Zoo's list of species decreases as Siberian tigers make tracks

IT will be disappointing for their many fans, but at least Edinburgh Zoo's Siberian tigers will be happier in the chilly Cairngorms climate.

The pair, Sasha and Yuri, are set to leave the zoo within months for their new home at Aviemore's Highland Wildlife Park. Zoo bosses plan to replace them with smaller Sumatran tigers, but admit they have yet to find replacements.

The transfer has led to fears the zoo may lose more of its most popular species. A report obtained by the Evening News shows there was a reduction of nearly 200 animals in 2006 as a result of death or being found new homes. Snow leopards, sea lions and gorillas are among those that have been lost.

The Siberian, or Amur, tigers have been in the Capital for more than nine years and have had two litters of cubs. The Army is due to help complete their enclosure in Aviemore over Easter.

Iain Valentine, the zoo's head of animals, said it was decided last year to expand the Highland Wildlife Park – which is also run by the Royal Zoological Society Scotland – in a bid to increase the society's breeding programme.

He added: "As we have Amur tigers at Edinburgh Zoo, we would look to move our pair to the Highland Wildlife Park and replace them with Sumatran tigers, which are classed as critically endangered."

Helen Armour, visitor services manager at the Highland Wildlife Park, said she thought Sasha and Yuri would find their new climate and surroundings more agreeable. She said: "We have a section for animals of mountain and tundra. This will suit the Amur tigers, which come from Siberia."

But the move has done nothing to alleviate fears over the future of Edinburgh Zoo. According to the latest inventory, the number of animals fell from 1201 to 1018 in 2006, and the number of species represented fell by 25. The zoo's 72 million refurbishment masterplan was thrown into uncertainty in October, when the city council voted not to allow it to sell off land for housing, leaving a funding gap of up to 20m.

Charles Kennedy, 68, of Broomhall Loan, who has been a member of the zoo for nine years, said he was concerned about the loss of animals. He said: "There are fewer and fewer animals. It really is quite depressing. Just now we have no sealions and we've lost the baboons and gorillas. They say it's part of a breeding programme with other zoos, but it always seems to be in one direction."

But council leader Jenny Dawe, who is also a member of the zoo, said she believed there were no plans to downgrade. Cllr Dawe said: "They have just opened two new features. That doesn't suggest they are running it down. The argument could be they would rather have a smaller number of species in better surroundings."

• Edinburgh Zoo