The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has announced the completion of Scotland’s Wildlife Discovery Centre at the Highland Wildlife Park within the Cairngorms National Park. This £6.5 million project includes three new buildings, an ambitious community outreach programme, and a biodiversity action plan to protect native species.
Ben Supple, RZSS Deputy Chief Executive, stated, “With one in nine species at risk of extinction in Scotland and a million across the globe, it is more important than ever to engage and inspire people to create a world where nature is protected, valued, and loved.”
The new centre features an interactive exhibition, a hilltop den for storytelling about species restoration efforts, and new classrooms to support STEM learning and community engagement with the natural world. Visitors will have 360-degree views of the wildcat breeding centre at Highland Wildlife Park and the surrounding Cairngorms, where wildcats are being released as part of the Saving Wildcats partnership led by RZSS.
Ben Supple added, “We are very grateful for the funding we have received, which has enabled us to considerably increase the size of our education and community team. Our aim is to reach out to various, diverse communities that experience barriers to accessing nature, including poverty, loneliness, and disabilities.”
The project also supports a biodiversity action plan to discover and protect native species at Highland Wildlife Park, such as the small scabious mining bee.
Click here for more information about the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.
