Scotland's national zoo is delighted to announce that it is able to re-open its doors to visitors on Wednesday 4 April. This follows the completion of a comprehensive risk assessment, which has the full approval of its veterinary advisers, who have been consulting with the government's advisers in MAFF. The re-opening is in line with the 'Comeback Code' endorsed by the Scottish Executive.

Precautionary measures

The risk assessment takes into account many different factors, including the proximity of confirmed and suspected cases, and sets out the biosafety procedures which the Zoo must follow in order to minimise the risk to its animal collection. These procedures include:

• Disinfectant foot mats for all visitors
• No vehicles allowed into the Zoo
• No picnics allowed into the Zoo, and no food other than factory wrapped confectionery

The usual prohibitions on feeding or touching the animals will be strictly enforced.

In addition, visitors who have been in contact with farm animals or horses, or who have been in an area of suspected or confirmed infection in the past five days, will be asked not to enter the Zoo. The situation will be kept under constant review, and the Zoo will remain in close liaison with its vets and the MAFF advisers.

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Celebrations planned

To celebrate the re-opening of the Zoo, and to compensate for some animals being out of view to the visitor, there will be a programme of additional activities during the Easter holidays, including free facepainting, bouncy castle and lots of other fun activities.

Animals out of view include the peccaries, babirusa and oryx, but all the favourite species will be fully on view, including the penguins, gorillas, chimpanzees and tigers.

further info Amanda Alabaster, Head of Marketing 0131-314 0311

Editors' notes

Closed for five weeks
The Zoo has been closed - voluntarily - since 26 February, to protect its animal collection against the possible transmission of Foot and Mouth disease.

The animals have no commercial value, but they are important for their conservation and educational value.

Vulnerable species
Certain species are vulnerable to this disease, so barriers will ensure that the visitors are kept at a safe distance. These species include the pig related species, the peccaries and babirusa, and all the antelope and deer species including the endangered Arabian and scimitar-horned oryx, along with the giraffes, lechwe, pudu and tapir.

The Highland Wildlife Park
The Highland Wildlife Park, near Aviemore, has carried out a similar risk assessment, and is planning to re-open on Friday 6 April.

Charitable status
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 004064, and receives no core funding from government funds.

Funding
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland relies almost entirely on visitor admissions and membership subscriptions, supplemented by sponsorship and legacies, to fund its conservation and education objectives.

Compensation
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which owns and runs Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park, has applied to the Scottish Executive for financial compensation for the loss of income incurred since closure of both sites.

For the month of March, the Society has lost income of £170,000.

Zoo opening hours
Edinburgh Zoo is open every day from 9.00am, and from April-September it closes at 6.00pm. Telephone 0131-334 9171 for prices and other information.