The considerable news attention devoted to “celebrity” pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang is provoking jealousy from an unlikely quarter, as the penguins housed in the panda's neighbouring enclosure at Edinburgh zoo are bombing tourists with guano, or penguin poo.
As visitors queue up to catch a glimpse of the majestic black and white bears, the rockhopper penguins have been lining up at the edge of their enclosure, which sits directly above the panda garden.
The curious birds have been defecating with alarming accuracy, in what zookeepers suspect is a case of “monochrome jealousy.”
A 41-year old man told the Daily Record of his unpleasant experience whilst waiting to see Tian Tian and Yang Guang:
"We were queuing to see the pandas when a man in front shouted out in surprise that his jacket had been hit by a big dollop of penguin poo.
"It just missed me and my family and it was really oily and stank of fish.
"It was disgusting and looked like it would be really hard to clean off.
"It was quite funny but the zoo should do something so it doesn't happen to anyone else."
The rockhopper penguins have been frustrated by the many visitors lining up outside the panda enclosure
Since the pandas arrived in Edinburgh zoo on 4 December, jet-lagged after their epic plane journey from China, visitor numbers have been up 200%.
Eager panda enthusiasts have been pre-booking tickets, with figures for a pre-Christmas winter weekend up by 80%, according to zoo officials.
Gary Wilson, Director of Business Operations at the zoo told the Daily Record:
"We're hoping it's not a case of monochrome jealousy, but one or two of our rockhoppers seem to have had surprisingly good aim. The panda queue stands beside the high wall of the penguin enclosure
"We're just looking into a solution right now, probably in the form of a glass panel so that the visitors' view of the penguins isn't obscured."