Edinburgh's Zoo: Famous Edinburgh Animals Who Aren't Greyfriars Bobby
There’s more to Edinburgh than that wee metal dog people won't stop touching – here are a few more of the city's famous current and former animal residents
Wojtek
The most badass animal on our list, Wojtek was a brown bear from Iran who was adopted by the Polish army and joined them in their fight against Benito Mussolini’s Italy during World War II. Wojtek spent his well-earned post-army retirement in Edinburgh Zoo, and you'll find a bronze statue of him, by sculptor Alan Herriot, in Princes Street Gardens.
Nils Olav
Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of the Bouvet Islands, is a king penguin who resides in Edinburgh Zoo. He’s the only penguin with a knighthood, and is the colonel-in-chief of the Norwegian King's Guard.
Dolly the Sheep
As the first cloned mammal ever to be created from an adult cell, Dolly’s birth was a huge scientific achievement for Scotland. You can see her on display in The National Museum.
Graveyard of Heroic Dogs
Greyfriars Bobby isn’t the only dog to be honoured in Auld Reekie. Within the grounds of Edinburgh Castle you'll find an adorable pet cemetery where canine members of our armed forces are buried.
Two Naughty Elephants
An elephant, who was brought to Scotland from Sri Lanka in 1838 by the 78th Highlanders regiment, used to live in Edinburgh Castle, and reports are he developed a taste for beer. The animal's toes are now displayed in the National War Museum within the Castle. This wasn’t Edinburgh’s first elephant resident, though. In the early 18th century, an elephant used to live in an Old Town flat, much to the chagrin of the bakery downstairs, who had to contend with an unreasonable amount of elephant dung.
Bass Rock Gannets
The Bass Rock, off the coast of North Berwick, is home to the world's largest colony of Northern gannets. Pay them a visit on a boat trip from North Berwick Harbour.
Seal Spotting on the Firth of Forth
The Firth of Forth is teeming with seals, and you’ll find hundreds of them chilling on Inchkeith Island, which you can visit on a tour aboard the Maid of the Forth, which also takes in the Forth’s three famous bridges: the Queensferry Crossing, the Forth Road Bridge and the Forth Rail Bridge.
Unicorns Everywhere
The unicorn is Scotland’s national animal and boy do we shout about it. You’ll find images of these mythical equines on statues and murals in parks, streets and historic buildings all over this fair city. Keep an eye out!
This article is taken from The Skinny Guide to Edinburgh 2024 – get your free copy from venues across Scotland from 28 June