Five Sisters Zoo

For a wild day out with the kids, head to Five Sisters Zoo, near Polbeth. Established in 2005, Five Sisters Zoo is the most-visited wildlife attraction in West Lothian.  Located about half a mile off the A71, outside of Polbeth, and only 10 minutes drive from the centre of Livingston, the zoo is within easy reach of the M8.

The zoo now has over 180 different species of mammals, birds and reptiles. Attractions include daily keeper talks and feeding and handling sessions. With a large outdoor play & picnic area, the Five Sisters Zoo is a great day out for everyone all year round!

The Zoo is privately owned and run by the Curran family, and has now grown into an exciting collection of over 180 different species from all around the world . The zoo has a definite international flavour, some of the animals to be seen include the  American alligator, Asian Small-clawed otters, Barbary sheep, Arctic wolves and Capybara from South America.

A large part of Five Sisters Zoo’s focus has been providing new homes for three bears and four lions following their lives spent performing in travelling circuses. The lions were confiscated from a travelling circus by Belgian authorities and were then placed in the care of the Natuurhulpcentrum at Opglabbeek. Following an urgent appeal and some pretty incredible fund raising, a two-acre habitat was created at the Five Sisters Zoo and the four lions moved in in October of 2015. A similar feat was achieved a few years earlier, again via the Natuurhulpcentrum, when three ex-circus European brown bears moved to a specially created habitat at the Five Sisters.

With the help of full time animal keepers and a large team of volunteers, the stated aim of the zoo is “to encourage conservation of both native and non-native endangered wildlife and to create a safe and natural environment for all the animals in the collection”.

Five Sisters Zoo is a non profit making organisation, any money is injected back into the Zoo to help with the animals upkeep, veterinary bills and maintenance of the enclosures.