Edinburgh Zoo cancels penguin parade again after bird flu zone declared
Edinburgh Zoo's penguin parade suspended weeks after return due to avian flu fears
Edinburgh Zoo has once again postponed its famous penguin parade after the Scottish Government declared a nationwide avian influenza prevention zone.
The beloved event, reimagined as the "Wee Waddle", had only returned to the attraction last month after being cancelled indefinitely in December 2025 due to previous bird flu risks.
In a social media statement, which was posted on the zoo’s social media channels on Wednesday, keepers confirmed the parade has been called off "for the foreseeable future" to reduce the risk of transmission from wild birds.
The attraction, run by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), said: "The Scottish Government have declared the whole of Scotland to be an avian influenza prevention zone to reduce the risk of transmission from wild birds to birds such as those at the zoo.
"This means that we will be postponing the Wee Waddle for the foreseeable future. While we understand the event is a firm favourite, protecting our animals and local wildlife is our top priority."
The zoo confirmed that visitors will still be able to view the colony of gentoo, rockhopper and king penguins safely inside their habitat at Penguins Rock.
The historic parade first began by accident in 1949 when a keeper inadvertently left a gate open, prompting a few curious penguins to march to the front entrance.
It later evolved into a daily ritual featuring famous birds such as Sir Nils Olav, a king penguin and the world's highest-ranking animal, and Kevin, a gentoo notorious for nipping at visitors' shoelaces.