Zoo News
Historic agreement secures Giant Pandas
Historic Agreement Secures Giant Pandas for RZSS and 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 giant pandas, Tian Tian and Yangguang, 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.
Speaking about the gift, chief executive officer of RZSS, David Windmill, comments: “This is a
landmark day for RZSS, Edinburgh Zoo, the UK and China. It represents the beginning of a
programme of research, education and partnership and the project has huge benefit for the UK and
Scotland, both in supporting giant panda conservation and in enhancing our programmes in education,
science and conservation.”
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.
Speaking about the arrangements for the giant pandas, director of animals, conservation and
education, Iain Valentine, comments: “This marks the start of a long relationship with CWCA in
which we hope to bring the expertise that exists with RZSS and within the UK to the conservation
efforts of the captive and wild populations of giant pandas. These wonderful animals will be housed
in a specially refurbished enclosure which was formerly home to our 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. We are looking forward to welcoming a delegation from the CWCA to
Edinburgh later this week to view the Zoo and discuss our plans in detail.”
Welcoming the announcement, Culture and External Affairs Minister Fiona Hyslop said: “
Edinburgh Zoo has a world-leading reputation for animal conservation and I am delighted that
Scotland has been chosen to take part in China’s breeding programme for giant pandas.
“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.
“Edinburgh Zoo has demonstrated that it has world-class expertise to breed and care for these
rare animals and this announcement reflects our continuing work to strengthen the cultural,
educational and economic links between Scotland and China.”
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.
ENDS
For media enquiries only please contact:
Angela Casey / Anne McMunn
CM Porter Novelli
0131 470 3400
Notes for Editors
RZSS is one of the UK’s foremost conservation and education charities. This project
represents a major part of the development of Edinburgh Zoo, with an ambitious scale of investment
over the next ten years
Only nine zoos outside China hold Giant Pandas and within Europe they can only be seen in
Madrid; Vienna and Berlin.
The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is native to central-western and south western China and its diet is
mainly bamboo. Within China the giant panda lives mainly in the Sichuan province, but also in
Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. Over the years, due to farming and deforestation, the giant panda
has been driven out of its native habitat and it is estimated there are only 1500 remaining that
live in the wild.
The Wolong Panda Breeding Centre in Sichuan Province is a nature reserve home to 250
breeding giant pandas and has been instrumental in research into the breed and its
survival.
CWCA – CWCA was founded in December 1983, in Beijing. It is a nonprofit national
organization under the framework of China Science Association and is the largest ecological
conservation organization in China. The CWCA leads many international initiatives and
organises exhibitions and partnerships on giant pandas, golden monkeys and other threatened species
in countries as diverse as the US, Japan, Austria and Thailand. Over last two decades,
the CWCA has established fruitful partnerships with other non governmental conservation
organisations.
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