Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

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The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is a zoological society based in Edinburgh , Scotland . It was founded in 1909 by attorney Thomas Haining Gillespie. She has been running Edinburgh Zoo since 1913 and acquired the Highland Wildlife Park in 1986 . Barbara Smith has been Executive Director of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland since October 2016 .

tasks

The tasks of the company were laid down in the founding charter. In addition to promoting animal protection through the preservation of threatened species and habitats , the main task of the association is to promote education in the areas of zoology , animal physiology , pathology and related topics. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland supports education, research and conservation projects in the UK and around the world. To this end, the company sets up age-appropriate educational programs and organizes summer academies and photo tours.

history

When the society was founded , nature lover Gillespie raised funds to set up a zoo near Edinburgh to give the public the opportunity to observe and study animals that are usually wild and exotic. In 1913, with the help of the Edinburgh City Council, an area of ​​around 34 hectares in the west was bought and opened to the public as a zoo on July 22, 1913. The zoological garden, which today comprises around 1000 animals, was given in 1948 after the visit of King George VI . Royal Zoo is the only zoo in the UK . In 1986 the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland acquired the Highland Wildlife Park in Kincraig. Today, 200 animals are kept in this Wildlife Park, which are threatened with extinction and are native to the mountains and the tundra . In addition, the wildlife park is home to native Scottish pets and wild animals.

Today's tasks and main research areas

Scottish wildcat in the RZSS Highland Wildlife Park

The two facilities now play an important role in the conservation of threatened animal species. To this end, the company takes part in international animal welfare projects around the world. Today, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland focuses on the protection of donkey , king and rock penguins on the Falkland Islands and Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic and also cooperates with other zoological gardens, including the Wuppertal Zoo .

In addition, the society is dedicated to protecting native species such as the Scottish wildcat and has worked with the Scottish Wildlife Trust to reintroduce the European beaver to Scotland. 2007/08 RZSS led a campaign of extermination against rats on the island of Canna through to the local forest mouse to protect -Population.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland publishes its research results and its activity report in a yearbook it publishes.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland celebrates 100 years. In: Wild Scotland. 2009, accessed March 7, 2017 .
  2. ↑ RZSS appoints new CEO. In: RZSS. Retrieved March 7, 2017 .
  3. ↑ RZSS Education. In: RZSS. Retrieved March 7, 2017 .
  4. ↑ Wellies, wildlife and wonderful soup on the menu at Aultmore Park. Retrieved March 7, 2017 .
  5. ↑ Our history. In: RZSS. Retrieved March 7, 2017 .
  6. ↑ RZSS Highland Wildlife Park. Retrieved March 7, 2017 .
  7. ^ Wuppertal Zoo: Wuppertal Zoo: Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. Retrieved March 7, 2017 .
  8. ↑ Caroline Davies: Hopes for saving Scottish wildcat rest on captive breeding plan. In: The Guardian . December 25, 2016, accessed March 7, 2017 .
  9. ^ Severin Carrell: Scottish island wins battle against predatory rats. In: The Guardian. June 6, 2008, accessed March 7, 2017 .

literature

  • Thomas Haining Gillespie: The Story of the Edinburgh Zoo: The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and the Scottish National Zoological Park, an Account of Their Origin and Progress , Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (ed.), M. Slains, 1964, 123 pp .

Web links