The Edinburgh Reporter October 2025

6

By PHYLLIS STEPHEN

EDINBURGH ZOO just announced some

important news - that for the first time in

almost ten years, a Chilean flamingo chick has

hatched in the zoo.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

said the chick hatched on 4 September,

marking a milestone in the zoo’s breeding

programme. 

To help the chance of eggs hatching

successfully, the wildlife conservation charity’s

keepers temporarily remove them from the

nest site and place them in incubators. During

incubation, the adult flamingos are provided

with dummy eggs so they can continue their

natural parenting behaviours without

disruption. Once the chicks begin to break

through the eggshell they are then returned

to the nests. 

Lorna Hughes, birds and primates team

leader at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “We have been

caring for this flock for years and to see a chick

hatching and being taken care of by its

parents is just incredible. 

“It is still early, but the chick is looking

stronger every day so we are hopeful they will

grow nice and healthy. Flamingo chicks

develop quickly, doubling in weight within

days, so we are already seeing our little one

get bigger. Now we just need to keep

everything crossed for the remaining eggs still

in the incubator.” 

With this arrival, Edinburgh Zoo’s flamingo

flock now contains both its youngest and

oldest residents. From the newly hatched

chick to Shrimpy, Louis and Rio, who are

estimated to have hatched in 1961. 

edinburghzoo.org.uk/tickets

NEWS

Alan Simpson

Edinburgh

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By STEPHEN RAFFERTY

A GROUP OF SCOTTISH AUTHORS have
taken ownership of long-established
publishing group Ringwood Publishing.
Set up by author and former social worker
Sandy Jamieson more than 25 years ago,
Ringwood has now been transferred to a
collective ownership which includes authors
Tom Wood, Carol Fox, Maureen Cullen,
Charles P Sharkey, A M Nicol and L A
Kristiansen.
Dedicated to publishing Scottish fiction
and non-fiction, since it was established in
1997 Ringwood has covered topics as diverse
as saving the planet, the Irish Troubles,
euthanasia, referendums and the role of
women in medicine.
The new collective said Ringwood
Publishing has one unapologetic mission - to
celebrate, elevate, and export the richness of
Scottish culture through the written word.
Chairman Tom Wood, said: “Ringwood
Publishing is set to become the beating heart
of all things Scottish in publishing. Whether it’s
fiction steeped in folklore, Scottish crime noir,
poetry echoing the lochs, or contemporary

narratives that challenge and inspire, this

author-owned powerhouse will be

emphasising literature with a Scottish twist.

“Every title will be rooted in Scottish

themes, culture or identity and Ringwood is

for readers everywhere who crave authentic,

compelling storytelling.”

The launch lineup includes a gripping

historical novel covering Scotland’s struggle

for independence, a true crime anthology

focusing on Glasgow’s most famous square

mile of murder, and a feminist perspective and

the fight to rewrite Scotland’s social norms.

Ringwood are not currently accepting

manuscripts but plan to open up submissions

in the New Year with a short story competition

to attract potential new authors.

Bringing it

in house

Pretty

flamingo

Baby flamingo

Tom Wood