Edinburgh Zoo receives Royal visit
PIC: ROB MCDOUGALL
HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL GETS A BEHIND THE SCENES OPPORTUNITY TO FEED THE UK’S ONLY GIANT PANDAS DURING A VISIT TO EDINBURGH ZOO THIS AFTERNOON.
PICTURED IS TIAN TIAN (FEMALE)
MORE INFO: RACHEL GODDARD, RZSS, 0131 314 0312
PHOTOGRAPHER: ROB MCDOUGALL
07856 222 103
info@robmcdougall.com
WWW.ROBMCDOUGALL.COM
Today, Edinburgh Zoo received the royal seal of approval as HRH The Princess Royal made an official visit to the Zoo.
Princess Anne visited the giant panda pair, Tian Tian and Yang Guang, in their state of the art enclosures and spent time with Alison Maclean, the head panda keeper, and Simon Girling, the head vet at Edinburgh Zoo.
Having fast become one of the most famous animal couples in the world since they touched down with FedEx Express in December last year, the pair received their first official royal visit which will further confirm their status as VIPs (Very Important Pandas).
As well as visiting this famous animal couple, the Princess also visited the impressive Steller’s sea eagles and a new pack of painted African hunting dogs. She also had the opportunity to see a baby drill monkey, the rarest and most endangered primate in Africa, and the first drill ever to be born at Edinburgh Zoo. The Princess Royal also spent significant time in the WildGenes genetics research laboratory learning about their important conservation work.
Since becoming royal patron for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland in 2009 (the charity that owns Edinburgh Zoo), The Princess Royal has been a great supporter of the organisation and its conservation, research and educational work.
On hand to welcome HRH to Edinburgh Zoo was her Lord Lieutenant the Rt. Honourable George Grubb, Provost of Edinburgh, and John Spence, President of RZSS, Hugh Roberts CEO of RZSS, Iain Valentine Director of Conservation and Research, William Martin Managing Director UK and Ireland FedEx Operations and board members of the RZSS.
Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Zoo, said
“The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is honoured to have the support and patronage of HRH The Princess Royal.
“This special official visit was not only about visiting our giant pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang, but was a chance for HRH The Princess Royal to visit many of our other endangered animals also. We were delighted to introduce HRH to our famous couple and to explain to her first hand the important conservation and research work the Society is undertaking concerning giant pandas.”
During her visit HRH The Princess Royal was presented with a stunning cashmere lined panda tartan collar made by Kinloch Anderson, foremost experts in highland dress and tartans, and an exclusive copy of a leather bound edition of the book Panda: Back from the Brink with a introduction from Iain Valentine.
PIC: ROB MCDOUGALL
HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL GETS A BEHIND THE SCENES OPPORTUNITY TO FEED THE UK’S ONLY GIANT PANDAS DURING A VISIT TO EDINBURGH ZOO THIS AFTERNOON.
PICTURED IS IAIN VALENTINE, DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH, YANG GUANG )MALE) AND ALISON MACLEAN, HEAD OF CARNIVORES
MORE INFO: RACHEL GODDARD, RZSS, 0131 314 0312
PHOTOGRAPHER: ROB MCDOUGALL
07856 222 103
info@robmcdougall.com
WWW.ROBMCDOUGALL.COM
PIC: ROB MCDOUGALL
HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL GETS A BEHIND THE SCENES OPPORTUNITY TO FEED THE UK’S ONLY GIANT PANDAS DURING A VISIT TO EDINBURGH ZOO THIS AFTERNOON.
PICTURED IS ALISON MACLEAN, HEAD OF CARNIVORES AND IAIN VALENTINE HEAD OF RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION.
MORE INFO: RACHEL GODDARD, RZSS, 0131 314 0312
PHOTOGRAPHER: ROB MCDOUGALL
07856 222 103
info@robmcdougall.com
WWW.ROBMCDOUGALL.COM
Source: Edinburgh Zoo
