WORRIED zoo bosses have asked Military Tattoo chiefs to change their fighter jet fly-past routes - because the noise is terrifying breeding PENGUINS.
Plane scary ... how jets will avoid breeding penguins
But their flight paths take them directly over the city's famous zoo and it is feared the jet engines' 140-decibel din could see the penguins run in a panic and trample tiny chicks to death.
Last night a spokeswoman for the zoo said: "The penguins in particular can become distressed by the sound of the jet engines.
Spectacle ... Tattoo performance
"Because of this the zoo requested the flight path be changed as the noise from the low-flying planes can be stressful for the animals."
But Alan Smith, the Tattoo marketing manager, insisted the RAF and event organisers had to stick to routes decided by Edinburgh Airport's air traffic controllers and could not make changes.
He said: "It's not as simple a question as the RAF or Edinburgh Tattoo determining the route of the aircraft."
Mr Smith added that Tattoo bosses contacted Edinburgh Zoo as "a courtesy" to warn them about the fly-pasts after similar complaints last year.
And he said there was just one more to go this year - on Wednesday night.
He added: "We informed Edinburgh Zoo of the fly-pasts at the beginning of the run.
"I think that was a courtesy because there had been an issue last year with the fly-pasts.
"That was brought to our attention and we felt that if we were at least trying to give the zoo some advance notice then preparations could be made to do what they could do to protect their animals.
The zoo spokeswoman confirmed they "were recently contacted and advised of military flyovers during the Tattoo".
The Tattoo has grown into an internationally renowned festival since it first began in 1950.
More than 200,000 spectators are expected to have watched the assortment of pipe bands, gymnasts, singers and dancers perform when the event's three-week run ends on Saturday.
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