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With conservation, research and education at the heart of what they do, it’s important for Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park to encourage visitors to come and learn about the animals, to understand the delicate balance between species and their habitats and to care about the future of the planet.

Young Haggis the binturong is preparing to leave Edinburgh Zoo for the south of France as part of a breeding program. It’s a sad farewell for his adoring keepers as he leaves them and his parents, Poppy and Ali, behind to start a new life and a family of his own.

At 21 months, polar bear Hamish still thinks he's a baby and stays close to mum Victoria. However, keepers Vickie and Laura are keen to get him on the scales, which proves to be quite tricky.

Meanwhile, the public get a close-up view of Hamish’s dad Walker and his pal Arktos, while keeper Judith feeds the two huge polar bears with giant popsicles and frozen melons.

Threatened species Przewalski’s wild horses and Turkmenian markhors both need regular hoof trimming while living in captivity, and that means getting used to being handled. While keepers Marc and Debbie work with the markhors, a type of mountain goat, specialist equine podiatrist Bonny has been drafted in to gain the confidence of the horses.

At the zoo, vet Simon monitors zebra Daniella’s arthritis, while her keepers go to great lengths to make bedtime as comfortable as possible. In the pygmy hippos’ enclosure, it’s keeper Karen’s turn to clean Otto and Gloria’s indoor pool, which doubles as a toilet! And Pinknose the otter goes under anaesthetic for an essential health check.

King penguin Brigadier Sir Nils Olaf and rhinos Sanjay and Qabid meet real royalty when HRH The Princess Royal visits the zoo – but not before rehearsals and some last-minute changes to the schedule.