Edinburgh Zoo
(Scottish National Zoological Park)

Penguin Colony, Edinburgh Zoo.
©2011 Gazetteer for Scotland

Situated 3 miles (5 km) west of the centre of Edinburgh, on Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh Zoo is owned by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. The Society, a charitable organisation committed to the conservation of threatened wildlife world-wide, was founded in 1909.

At 32.4 ha (80 acres) in size, with more than 1600 animals, 120 staff and almost 500,000 visitors per annum, it is Scotland's largest and most popular wildlife attraction. Edinburgh Zoo was one of the first in Britain to display animals in their natural surroundings and was completed in 1927, to the design of Sir Patrick Geddes (1854 - 1932).

The zoo includes the world's largest penguin pool. The notable penguin colony was established by Edward Salvesen (1857 - 1942), who imported the birds from Antarctica using his family's whaling ships and became the first President of the society.

Most of the animals are involved in successful managed breeding programmes, in collaboration with other zoo and conservation agencies world-wide. The zoo also supports programmes of environmental education and scientific research.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland also owns the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig, near Aviemore, which houses various Scottish animals, some of which are extinct in the wild.

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