Edinburgh Zoo's Penguins To Go Back On Parade For The First Time Since Pandemic
Penguins are to go back on parade in Edinburgh for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since 1949, when they were let out of their enclosure by a careless keeper, Edinburgh Zoo's cold-loving flightless birds have delighted visitors by taking a stroll among them.
The tradition was last upheld in March 2020, when the pandemic put an end to their wanderings.
However, from Friday 20 September the zoo's penguin colony will take part in a reimagined version of the parade, the Wee Waddle.
This new experience will allow visitors the chance to get up close to see the gentoo, rockhopper and king penguin colony take a stroll along the walkway before they explore a new area outside of their usual habitat.
The penguins will leave Edinburgh Zoo's Penguins Rock to take part in feeds, then have the opportunity to waddle around part of the perimeter. Cheeky gentoo Kevin will even be given the chance to join in, after famously being banned from the parade in the past for nipping at visitors' ankles.
David Field, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) CEO, said, "We know our visitors have missed the Penguin Parade, and the Wee Waddle is a great way to bring this back and keep the magic of experiencing the penguins waddle around and explore outside their pool, while also getting closer to the colony during feeds!
"This is all part of our charity's ongoing efforts to get people as close to nature as possible so that we can inspire and enable them to help protect it."