Having been called off for more than four years due to the pandemic and concerning outbreaks of bird flu, the newly remodelled Penguin Parade returned to Edinburgh Zoo on 20 September.
Taking place every Thursday to Sunday at 2:15pm, the Wee Waddle allows visitors to get a closer glimpse at the zoo’s flightless inhabitants, including the gentoo, rockhopper and king penguin colony.
Even Kevin – a gentoo previously serving “a lifetime ban” from the parade for nibbling at visitors’ ankles – will be allowed to return.
Zoo keepers guide the penguins while they spend 45 minutes exploring the environment outside of their enclosure.
Announcing the return, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) CEO, David Field, 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.”
The parade dates back to 1951 when a gate to their enclosure was mistakenly left open.
Noticing the escapees, an intrigued keeper led them down to the zoo’s front gate and back.
Since then, the Penguin Parade has been one of the most popular attractions at the zoo.
Fans worldwide have praised the return of the event, taking to Facebook to share their thoughts.
One claimed that it was the “highlight” of their day when they visited in 2014.
They added that they look forward to returning again to see the re-imagined parade of the penguins.
Image via RZSS
Illustration by Camilla Sanchez Rodriguez, @kamiizart on Instagram