PREVIEW

Edinburgh Zoo’s gentoo penguins have been given painted pebbles to celebrate the start of their breeding season in early March (2024).
The pebbles act as the birds’ versions of love tokens or engagement rings, which the males use to court a potential mate.
A loved up male penguin will rush to grab the best pebble to present to his perfect partner.
This year, there are some extra special pebbles as they have been decorated by children being supported by Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) as part of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) weekly interactive sessions at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.
Courting can be competitive, and the gentoos will often steal the prettier looking pebbles from their neighbours, which results in a fair bit of drama at the zoo’s Penguins Rock.
After their courtship, the female gentoos will place their shiny new pebbles in the nest rings which they will then lay their eggs into.
Finding the right partner is important to gentoos as both parents share the responsibility of incubating and then raising the chicks when they arrive in May.