Exclusive exhibition invites public to share their fondest Edinburgh Zoo memories
Posted 11 Jun 2026
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is inviting members of the public to share their memories of Edinburgh Zoo as part of its 110th anniversary celebrations, helping to preserve the stories that have made the zoo a cherished part of Scottish life since it first opened in 1913.
Among them is Karen Stiven, who has recently retired after 45 years at RZSS. Joining the zoo in 1981, Karen dedicated her career to caring for a number of animals from birds to hoofstock and became one of the zoo’s longest-serving keepers.
Now retired from her role as Experienced Keeper, Karen has witnessed decades of change at Edinburgh Zoo. One of her fondest memories is hand-rearing a young hippo, Cleo, a challenge that involved sleepless nights and round the clock care. Seeing the calf grow and thrive made all the hard work worthwhile and remains one of Karen's most treasured memories.
Karen believes preserving the zoo’s history is just as important as creating new memories for future generations. She added: "Having these archives is a huge achievement. They allow people to look back and see where everything started, how much has changed and how far we've come. The stories are incredibly important and I hope people continue adding their own memories so future generations can do the same for many years to come."
The appeal comes as RZSS continues to uncover and preserve stories from across its history. While archive collections contain official records and photographs, the charity says some of the most valuable insights come from the personal memories of people who have visited, worked at or supported Edinburgh Zoo over the years.
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The appeal comes as RZSS continues to uncover and preserve stories from across its history. While archive collections contain official records and photographs, the charity says some of the most valuable insights come from the personal memories of people who have visited, worked at or supported Edinburgh Zoo over the years.
David Field, CEO of RZSS, said: "Karen’s story is a wonderful example of the memories that make Edinburgh Zoo so special. After 45 years of dedication, she has been part of countless moments that have shaped the zoo’s history.
"Karen’s story is just one of thousands and for 110 years, Edinburgh Zoo has played a part in the lives of people across Scotland and beyond. We know there are an abundance of family photographs, favourite animal encounters, school trip memories and personal stories waiting to be shared, and we would love to hear them. Every memory helps us build a clearer picture of our past and preserve it for future generations."
Members of the public can share photographs, souvenirs and other memorabilia with the team as part of Memories Week running from 13 - 21 June, helping ensure the next chapter of Edinburgh Zoo's story is recorded alongside the first 110 years.
