Name your favourite animal and design the Number 26 bus

Do you have a favourite animal? Then vote for it and you might see it on the number 26 bus on its way to Edinburgh Zoo.

The number 26 goes all the way across the city from Tranent to the west of Edinburgh and drops passengers off at the front door of the zoo.

There was a fashion parade on Monday will all the newly branded buses on tour to show themselves off between the Marine Garage and the Zoo.

You have a choice of three : the meerkat, the kangaroo and the otter. Whichever gets the most votes will be featured on the bus from November 2017.

But be quick as the vote ends on 23 October 2017 and you will see the result two weeks after that.

Edinburgh Zoo has teamed up with Lothian Buses in a three year deal to turn 30 buses into animals from the zoo’s collection.

There are already some animals on the number 26 such as the Natal dwarf chameleon which is in the zoo’s new Wee Beasties exhibit.

There is also a flamingo encouraging passengers to ‘feel fabulous’ and a lion who wants you to ‘travel with pride’. Now the fifth animal will be up to you.

Barbara Smith, Chief Executive at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: “The new bus designs perfectly encapsulate all that is wonderful about RZSS Edinburgh Zoo – from much-loved giant pandas to the fascinating Natal dwarf chameleons, there is a vast collection to explore and an opportunity to learn more about conservation work we do that makes an international impact. We hope the new bus designs capture the imaginations of Edinburgh residents and tourists alike.

“We’re pleased that our partnership with Lothian continues to go from strength to strength and look forward to visitors to the Zoo catching the number 26 ‘Zoo bus’ for years to come.”

Gaynor Marshall, Communications Director at Lothian, said: “We are delighted that the development of our partnership with RZSS will give our customers and staff a unique and fun opportunity to be involved in selecting the next eye-catching animal design for one of our new low emission vehicles which run on Service 26.

“We hope customers will take advantage of the discounted entry to the Zoo which is available through travelling with Lothian and look forward to either a meerkat, kangaroo or otter joining the chameleon, flamingo, panda and lion buses!

RZSS Edinburgh Zoo are also be offering discounted child entry tickets with every paying adult on redemption of their Lothian service 26 bus ticket at the Zoo’s customer service desk.  The offer is valid on the day of travel only.

Voters can cast their vote on the RZSS Edinburgh Zoo website at www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/Lothian.

Voting can also be accessed via the Zoo’s social media channels at http://woobox.com/yy8eoo.