European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 7, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse So o t la n d the zoo at Edinburgh Scotland in t the Only one to offer a Parade of penguins. Here a keeper in Munich Germany takes his charges fora stroll. By Graham Heathcote the associated press. Edinburgh zoo is so popular that humans get married there. \. A. A a. A zoo that attracts weddings cuts across the modern image of a zoo As a rather pathetic place where lonely. Animals mope in cages. Quot it s a distinctive sort of thing to say you were married at the zoo says Andrew Blair manager of human catering which earned a respectable 700,000 pounds $1.11 million for Edinburgh zoo in 1992. Twenty six couples said their vows at the zoo last year up from 24 in 1992. The Bride or Groom has to be a member of the Royal zoological society of Scotland which runs the zoo. The service is held in the members Coffee lounge usually by the local minister of the Church of Scotland the National presbyterian Church. A. A one Bride had worked with penguins in the Antarctic so we made her a wedding cake topped with Model penguins Quot Blair says. A Edinburgh zoo now gets 500,000 visitors a year and is mentioned in every guide to the scottish capital As a place to see. A. A a a a a director Roger Wheater attributes its popularity a it attracts 50,000 schoolchildren a year to its constant propaganda for the values of conservation and its efforts to teach biology and the environment. Quot we give formally structured lessons not just a Day. Out at the zoo a and try to develop an understanding of nature and of animals being put at risk Quot the director says. The zoo has lots of Trees and spreads Over 80 acres on the Southern slope of Corstorphine Hill three mites from the top of princes Street. Having to push hand Carfi Uphill makes hard work for the keepers but the slope gives the zoo a splendid location with memorable views toward the City and the Pentland Hills. Opened in 1913, the zoo was designed by Thomas Gillespie who was inspired by the natural enclosures of ditches and Moats created by Carl Hagenbeck for the. Hamburg zoo in Germany. The first King penguins were installed that year the gift of a whaling company and the first seen outside their Antarctic Home. They produced the first Chick in Captivity. In 1919. The zoo s penguins number 180 and it takes none from tire wild Breeding All its four types Kings Gentoo a on Rock hoppers and macaronis. A the penguins Success probably has something to do with the Northern climate and if you have a Large number of any animal they always do better Quot says Miranda it Stevenson the zoo s curator of animals. The zoo s daily Delight is the Penguin Parade when Birds Waddle out to make a circuit through the crowds looking weddings Aren t the Only festivity at the Edinburgh zoo. Here norwegian soldiers stand at attention for King Penguin Nils lavas the Bird becomes a new regimental sergeant major of the King s guard. The regiment first sponsored one of the zoo s penguins in 1961 while taking part of the military Tattoo annual display. Into children s faces and peering into shopping bags. The. Parade started about 40 years ago by Accident when a. Keeper left a door open. Quot the Birds seem to like it so we have let the Parade carry on. But Zofih chimpanzees Tea party and came and elephant rides years ago Quot says zoo director Roger Wheater. ,. A Wheater 59, spent 16 years until 1972 in Uganda As chief Warden of Murchison Falls National Park and director of All the country s National Parks. Quot i had tons in the spare bedroom rhinos in the Garden a Serva cat Buffalo and a puff adder called Prunella. In Edinburgh i be got just a Black Labrador very old at 14,&Quot he says. A. A / a zoos used to be a kind collection one of every animal and directors competing fiercely to have the most species and the rare ones. They did t give much thought to How different kinds of animals could be prevented from dying out Quot the director says. / a now they have to be concerned with a new strategy. Sociable animals need the company of others of the same species so we have and halved the number of species we used to keep. We have improved accommodation for the animals and these changes have led to a dramatic increase in Breeding . Edinburgh s Breeding successes besides the penguins. Include gorillas rare monkeys siberian tigers,.the very rare Waltrapp ibis which just survives in Turkey and Morocco and snakes and Poison Arrow frogs of Central and South. America. The scimitar horned Oryx which disappeared from its native Tunisia in 1906, was reintroduced in 1985 from Stock bred in Edinburgh and two other British zoos. Edinburgh zoo Cost 2.8 million pounds $4.5 million to run this year. It receives Only 100,000 pounds $ 159,000 from taxpayers in Grants from two local government authorities. Ticket sales at 1.2 million pounds $1.9 Millionth subscriptions of 12,967 zoological society members catering donations leases and rents boost income to 3 million pounds $4.8 million. The 125-member staff is helped by 100 volunteers among them a local sub Aqua. Dub who scrub algae from the Penguin Pool. Zoo membership is open to All including foreigners. Rates Are 21.50 pounds Aboul $34 1or single members 35 pounds $56 Tor joint 7 pounds $11 for children and 107.50 pounds $.171 Lor corporate membership. For More in or mation while membership department Edinburgh zoo Edinburgh Scotland. July 7, 1994 str Pes Magaz be
