Bus stop at zoo bears an animal rights group advert

The Edinburgh-based pressure group Advocates for Animals has splashed out 300 to place the advert on a bus stop opposite the zoo on Corstorphine Road.

The poster, which will be in place for the next two weeks, features a picture of Mercedes, who is the only polar bear in captivity in the UK, in her enclosure.

The advert claims the zoo has reneged on a promise not to replace the 24-year-old polar bear when she dies.

Campaigners say Mercedes' enclosure is too small and she should be retired from public display.

But zoo chiefs say the polar bear is well looked after and recently announced plans to build a new polar bear enclosure as part of a 58 million future redevelopment.

Ross Minnett of Advocates for Animals said: "The poster campaign is to raise awareness of Mercedes' plight and the fact the zoo has gone back on a commitment not to keep any more polar bears once Mercedes dies.

"Polar bears are widely recognised as one of the most unsuitable animals to keep in captivity. Experts agree that the captive breeding and reintroduction of polar bears is not a viable alternative to the protection of the species in its natural habitat.

"When one considers that the average zoo enclosure is about one million times smaller than the size of their average home range in the wild it is little wonder that captive polar bears develop abnormal behaviours.

"Any visitor to Edinburgh Zoo is likely to have seen the pitiful Mercedes pacing back and forth or, swimming in endless circles. This is not how people should perceive this beautiful animal."

Mercedes, so called because the German car giant paid for her to be brought to Edinburgh from Canada 20 years ago, could live to be 40.

Although zoo chiefs had previously insisted she would not be replaced, a zoo spokesman said the plight of the bears in the wild had worsened and it was possible the international zoo community might need to continue keeping polar bears in captivity.

He said: "The welfare of our animals is, and always has been, our primary concern. It is accepted that the polar bear is now becoming an increasingly rare animal, and that zoos throughout the world, as leaders in conserving threatened species, should step up and help.

"We accept that the current enclosure for Mercedes is perhaps not what we'd like it to be. Edinburgh Zoo is 92 years old. We have made good progress recently in transforming some of the older enclosures but a lot remains to be done.

"That is why we have a master plan which sets out how we will bring the whole park up to modern standards."

Mercedes came to Edinburgh from Churchill in Canada as part of a rescue mission.

She was to be killed as it was thought she posed a threat to humans because she foraged for food in their bins.

David Daulby, secretary of the Murrayfield Community Council, said: "I'm not sure if putting up the posters will achieve what they want. They should enter into proper discussions with the zoo to try and reach a solution."