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As one of Europe's leading centres of conservation, education and research, Edinburgh Zoo and its sister site Highland Wildlife Park work hard to help ensure the survival of countless threatened animal species, collaborating with many other zoos and conservation agencies in the UK, Europe and around the world.

A successful breeding season makes life busy for the keepers at Highland Wildlife Park, especially in the Arctic foxes’ enclosure. The cubs are due to be rehomed once they are old enough to leave mum, which means crate training and worming are essential jobs for keeper Robbie and the team.

Snow leopards Animesh and Chan have also become parents, but unfortunately there are some health issues for their three little ones.

In Edinburgh, senior bird keeper Sean is keen to have breeding success with both the red-fronted macaws and the vulturine guineafowl, but male guineafowl Philip seems more interested in intimidating humans than creating babies.

And the gentoo penguins get busy pairing up and preparing their nests, giving an insight into the complexities of penguin relationships and revealing some ritualistic nest-building skills.

Keepers also face some practical challenges - in Edinburgh, keeper Ceri must find a way to give medicine to a poorly tapir, while up north at the park near Aviemore, Rachel, Louise and Judith brave the elements to construct a new climbing frame for the snow monkeys.

And as the year draws to a close, preparations get under way for Edinburgh Zoo’s magical lantern festival. With over 600 giant lanterns to construct and a team of lantern makers coming specially from China, will everything be ready for opening night?