Historic Agreement Secures Giant Pandas for Edinburgh Zoo
A historic agreement was signed today (10 January 2011) which will bring two giant pandas to Edinburgh Zoo, the first giant pandas to reside in the UK for 17 years. Witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, and Vice Premier of China, Li Keqiang, the agreement was signed at Lancaster House in London by Donald Emslie, chairman of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which owns Edinburgh Zoo, and the Chinese Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA)
The two giant pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang, a breeding pair born in 2003, will be under the custodianship of RZSS at Edinburgh Zoo, a world leader in animal conservation. The project represents the culmination of five years of political and diplomatic negotiation at the highest level and it is anticipated the giant pandas will arrive in their new home as soon as a date is agreed.
Yang Guang (male) was born on August 14, 2003 at the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in Wolong.
He has studbook number 564.
His mother is Quan Quan (414) and his father is Pan Pan (308).
He has a twin sister, Xin Yue.
Tian Tian (female) was born on August 24, 2003 at the Beijing Zoo.
She has studbook number 569.
Her mother is Niu Niu (421) and her father is Ying Ying (369).
She gave birth to twins on August 7, 2009. Her male cub was named Shen Wei and her female cub Bo Si.
His Excellency Mr Liu Xiaoming, Ambassador of China to the UK said: “Pandas are a Chinese national treasure. This historical agreement is a gift to the people of the UK from China. It will represent an important symbol of our friendship and will bring our two people closer together.
The pandas will be housed in a specially refurbished enclosure which was formerly home to gorillas. The enclosure will offer a good mix of comfort and visibility so the public can see the couple as they settle into their new home. A delegation from the CWCA will visit Edinburgh later this week to view the Zoo and discuss their plans in detail.
The agreement gives Scotland an important role in securing the future of this endangered species. As well as supporting China’s work to protect these animals, the arrival of the pandas is expected to bring significant economic benefits for Scotland in terms of tourism, attracting hundreds of thousands of additional visitors to the zoo.
The RZSS worked in close partnership with the UK, Chinese and Scottish Governments, the CWCA and Wolong Panda Breeding Centre in Sichuan Province to facilitate this project and provide mutual support. The Giant Panda Project will be funded through sponsorship, offering unparalleled opportunities in terms of international corporate, commercial and diplomatic relationships between China and the UK.
Source: Edinburgh Zoo
Source: BBC
