Five Sisters Zoo
NAMED after the five hills left over from West Lothian’s shale mining industry, the zoo was opened in 2005 by Brian and Shirley Curran. Prior to that, the Currans had used the land as a garden-centrecum-animal-sanctuary but such was the number of animals in their care, they were required to obtain a zoo licence to continue to show them.
“It’s not quite a zoo in the traditional sense,” says Lesley Coupar, marketing and visitor services. “The animals we have are often not wanted by other zoos because they are too old. We also have a large per centage of rescue animals, including circus lions and bears. We don’t really go in for breeding, but for conservation and rescue.
“It’s also very much a community zoo, where locals raise money and companies provide work at cost price.”
Kids can enjoy handling sessions with reptiles or be even more hands-on in a half-day zoo keeper experience. And if they want to burn off some energy, the leaping lemur softplay offers a four-level frame for kids of all ages. www.fivesisterszoo.co.uk