Edinburgh children paint pebbles for zoo's gentoo penguins

Children supported by Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) have hand-painted a colourful collection of pebbles to mark the 2026 penguin breeding season at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo.

A young person supported by ECHC has helped to place the painted pebbles into the Penguins Rock habitat.

Discovery and community officers from the wildlife conservation charity have been taking the pebbles into the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) during weekly interactive sessions. This is part of an ongoing partnership that connects young patients with nature and the animals at Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park.

The penguins are a favourite for children at RHCYP, who love following them via RZSS’s live webcams. The children will tune in to watch the penguins pick through the hand-painted pebbles for use in their nests.

Watch the penguins pick their pebbles!