Edinburgh Zoo - Future Developments

Future Developments

In 2003, Edinburgh Zoo announced an ambitious, GBP 58 million expansion and development plan that is to take place over the next ten to twenty years. This "Masterplan" will see the Zoo separated into four themed areas based on biomes.

• Grasslands - An area based on North Asian, African and South American grasslands, savannah and open plains habitats. A recreation of a Nepalese village, an African waterhole and a walk-through safari are planned to be part of the area. The Zoo plans to include giraffes, cheetahs, hornbills, antelope and ostriches in this biome, which will join the zebras and rhinos that the Zoo already has.

• Woodlands - Based on Asian, South American and Australian woodlands, as well as mountainous forest habitats. Along with the lions, bears and tigers that the Zoo already has, planned exhibits for this area are birds of prey, kangaroos, wombats, elephants, wolves and wallabies.

• Oceans and Wetlands - Based around Arctic, Antarctic, North and South American, Pacific, tropical wetland and coastal habitats. Animals planned for this area include penguins, sea lions and flamingos (which are already part of the zoo's collection), along with polar bears, sea otters, manatees and capybara.

• Tropical rainforest - Based around South American, Asian and African rainforests and swamp forests. Planned exhibits include tapirs, jaguars, pygmy hippos, bongo and chimpanzees (all of which already live at the Zoo), as well as orangutans, gibbons and gorillas.