Win Edinburgh Zoo Keys in Exclusive Summer Prize Draw 2026

Key Points

• RZSS has announced a prize draw offering one lucky winner plus three guests a “behind the scenes” tour of Edinburgh Zoo.
• The chief executive of RZSS, David Field, will personally lead the tour.
• Visitors will meet several newborn animals, including Scotland’s first Linne’s two-toed sloth (Atty), a capybara pup (Bru) and a giant anteater (Snoot).
• The prize includes lunch at the zoo, an overnight stay on the zoo grounds and a year’s RZSS family membership.
• Every £5 ticket purchased supports RZSS conservation work, notably the Saving Wildcats project returning wildcats to the Scottish Highlands.
• The draw was launched in summer 2026, described as a “bumper baby boom” year for the zoo.
• RZSS says it relies on supporters’ generosity and that ticket sales help create a future where nature is protected, valued and loved.
• David Field has more than 30 years of experience in wildlife conservation and zoo leadership and is also President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

Edinburgh (Edinburgh Daily) July 08, 2026 – Animal lovers are being given the chance to win the keys to Edinburgh Zoo and meet incredible animals including the first ever sloth to be born in Scotland, according to a new announcement from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).

The RZSS has launched a prize draw offering one lucky winner and three guests the opportunity to go behind the scenes at the wildlife conservation charity, the organisation said in its official statement.

Thanks to this year’s “bumper baby boom”, RZSS says there has never been a better time to visit Edinburgh Zoo, with several adorable new arrivals now on display.

As reported by the RZSS in its published announcement, the winner could meet playful youngsters including Scotland’s first Linne’s two-toed sloth Atty, capybara pup Bru and giant anteater Snoot.

RZSS chief executive David Field will lead visitors on a tour of the zoo, the society confirmed. “This is a truly unique opportunity to experience Edinburgh Zoo in a way that very few people ever will,” he said, according to the RZSS statement.

“Seeing amazing animals up close and feeding some of the adorable new arrivals will be a once-in-a-lifetime prize,” David Field added, as quoted by the RZSS.

How Does the Prize Draw Work?

The prize draw is structured so that every £5 ticket purchased contributes directly to RZSS’s vital conservation work, including the Saving Wildcats project that is returning wildcats to the Scottish Highlands, the society explained.

As a wildlife conservation charity, RZSS says it relies on the generosity of its supporters, and that every ticket sold helps to create a future where nature is protected, valued and loved for generations to come, according to David Field’s statement.

The prize itself includes lunch at the zoo, an overnight stay on the zoo premises and an RZSS family membership for a year, the RZSS announced.

David, who is chief executive of RZSS and President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), has more than 30 years of experience in wildlife conservation and zoo leadership, the society noted.

Why Is This Year Considered a “Bumper Baby Boom” at Edinburgh Zoo?

RZSS describes 2026 as a “bumper baby boom” year, highlighting the arrival of several notable newborn animals at Edinburgh Zoo.

Among the highlights is Atty, Scotland’s first Linne’s two-toed sloth, alongside capybara pup Bru and giant anteater Snoot, all of whom the prize winner will be able to meet during the behind-the-scenes tour, according to the RZSS announcement.

What Conservation Work Will Ticket Sales Support?

Every £5 ticket purchased through the prize draw will support RZSS’s conservation programmes, with the Saving Wildcats project explicitly named as a key beneficiary.

The Saving Wildcats project, led by RZSS, is focused on returning wildcats to the Scottish Highlands, the society stated.

Who Is David Field and What Is His Role?

David Field is the chief executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and also serves as President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), RZSS confirmed.

He has more than 30 years of experience in wildlife conservation and zoo leadership, the organisation said, and will personally lead the prize winners on their behind-the-scenes tour of Edinburgh Zoo.

How Can People Get Involved and Support RZSS?

People interested in the prize draw can purchase tickets, with each £5 ticket contributing to RZSS’s conservation work and the broader mission of protecting nature, the society explained.

RZSS emphasises that as a wildlife conservation charity, it relies on the generosity of supporters, and that every ticket sold helps to create a future where nature is protected, valued and loved for generations to come, according to David Field.

What Makes This Opportunity Unique for Visitors?

RZSS describes the prize as a “truly unique opportunity” to experience Edinburgh Zoo in a way that very few people ever will, David Field said in the society’s statement.

The chance to see amazing animals up close and to feed some of the adorable new arrivals is framed as a “once-in-a-lifetime prize”, according to the chief executive.

Background to the Development

The development centres on the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s decision to launch an exclusive summer prize draw tied to Edinburgh Zoo’s visitor experience and conservation funding model.

RZSS, the wildlife conservation charity behind Edinburgh Zoo, has long relied on public support to fund its conservation programmes, including the Saving Wildcats project aimed at reintroducing wildcats to the Scottish Highlands.

The timing of the draw aligns with a particularly productive breeding year at the zoo, described by RZSS as a “bumper baby boom”, which has resulted in several high-profile newborn animals now on display, including the first Linne’s two-toed sloth born in Scotland.

By linking ticket sales for the draw to conservation funding, RZSS is integrating its visitor engagement strategy with its broader mission to protect and restore threatened species, as outlined in its public statements.

David Field’s dual role as RZSS chief executive and President of WAZA places this initiative within a wider international context of zoo-led conservation, reflecting global trends in which zoos increasingly position themselves as active conservation organisations rather than purely exhibition venues.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Animal Lovers and Supporters

For animal lovers in Scotland and beyond, this development creates a direct, tangible way to engage with Edinburgh Zoo’s newest animals while contributing to conservation, potentially increasing personal connection to the zoo’s mission.

The prize draw may encourage more people to purchase tickets not only for the chance to win but also because each purchase supports Saving Wildcats, which could lead to higher volunteer and supporter engagement with RZSS’s broader conservation activities.

In the longer term, initiatives like this can help build a more engaged public base that views zoos as partners in conservation, which may translate into stronger community support for future wildcat reintroduction efforts and other species recovery projects led by RZSS.

For families and schools, the behind-the-scenes experience and overnight stay offer educational value that could deepen understanding of wildlife conservation, potentially influencing future career choices or lifelong support for nature organisations.