01OCT25 A Day in the Life of….Edinburgh Zoo with Matt Bendoris.Credit: Michael Schofield
EDINBURGH Zoo bosses have stopped a popular animal attraction amid fears over bird flu.
The zoo reintroduced their updated Penguin Parade in 2024 after a four year break.
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Child visits penguin enclosure at the zooCredit: Getty
The Wee Waddle returned to Edinburgh Zoo in 2024 but has now been axed againCredit: RZSS
It sees the zoo’s colony of gentoo, northern rockhopper and king penguins walk around the perimeter of their enclosure beside visitors.
But the ‘Wee Waddle’ has now been temporarily halted due to an increased risk of avian influenza in the UK.
In a statement, the zoo said: “Due to an increased risk of avian influenza in the UK we have made the decision to postpone our Wee Waddle for the foreseeable future.
“While we understand the event is a firm visitor favourite, protecting all of our animals is our top priority.”
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Fans of the zoo online said they were disappointed at the news but said it was the right decision to protect the birds.
One said: “Sad to see this but safety first for our wee gems.”
Another added: “Got to keep them safe.”
A third wrote: “Better safe than sorry.”
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The parade had taken place at Edinburgh Zoo for 70 years but was stopped in 2020 during the Covid pandemic and due to risks posed by bird flu.
It was brought back in September 2024 but the zoo said any increased levels of bird flu in the country could see it postponed to protect the penguins.
The original Penguin Parade began by accident after a keeper left the gate open for their enclosure.
It then became a popular daily event at the zoo until it was stopped in 2020 and then reintroduced on a smaller scale four years later.
The Wee Waddle sees the penguins fed and interacting with their keepers along part of the old parade route while visitors are kept behind a small penguin-sized mesh fence.
It only runs in the autumn and winter months at weekends so as not to disturb the penguin breeding season.
Bosses at Edinburgh Zoo have pulled the penguin parade over bird flu fearsCredit: Michael Schofield