The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has won 10 awards for its groundbreaking science, conservation, animal care and education work in Scotland and around the world.
Staff at the wildlife conservation charity started off their summer of success by taking home the People’s Choice Award at the Scottish Charity Awards in June, voted for by members of the public.
This was followed by the Forth Visitor Attraction Award for Edinburgh Zoo at the Forth Awards later that month.
Most recently, at the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquarium (BIAZA) awards, RZSS was awarded five gold, one silver and two bronze awards.
David Field, RZSS CEO, said:
“It is truly wonderful to be recognised by both the public and zoo community for our charity’s dedication and cutting-edge work at the recent award ceremonies.
“Our teams have an incredible breadth of expertise, from our work protecting species in Scotland and around the world, to making Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park wonderful places where people can visit to learn about and connect with nature.”
RZSS achieved wins for their work with the Scottish Beavers Reinforcement Project, conservation genetics capacity building in Cambodia and conservation research for the Saving Wildcats partnership project.
Being recognised for their outstanding work in animal care, the RZSS vet team received an award for their innovative work monitoring diabetes in one of Edinburgh Zoo’s giant anteaters, while the hoofstock team at Highland Wildlife Park for their work with the park’s herd of endangered Przewalski’s horses.
Edinburgh Zoo’s gardens team also won an award for their exceptional planting and horticultural work in the zoo’s new sloth enclosure which opened in September 2021.
The charity’s education team were awarded gold for their ‘Zoo to You’ programme which ran over lockdown, bringing conservation and species education into the home.
Also taking home gold was RZSS’s ‘Your Zoo Needs You’ campaign, which won the BIAZA PR, marketing, digital and events category.
David added:
“Together we are one RZSS family, but winning individual awards across teams really highlights our vast and varied knowledge and shows how when we work together, we can create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.”
