OP: @cocteautriplets@mastodon.scot

Since its foundation in 1913, the residents of Edinburgh Zoo haven’t always been happy to just stay in their enclosures for the amusement of the public. Every now and again one or two have made a bid for their freedom, and some of them have even succeeded!

The first animal to be reported escaping from the Zoo was in August 1913, just one month after the park opened, when a “wild badger” was reported as having managed to sneak out and disturb residents in nearby gardens over a number of evenings. It was not made clear if this animal was one of the attractions, or just a wild animal whose home had been disturbed by building the zoo around it.

In May 1925, rumours spread around the city like wildfire that six penguins had managed to escape the Zoo and had waddled all the way to the West End before being detected. From here they proceeded along Princes Street where “various attempts to capture them only resulted in the birds taking fright“, with much slapstick attempts by bystanders and the Police failing to grapple the feathery creatures.

However it turned out to have been a Rag Week stunt and the “penguins” were students from the University dressed up in costumes, out raising money.