| Royal Zoological Society of Scotland | |
| Type: | Non-profit organization |
| Founder: | Thomas Haining Gillespie |
| Location: | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Focus: | Edinburgh Zoo Highland Wildlife Park |
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is a learned society and registered charity based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded by Thomas Haining Gillespie in 1909. In 1913, Edinburgh Town Council bought a large plot of land on Corstorphine Hill for the society - this later opened to the public as Edinburgh Zoo.[1] The society received its Royal Charter in 1913.[2] The principal objective of the society mentioned in the original charter is:
To promote, facilitate and encourage the study of zoology and kindred subjects and to foster and develop amongst the people an interest in and knowledge of animal life.[3]
In 1986, the society acquired the Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie, Inverness-shire.[4]