Edinburgh Zoo's giant pandas to return to China in December

Edinburgh Zoo's elephantine pandas volition yet instrumentality to China successful December, it has been announced.

Tian Tian and Yang Guang person to spell backmost nether the presumption of a 10-year loan, which was extended by 2 years owed to the Covid pandemic.

The brace person failed to nutrient offspring since their accomplishment successful 2011.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which runs Edinburgh Zoo, said the elephantine pandas person had an "incredible impact" connected visitors.

The zoo has been paying £750,000 annually to China for the pandas.

The nonstop day of their departure is being finalised.

Alison Maclean, the carnivore squad person astatine Edinburgh Zoo, said: "We are making arrangements with our partners successful China for Yang Guang and Tian Tian to instrumentality successful aboriginal December, perchance during the archetypal week.

"Visitors to the zoo tin expect to spot them indoors and extracurricular until the extremity of November, aft which viewing volition beryllium outdoors lone until they leave."

She added: "Having cared for Yang Guang and Tian Tian since they arrived successful 2011, I volition beryllium travelling backmost to China with them, to assistance them settee into their caller homes."

David Field, the RZSS main executive, said: "With much than a cardinal taxon astatine hazard of extinction and our earthy satellite successful crisis, Yang Guang and Tian Tian person had an unthinkable interaction by inspiring millions of radical to attraction astir nature.

"Through technological probe alongside the University of Edinburgh, we person besides made a important publication to our knowing of elephantine pandas, which volition beryllium of existent payment to efforts to support this astonishing taxon successful China.

"It is encouraging that successful caller years the outlook for elephantine pandas successful the chaotic has improved, which gives existent anticipation for the future."

The zoo and veterinarians from China made 8 unsuccessful attempts astatine artificial insemination betwixt the pair. The past effort was successful 2021, aft which the elephantine panda breeding programme was stopped.