic viewing platform, having already dug out a huge pond earlier in the summer, her enclosure is one of the largest in the world for polar bear. We hope that she will thrive in her new home. For more on Mercedes, please click here.

GREAT VALUE OFFERS
Why not buy a season ticket which lets you visit the Park and Mercedes every day of the year for just £20 (adults) or £12 (children)? Valid for a year from date of purchase, simply fill in the application form at the gate on your next visit.

Scotrail Kids go Free Ticket
Up to two children aged between five and 15 can travel free with each adult who purchases a Kids Go Free ticket on any route within Scotland. Show your Kids Go Free ticket at the Highland Wildlife Park or Edinburgh Zoo and get a free child place with each full paying adult.

OTHER ANIMAL NEWS
Sadly our female European otter had to be put to sleep at the end of January. She was very old and had been suffering from ill-health for a few weeks. Her enclosure is temporarily being used to hold a young male beaver, prior to his transfer.

Our three tiger cubs born on the 11th of May 2009 are now very active and have grown! We have one male, Vladimir, and two females, Natalia and Dominika. We currently have talks at the tigers at 2.15pm.

The wolf enclosure has been extended down the hill and the Bactrian camels arrived from Edinburgh Zoo in the summer and are now on show in the Entrance Reserve.

Beaver Reintroduction
On Friday the 29th of May, the first beavers for 400 years were released into the wild in Knapdale, Argyll. This project is a partnership project between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and host partner, the Forestry Commission Scotland. We are very excited to be involved in this landmark project and also now have two new beavers at the Park. Read more here.

Win a Family Membership to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland!
We hope that you enjoy a great day out at Highland Wildlife Park, and we would love to hear from you after your visit. Please complete our online Visitor Survey here and you and your family could be visiting Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park every day of the year! The survey will take just 5 minutes of your time and will ensure that we continue to provide a first-class visitor experience.

Beaver photograph courtesy of Arron & Kirsty Barnes ©