EDINBURGH Zoo will celebrate the season of love with a series of Valentine’s Day-themed events.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has announced the activities to help the wildlife conservation charity "create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved".
Visitors to the zoo in the February half-term will be able to paint pebbles that the penguins will use to build nests when their breeding season starts in March.
Artists can also be in with a chance to name a chick if their pebble is picked.
Other experiences include "Lovebirds Lunches", with lunch served at 1pm in the mansion house and a day at the zoo. Tickets for day entry and the two-course meal are £50, and £38 for RZSS members.
Lindsay Ross, events and experiences manager at RZSS, said: “Our new Valentine’s events offer a great opportunity for visitors to celebrate love in the animal kingdom, spend quality time together with their loved ones and support our wildlife conservation charity’s vital work to reverse the decline of at least 50 species by 2023.
“Penguin breeding season is always an exciting time at the zoo, and it will be even more special this year because our visitors will have the chance to be involved by decorating a pebble.
“Every year when keepers place the nest rings into Penguins Rock, we love to see the penguins dash off to pick out the perfect pebbles to woo their mate.
“The penguins are given a large selection of pebbles to choose from, but the gentoos will often steal the most appealing pebbles from their neighbours, which results in a fair bit of Penguins Rock drama.”
One of the more pricey events is "Beauty and the Beasties" where couples can enjoy a unique date night at the zoo. The evening will start with a cheeky “adults-only” talk and the chance to meet some of the zoo’s beauties and beasties in a close encounter.
After learning how animals show their love in the wild, visitors can enjoy a candlelit three-course dinner in the mansion accompanied with a bottle of wine. These tickets are £130 for two adults, or £117 for two RZSS members.
The Valentine’s events will run on select days from Saturday, February 11 until Wednesday, February 15.
