Edinburgh Zoo’s giant pandas will return to China later this year after special farewell events in their Scottish home.
Yang Guang and Tian Tian arrived in December 2011 under a 10-year agreement which was extended for two years due to the pandemic.
The two bears could leave as early as October, with details due to be confirmed later.
The zoo says new experiences and events will be available to book for members of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) from this week.
Get ready for a GIANT farewell as we start to plan Yang Guang and Tian’s Tian’s return to China later this year 🐼
There are lots of ways to say goodbye with our charity’s new BEAR-rilliant panda experiences available to book from 9 Jan🎉
Find out more👉 https://t.co/XFdDRBpNim pic.twitter.com/Ojh6OGnAB7
— Edinburgh Zoo (@EdinburghZoo) January 4, 2023
David Field, RZSS chief executive, said: “We were thrilled to extend Yang Guang and Tian Tian’s stay at Edinburgh Zoo, especially as the pandemic made it much harder for people to visit and would have prevented our giant panda keepers from travelling to China to help the pair settle into their new homes.
“As the UK’s only giant pandas, they have been incredibly popular with visitors, which has helped to connect millions of people to nature as well as raising vital funds for wildlife conservation.
“Through a new range of events and experiences, we will be providing as many opportunities as possible for people to say goodbye and to celebrate the tremendous impact these two charismatic bears have had on our communities, helping to create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.
“Panda magic moments will be popular, with our members, patrons and giant panda adopters having the opportunity to meet and feed Yang Guang.
“Other experiences available to everyone will include panda talks and brunch events.
“The funds raised will help us to save wildlife from extinction, including species in Scotland such as the wildcat and pine hoverfly, chimpanzees in Uganda and giant armadillos in Brazil.”
Despite efforts to breed the two pandas, female Tian Tian has not produced a cub during her time in Edinburgh.
She was believed to be pregnant in August 2017 but her hormone levels and behaviour later returned to normal.
Mr Field added: “By collaborating with partners in China and welcoming Yang Guang and Tian Tian to Scotland, we have had many successes for over the past 11 years in terms of technique exchanges, scientific research and public engagement.
“We are also very proud of the contribution we have made to giant panda breeding research alongside our partners at the University of Edinburgh and our findings have been of real benefit to international efforts to protect the species.
“After the pandas leave, we will decide on a new species, with a crucial factor being how we can support conservation in the wild.”
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community – a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation’s Editors’ Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here
© 2001-2023. This site is part of Newsquest’s audited local newspaper network. A Gannett Company. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. HP10 9TY. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |
Data returned from the Piano ‘meterActive/meterExpired’ callback event.
As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles.
Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services.
These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community.
It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times.
