EDINBURGH Zoo has nominated one of its penguins for an international award and is asking locals to cast their votes.
They are hoping that their northern rockhopper, Nelly, conquers the competition and comes out on top.
Hundreds of penguins from across the world have been nominated in March of the Penguin Madness 2025, organised by Penguin International.
The competition acts as an educational initiative to encourage penguin conservation, ahead of World Penguin Day on April 25.
Edinburgh Zoo posted to social media yesterday, to spread the word, saying: “Nelly needs you.
“Vote for Nelly in Penguins International’s March of the Penguin Madness.
“She started life as an underdog (underpenguin), breaking out of an egg that was half the weight of a normal northern rockhopper.
“Her journey wasn’t easy, but she’s defied expectations and is thriving at the zoo.
“Read Nelly’s story and cast your vote now http://penguinsinternational.org/motpm-voting/”
Nelly, who is one year old, was adopted by a lone male after being born, but this penguin was scared away from the nest one night and Nelly was left to fend for herself.
Keepers found her seemingly lifeless, but coaxed her back to life and she is now a “plump young penguin with a great, vivid personality”.
In the first round of March of the Penguin Madness, Nelly is up against Marley, a 22-year-old female northern rockhopper from Moody Gardens, Texas.
The winner of the competition earns the title of Global Penguin Ambassador, spreading awareness of penguin conservation.
Northern rockhoppers are an endangered species due to climate change, changes in marine ecosystems, and overfishing.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is part of the European breeding programme for northern rockhopper penguins and are part of many of their conservation projects across the world.
