Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) executive chair Donald Emslie has dismissed reports that Edinburgh Zoo could be sold off to Spain-based operator Parques Reunidos.

However, Emslie said the society was looking into outsourcing the "commercial operation" of the zoo in order to focus on its research and conservation activities. It follows a report in The Scotsman, which claimed zoo bosses had held discussions with Parques Reunidos with a view to transferring operation of the Edinburgh attraction.

Emslie said: "With regard to suggestion that Edinburgh Zoo could be sold to Spanish leisure park operator, Parques Reunidos, we can confirm that there are no plans for this. "The option of contracting out the commercial running of Edinburgh Zoo, to allow the RZSS to focus on the educational, research and conservational objectives of the society, was simply discussed at a board meeting after it was raised as an option for consideration."