We have a small breeding colony of Northern rockhopper penguins here at Edinburgh Zoo - easily spotted amongst our gentoo and king penguins thanks to the bright yellow feathers above their eyes!

 

FACT FILE

• Our rockhoppers are the smallest species of penguin at Edinburgh Zoo

• Both males and females incubate their eggs in shifts - while one is on the nest, the other will be out at sea gathering food

• Rockhopper penguins will often lay two eggs, with the second being considerably larger

• They go through their annual moult in August and September so if you visit then you will see them looking particularly scruffy!

HOW WE'RE HELPING

Northern rockhopper populations in their native Tristan da Cunha are thought to have declined from hundreds of thousands in the 1870s, to just 5,000 pairs by 1955. Around two million pairs (or 98%) of penguins were lost from Gough Island between 1955 and 2006.

Like all the animals in our care our Northern rockhoppers are amazing ambassadors for their relatives in the wild and help hundreds of thousands of people connect with nature every year. They encourage visitors to learn about the threats facing wildlife and the action they can take to help create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.

As a wildlife conservation charity, we care for the animals here at the zoo and work to protect species at risk around the world. From providing expertise in genetics and veterinary health, to protecting wild places with local conservation partners, and even restoring threatened species to the wild, we are active where we are needed most.

Find out more about rockhopper conservation.