Edinburgh Zoo’s penguins go for a Wee Waddle each weekend

Posted 19 Sep 2024

Gentoo penguins during the Wee Waddle trial. Image: Rhiordan Langan-Fortune 2024

From Friday 20 September Edinburgh Zoo’s penguin colony will take part in the Wee Waddle, a reimagined version of the world-famous Penguin Parade. 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 wildlife conservation charity’s penguins will leave 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 playfully 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.”  

Visitors can watch the Wee Waddle at Edinburgh Zoo Thursday to Sunday at 2:15pm.