Five Sisters Zoo

I haven't been to a zoo since I was in primary school - I don't like to see animals in cages - but the Five Sisters Zoo near Livingston is a bit different. They take on animals rejected or maltreated elsewhere - exotic pets whose owner can no longer look after them, a lynx with a dodgy ear, and most ambitiously, dancing bears from a European circus - and give them a place where their quality of life will be improved.

Fennec Foxes:


Thus it was a tragedy when a fire at the zoo in the early hours of 14 April destroyed the reptile and insect house and everything in it. We decided to go along and leave a donation in support. I was immediately fascinated by the marmosets and lemurs, bold monkey-like creatures.

Ring-tailed Lemurs:


Other people have also donated time and money to the zoo's rebuilding efforts. £42,500 has been raised to date, and local businesses such as 1st Choice glazing have offered labour and materials free to rebuild the reptile house.

Venerable reindeer:


The most amazing story at the zoo is that of three bears, rescued from a life of captivity in a European circus. They now have a large, mostly woodland site, and a private indoor area to get away from gawping people. I hadn't realised how much I would enjoy visiting a zoo and before we knew it, it was closing time - had we really been here for three hours?!

Comments

blueskyscotland said…
I'd heard about the fire on the news Craig. Real shame. If you were there for three hours it must be a bigger place than I'd thought.
Last time we climbed the Five Sisters bing a few years back the old retail park at the bottom was lying empty. Glad to see the area getting visitors again.