Edinburgh Zoo P…p..p..p..picks up £100,000

The People’s Postcode Lottery handed over £100,000 to Edinburgh Zoo this week to the penguins. Instead of champagne the inhabitants of Penguins Rock celebrated with a bubble machine.

Awarded to the conservation charity the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), who own and manage Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park, the monies will go towards the organisation’s charitable remit.

This funding, players of People’s Postcode Lottery will help the Society take care of the animals at Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park and enhance the visitor experience, such as the creation of a new meerkat enclosure, new entrance plaza and then later a brand new discovery centre. The support will also help fund vital conservation and research projects both in Scotland and around the world. Currently with 29 projects around the globe that specialise in endangered species and genetic study, these include ground breaking giant panda research, exploratory work in Brazil surrounding the little known giant armadillo and closer to home the vital conservation of the Scottish wildcat.

Chris West, CEO of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said:-“As a conservation charity we receive no government funding, instead relying on donations and visitors to our two zoological parks. This support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery is greatly appreciated. The funding will help RZSS to maintain both Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park and help our crucial conservation projects at home and abroad. The role of a 21^st century zoo is vital now more than ever in terms of conservation, education and research and these funds will go a long way towards helping RZSS make a difference.”

Trusts Manager at People’s Postcode Lottery, Hazel Johnstone, said:-“On behalf of players of People’s Postcode Lottery, I would like to say how delighted we are to develop this new relationship between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. We’ve enjoyed being here today at Penguins Rock, celebrating on behalf of our players with the gentoo, rockhopper and king penguins at Edinburgh Zoo and look forward to seeing the benefits to this well-loved historic Scottish institution.”

Colin Oulton, Team Leader for Birds at Edinburgh Zoo, said:-“Our penguins are hugely inquisitive and playful, so they were delighted to step up and accept this cheque from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. They loved the giant cheque, but for very different reasons to us! As celebrations are usually synonymous with champagne, we thought it would be fun to introduce bubbles of a different variety that were more suitable for our birds. The penguins at Penguins Rock love bubbles and it is a great form of enrichment for them, so they took great delight in chasing and popping them with their beaks.”