Posted: Wednesday 18 January 2012
It’s Panda Time!
Edinburgh is now awash with panda hats, panda t-shirts and panda-monium following the arrival of Tian Tian and Yang Guang (their names mean sweetie and sunshine) to Edinburgh Zoo. I was lucky enough to have a few days annual leave at the start of the year, and made my way along to see the Chinese bears on a Monday morning, only to be told that their visiting calendar for the day was already fully booked – very disappointing. It would seem that you have to be up with the sun to catch sight of Edinburgh’s most recent addition.
The arrival of the pandas on a special FedEx flight from Sichuan province was seen by many as a great boost for the city and it is hoped that there will be a significant increase in tourism as a result. FedEx who were equally alert to the marketing opportunities, flew the new arrivals in on a specially equipped Boeing 777 with customised "panda livery", branded the Panda Express. The giant pandas are one of the rarest species on the planet and Edinburgh Zoo is one of only eight facilities in the west to care for them. The pandas were whisked to a redesigned enclosure in the zoo, complete with pool, cave and bulletproof glass. The deal to secure the pandas has come after almost five years of discreet negotiations with Chinese officials.
The arrival of Tian Tian and Yang Guang has however not pleased everyone. CAPS, the Captive Animals Protection Society has highlighted in statements on their website that they are concerned for the welfare of the pandas. CAPS indicate that this concern is as a result of the fact that Edinburgh Zoo “has seen problem after problem in recent years, including: concerns raised over its ability to meet legally-binding licensing conditions; and a failure to apply for planning permission for the new panda enclosure.” The stance taken by CAPS is supported by those in the Born Free Foundation. Chris Draper, Senior Animal Welfare Scientist from the Born Free Foundation added that “this is a short-sighted and retrograde step. Over time, I suspect we will see that this has less to do with conservation or education, and much more to do with resurrecting the fortunes of a fading visitor attraction. Tian Tian and Yang Guang are not ‘flagships’, nor even diplomatic gifts, but commodities in a primarily commercial exchange“.
Despite the reservations of some groups, the arrival of the pandas was a great success and in the weeks following the move to their new home they settled in very well, if only suffering a little jet lag. Experts and journalists alike have commented that the educational value of having pandas at the zoo is unrivalled. Adults and children will be able to learn a lot from coming to visit them and take a further interest in animal welfare. It is hoped that the pair will enjoy their new surroundings so much that they may even see fit to produce some baby pandas in the not too distant future. It is thought that the giant panda is such a rare species that it is essential for wildlife organisations globally to sustain and to grow the population where possible.
Any concerns about the future of the pandas are not held by the new Marriott Residence Inn, our neighbours in the Quartermile complex, who last week organised a PR event to promote both the pandas and their new hotel in light of the influx of visitors which are expected.
However, the brisk Scottish winter would seem to have got to the male panda, he has been taken off the visitor rotation due to developing a case of colic and feeling under the weather.
It is clear that even the arrival of new zoo animals can have legal repercussions for bodies and organisations, planning and licensing to name just a few of the pertinent issues.
1 Comment
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minimac replied on 20 Jan 2012 at 13:14
Very pertinent comment on the arrival of the pandas. Clearly not as straightforward as the press would have us believe!
