Fruits in the City and Streetwork have fresh ideas this year

Vulnerable people throughout Edinburgh have been given a fresh start  this year thanks to a collaboration between a Leith-based workplace fruit delivery company and a local charity.

“Fruits in the City have been providing our crisis service on Holyrood Road with leftover fruit on a weekly basis,” said Jackie Brown, Fundraising and Relationship Manager, from the charity Streetwork UK.

The Edinburgh-based charity offers immediate crisis support for homeless people while encouraging them to make use of a range of support services with the ultimate goal of achieving life off the streets. Jackie continued:- “Jamie Henderson of Fruits in the City approached us to offer his company’s support – a clear demonstration of his generosity, his forward thinking and his interest in the wider scope of activities taking place in Edinburgh. He is also one of the cheeriest people I’ve ever worked with which is a real plus!”

Fruits in the City supply a tempting selection of fresh and healthy fruit boxes and baskets to Edinburgh and Glasgow’s office workforce. The company has exacting standards when it comes to the quality, size and appearance of the fruit that is delivered to customers. It also has a commitment to continuously improving its environmental credentials. By donating fruit to charity, Fruits in the City achieve two objectives; the company helps to directly benefit the local people who use the Streetwork facility and also minimises the wastage of fruit that – save the odd blemish or being a little smaller than average – is otherwise perfect.

Jamie Henderson, founder of Fruits in the City, explains, “The fruit that we donate is perfectly edible, it just hasn’t met our company’s strict quality control standards. Our donations could include undersized bananas, for example, or fruit that may ripen too quickly.” And Streetwork’s Jackie Brown is quick to agree, “The fruit that we receive is fantastic quality and provides a healthy and nutritious addition to our service users’ diets.”

Streetwork is not the only local charity to benefit from such donations. Jamie has come up with a novel solution to ensure that as little as possible goes to landfill each week. And the animals and exotic birds at Edinburgh Zoo are certainly not complaining!

“It’s vitally important that zoo animals receive a species-appropriate diet,” says Darren McGarry, Animal Collection Manager at Edinburgh Zoo. “Fresh fruit forms an important part of the diet – both in terms of taste and nutritionally – for lots of different creatures from Bali starlings to Buff-cheeked gibbons. And the regular donations that we receive from Fruits in the City provide a welcome addition to our food stores and help supplement the animals’ regular diet of vegetables and seeds.”

More tickets for pandas on sale now

Edinburgh Zoo has now released giant panda viewing tickets for sale up to 18 March 2012.

Over 70,000 people have seen Tian Tian (Sweetie) and Yang Guang (Sunshine) since they went on public display just before Christmas, with Edinburgh Zoo seeing almost a 200% increase in visitor numbers compared with the same period 12 months earlier.  On average this is a three to four times increase in people through the door, however over the Christmas period some days saw an amazing surge of almost eight times the figures.

Almost a staggering 9,000 cuddly toy pandas ranging from £3 to £40 have been bought by visitors as mementos of their visit over the last seven weeks. That’s over 1,000 cuddly toys per week!

Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Zoo, said:

“We’re delighted to announce that tickets to see our giant pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang have now gone on sale until the 18^th March.  Advance bookings have started flooding in already.  We’ve been fully booked almost every day so far and expect the popularity of Tian Tian and Yang Guang to continue.

“Visitors’ faces have been amazing, both young and old.  For the vast majority of people this is the first chance they’ve had in their lifetime to cast their eyes on a giant panda.  As well as being incredibly endangered and rarely seen outside China, they are an extremely cute and anthropomorphic animal.  People are often amazed to see for themselves that pandas are quite happy to make eye contact and our visitors can learn lots of interesting facts from our panda patrols – like pandas eat a third of their body weight in food every day and the male pandas do their own version of a hand stand to scent mark their territory.  It’s all very exciting stuff and the RZSS is honoured to be able to bring and share giant pandas with the people of Scotland, the UK and beyond.”

A great way to spend the mid-term holidays, book panda tickets now online at www.edinburghzoo.org.uk to avoid disappointment.

Pandas v Penguins at Edinburgh Zoo

In the battle of the black and whites, things are likely to heat up again at Edinburgh Zoo as the top five most adopted animals has been announced.

 

Penguins have reigned supreme for many years, with kings in first place, gentoos in second and rock hoppers in third.  However rankings have been given a shake up with the arrival of Tian Tian and Yang Guang, two giant pandas who arrived at Edinburgh Zoo at the end of last year.

 

Yes, the giant pandas have upstaged the penguins once more and are settling in nicely to the top spot.  Now the most popular animals for adoption across the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, panda adoptions make up 16% of all adoptions.  The leader board breaks down as follows:

 

1. Giant pandas

2. King penguins

3. Gentoo penguins

4. Rock hopper penguins

5. Walker the polar bear at the Highland Wildlife Park

 

Tracy Hope, Assistant Development Manager of Membership and Animal Adoption at Edinburgh Zoo, said:

 

“We’ve had an outstanding number of people adopt our pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang since they arrived at Edinburgh Zoo late last year.  Due to their incredible popularity it’s not a surprise how quickly they became the new ‘favourites’ for adoption.  Our king penguins had actually been top of the animal adoption list for the last seven years, but being very regal poised birds they seem to be taking the news very well.”

 

Animal adopters at Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park can choose from over 100 species across the collection to adopt.  They don’t get to take their adopted animal home, but get a range of benefits depending on the level of package chosen.  Adoption packages start from £40.  Please visit www.edinburghzoo.org.uk for further information.

The Reporter predicted this would happen of course in our December video…

Zoo launches Panda Tartan

Edinburgh Zoo have launched their new tartan today, and as you might expect it is largely black and white.

Auspicious timings, to tie in with Burns Night and the Chinese New Year, Edinburgh Zoo have unveiled the exclusive fine wool worsted Edinburgh Zoo Panda Tartan fabric to commemorate the arrival of Tian Tian and Yang Guang to their new home in Scotland.

The unique tartan was commissioned by Edinburgh Zoo with Kinloch Anderson, an Edinburgh based family company renowned for their kits, tartan and highland dress since 1868.  The tartan has been approved by the Scottish Registrar of Tartans – emphasising the huge cultural significance of the pandas to Scotland.

Deirdre Kinloch Anderson, Senior Director of Kinloch Anderson, said:

“Tartan is one of Scotland’s greatest icons.  Careful attention was given to create a tartan with a meaningful background, with relevance both to the Zoo and also to China – and importantly a tartan that people find attractive.  In 1909 the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland was founded by the Edinburgh Lawyer Thomas Gillespie, so the sett is based on the Gillespie tartan.  Clearly the tartan was to be black and white, but also with some grey to soften it, just as there is some grey in the Pandas’ fur.  The green line is for the Pandas’ favourite food of bamboo.  There are three fine red lines to represent China.  Number 3 is China’s lucky number and also the red lines are in the heart of the design to indicate that the Pandas are in the hearts and minds of the Scottish and Chinese people.

“We hope that this tartan will “Fly the flag for Scotland” and that tartan merchandise will leave the Zoo gift shop for homes not only in Scotland but all over the world.”

Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive for Edinburgh Zoo, said:

“We’re delighted with the panda tartan designed for us by Kinloch Anderson.  This significant and highly exciting project symbolically demonstrates the coming together of Scotland and China’s heritage and culture – making it the perfect way to commemorate the gift of two giant pandas that China bestowed upon Scotland.  It’s unveiling on the overlap of two separate culturally significant days for both China and Scotland feels very appropriate and auspicious timing.”

Kirsty Franey, Tartan Designer at Kinloch Anderson, said:

“It has been a great pleasure to work with the Edinburgh Zoo on such a culturally significant project and I am very proud to be able to celebrate and showcase the arrival of the Pandas with the exclusive Edinburgh Zoo Panda Tartan.”

The panda tartan was showcased for photographers at Edinburgh Zoo’s panda enclosure, where the tartan’s designer Kirsty Franey from Kinloch Anderson modelled a tartan mini created from the exclusive panda tartan.

The panda tartan will also be showcased to the patrons of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland at a private Burns Supper tonight.

From early April a fine range or Edinburgh Zoo panda tartan merchandise, including silk scarves, leather goods, ties, cufflinks, and hipflasks, will be available at Edinburgh Zoo’s gift shop and online shop www.store.rzss.org.uk

 

Photos : Jon-Paul Orsi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sealion moves out of Edinburgh Zoo

Sofus, the sea lion at Edinburgh Zoo, is moving out, and the sealion enclosure will become home to penguins instead.

Darren McGarry, Head of Animals at Edinburgh Zoo, said:

 

“It is with a mixture of emotions that we’d like to announce that Sofus, the six year old Patagonian sea lion currently living at Edinburgh Zoo, will move to Lodz Zoo in Poland at the beginning of February.

 

“Miranda our female sea lion passed away a couple of months ago, so we’re delighted to be able to have found him a new home with two other females of breeding age, Kasia and Dolly.  He will be much happier with companions and will hopefully father pups in the future.

 

“Our existing sea lion enclosure is also a very old construction that has come to the end of its lifespan.  To create a modern facility is estimated to cost in the region of £1 million.

 

“The old enclosure is now all set to be transformed into a new home for our existing colony of Northern Rockhopper penguins.  Our 19 birds will shortly be joined by 11 new birds from Vienna which will provide an influx of differing genetics.

 

“Facing a risk of extinction in the wild, we’re hoping new additions to the Rockhopper colony, and a new enclosure tailored to their needs, will be the boost our Northern Rockhoppers need to start breeding successfully.”

What now for the pandas?

 

The two black and white bears living in Corstorphine are set to become the new stars and main attractions at Edinburgh Zoo when they are viewed by the public for the first time from today.

[caption id="attachment_24710" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Tian Tian"][/caption]

The Giant Pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang, have been loaned to Edinburgh Zoo by China for a period of ten years. They arrived in Scotland on 4 December 2011 amid a great flurry of excitement, and many hopes expressed by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland that there will be baby pandas born here before too long. The two were born in China in 2003 and since pandas are only expected to live to an average age of about 19, although RZSS tell us one has lived to 26, they are middle-aged, but apparently just about the right age for breeding.

They have now been placed in their respective dens, which are connected by a grille through which they can see each other, although we were told on Monday when we went along to see them, that Pandas actually don’t have great eyesight, so perhaps they rely on smelling each other. They are being housed behind bullet proof glass, making it difficult for the public to get any sense of what they might smell like, which is perhaps just as well. It also made it a little challenging to get any good photographs particularly in the bright winter sunshine. We had hoped perhaps for a viewing platform or somewhere without glass to allow for better quality shots, but we were restricted by the glass.

The animals appeared to have settled in well according to the Zoo staff we spoke to during our visit on Monday of this week. But The Reporter had mixed feelings on meeting the two animals for the first time. On the one hand there is all the promise of research and conservation, and even release back to the wild, but on the other is the actual sight of two large animals who ought to be living a solitary nomadic existence in the mountains of China, confined to a grassy slope in Edinburgh with bamboo thrown in now and again to keep them happy.

 

 

There is no easy solution to saving a species, and the arguments both for and against zoos are well-rehearsed, but  having been in his den for only a week, The Reporter put it to the Head of Animals that Yang Guang was already demonstrating the behaviour that one has come to expect of captive animals.

 

Here is our interview with one of the new panda tour guides, Christine Colquhoun, and also the Head of Animals, Darren McGarry:-

[caption id="attachment_24725" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Tian Tian"][/caption]

Tian Tian was a bit more timid, but came out to walk around her den and also to look through the grille for a while. They are rather smaller than we expected them to be, although one look at those claws tells you these animals are not to be meddled with.

We are told that Pandas mate in spring and give birth in autumn after a short gestation period of only five months, although the fact that there is only a small window of time (about 4 days)  during which they can mate successfully, probably leads to high odds against that happening this year.

If you wish to go and see the Pandas you have to book a time slot, and bookings have been fast and furious.

[caption id="attachment_24726" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Yang Guang"][/caption]

 

The Zoo has explained the history of how we came to have the pandas here:-

“In May 2008, RZSS signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Wolong Panda Breeding Centre in Sichuan Province regarding the loan of a pair of giant pandas to the UK.

In February 2009 the UK Prime Minister formally requested the Chinese Prime Minister for the loan of a pair of giant pandas. This was subsequently approved by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In May 2010 representatives of RZSS met with officials from the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) in Beijing to negotiate the details of the giant panda loan agreement.

In January 2011 an agreement is reached with the CWCA on all aspects of the ten year gifting agreement in the presence of deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang.

A key element of the agreement is the contribution that the RZSS and other UK-based institutions will make to conservation research, which is urgently required to secure the future of Giant Pandas, both in captivity and in the wild.”

 

Pandas meet the press

The Reporter meets the Pandas…

 

 

[caption id="attachment_24235" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Yang Guang is the braver of the two according to his keeper"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_24233" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Tian Tian exploring her den"][/caption]

 

Panda Patrol ready for the first visitors

 

The wait is almost over, as Edinburgh Zoo’s giant pandas prepare for their highly anticipated public debut next Friday.

With less than a week to go until panda fans can visit Tian Tian (‘Sweetie’) and Yang Guang (‘Sunshine’), Edinburgh Zoo is making final preparations to ensure the visitor experience is world-class.

To meet the excited crowds, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has recruited The Panda Patrol – a troupe of 14 trained helpers who will guide visitors through the exhibit, having spent weeks swotting up on panda facts, behaviour and biology.

 

More from Deadline News..

Pandas settle in at Edinburgh Zoo

So the two newest residents have arrived at Edinburgh Zoo. What better way to tell you how they are after their long flight than to show you these lovely photos of Yang Guang settling in?

 

 

Photos – Rob McDougall

Pandamonium – Panda Express to fly the bears to Edinburgh

The pandas are being delivered to Edinburgh Zoo on Sunday in a specially liveried plane…..here it is…

 

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