People left gobsmacked after realising the national animal of Scotland is not real

Scotland’s national animal has been venerated in the country for centuries, but that did not stop some people from being shocked when they learned which creature the country cherishes most

People have been left gobsmacked after learning the national animal of Scotland is actually a made-up creature – but not the one you might imagine. While the Loch Ness monster is one of the most famous creatures associated with Scotland, she is not the mythical beast that has been venerated by the country for years.

In fact, the creature is quite the opposite to Nessie, as the national animal of Scotland is a unicorn. While this won’t come as a surprise if you’re Scottish – since the creature is found on everything from buildings to passports – people have been left shocked by the discovery.

Get the news you want straight to your inbox. Sign up for a Mirror newsletter here

Unicorn fans were delighted by the revelation, when it was pointed out in a video posted to TikTok by @itsmepollyb.

In the short clip, a woman looks stunned as the fact is displayed across the screen. And her response closely mirrored that of several viewers.

One commenter said: “Learned this at Trivia the other night… by getting the question wrong… but still learned. And, had same reaction!”

While a second person wrote: “Whattttttt?” And another asked: “Wait. Is this true?”

Well, it undoubtedly is, and it has been the case for many years, as the National Trust for Scotland explains.

Introducing the significance of the creature, its website outlines the importance of the creature in many cultures, as unicorns are associated with power and innocence.

It adds that the unicorns have long been associated with the country, having first been introduced to the royal coat of arms of Scotland in the mid-1500s.

And while Scotland has seen countless changes in the years since, the unicorn continues to be an important symbol.

As the Trust explains: “Prior to the Union of the Crowns in 1603, our coat of arms was supported by two unicorns.

“However, when King James VI of Scotland also became James I of England, he replaced one of the unicorns with the national animal of England, the lion, as a display of unity between the two countries.

“Of course, folklore fans will know that lions and unicorns have always been enemies, locked in a battle for the title of ‘king of beasts’.”

And the unicorn is proudly displayed across Scotland, in a number of towns and cities.

Do you have a story to share? We pay for stories. Email us at [email protected]