“To foster and develop amongst the people an interest in and knowledge of animal life”. This was the original aim of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland when it was founded all the way back in 1909.

Over 110 years later, the RZSS continues in its efforts to engage with people and create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved. But let's look back to those very early days to see where it all began.

It started as, in his own words, “an obsession” of solicitor and Edinburgh University graduate, Thomas Haining Gillespie. He wanted to share his love of animals with a wider audience, firstly by founding a zoological society and then open a zoo. But not just any zoo, one completely different from those seen in the UK before.

In 1909 he gathered a group of zoological enthusiasts and founded the Zoological Society of Scotland. They wanted to share with the wider public “an interest in and knowledge of animal life.” The first few meetings did not run smoothly, however. At their first annual meeting in July 1909, they had to pull someone in off the street to make up the numbers to pass motions! The topic at the centre these meetings was the creation of a new zoological garden in Scotland.

Some said it could not be done. They said Scotland did not have the appropriate climate to keep animals from across the world, but Gillespie was undeterred. Edinburgh had a zoo before, the Royal Edinburgh Zoological Gardens, which was situated in what’s now the Bellvue area, between 1839-1857. Gillespie believed he could do the same again, but with a focus on the welfare of the animals.

In the early 20th century, zoos had not moved on from the Victorian menagerie, where animals were kept in cramped cages and dens, in constant view of the public. Gillespie wanted to create a zoo where animals were kept in large enclosures, which reflected the animals’ natural environment, and gave them space to retreat from public view. This had been seen at Hagenbeck Zoo, Hamburg, Germany, and Gillespie wanted it to happen here in Scotland.

A location Scottish zoological garden was found in the west of Edinburgh in Corstorphine. Chosen for is south facing vista and with the hill giving protection from northerly winds. Edinburgh Council gave £17,000 to purchase the land, and from there fundraising began to create the first “open air” zoo in Scotland.

Patrick Geddes and Frank Mears were given the task of creating this modern zoo. They designed enclosures using moats rather than bars and used the rock formations of the hill to create new, natural enclosures.

Edinburgh Zoo had an optimistic opening date of the 22nd July 1913. As that date approached, building work was reasonably under control, but there was one major thing missing; animals.

Gillespie called upon Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, a wealthy businessman and owner of what was then the largest private zoo in the UK in Maidstone, Kent. Tyrwhitt-Drake admired the ambition of the project and agreed to send a portion of his own collection on loan to Gillespie to allow the Edinburgh Zoo to open on time.

Edinburgh Zoo was opened to the public on time, however with building work still going on, it was said that you could tell you had been to visit Edinburgh Zoo by the mud on their feet!

A lot has changed since the gates opened all the way back in 1913, but as you walk around Edinburgh Zoo today and look at the buildings and spaces around you, you might see some glimpses into the past which have remained unchanged for over 100 years.