A group of 19 Higher Biology pupils from Braidhurst High braved freezing temperatures to enjoy a wild day out at Edinburgh Zoo. After visiting the United Kingdom’s only pandas, Sunshine and Sweetie they spent two hours with one of the zoo’s specialist education officers both inside the education centre and in the zoo learning more about primate behaviour and animal adaptations.

Pupils were able to observe first hand dominance hierarchy in chimpanzees in their purpose built, state of the art enclosure, the Budongo Trail. This included seeing the newest chimpanzee, baby Velu (which means hairy in French) being cared for by the troop. The pupils were also able to visit the Zoo’s recently updated Koala enclosure, the Rhino house at feeding time and the Penguins Rock facility. A great day was had by all and the pupils’ excellent manners and first class behaviour was a credit to the school.