Fans of Scotland’s giant pandas spent more than £42,000 in just 90 minutes on tickets to say farewell to the animals before they head back to China later this year.
Pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang – also known as Sweetie and Sunshine – are to leave their home at Edinburgh Zoo as early as October.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which operates Edinburgh Zoo, plans to give their star attractions a giant farewell as preparations are made for their departure.
A range of special events and experiences to say goodbye to the 19-year-old animals went on sale online at 10.15am on Monday, but all available tickets, priced from nearly £30 up to £500, were sold out by 11.45am.
RZSS said that ticket sales raised more than £42,000 to help support its work to save animals in Scotland and around the world.
The experiences included “Pandas and Pancakes”, a one-hour guided tour to the pandas’ home at the zoo followed by breakfast and general zoo admission for £29 per adult; the “Bamboo Brunch” tour and brunch for £48.50; and behind-the-scenes “Giant Panda Magic Moments” experiences priced at £500 per person.
A limited number of the “Directors Tour of Edinburgh Zoo” – a “bespoke VIP experience for two” including “guaranteed access to meet and feed a giant panda”, were still available yesterday, although they are priced at £5,000.
David Field, RZSS chief executive, said: “We would like to thank everyone who booked a giant panda experience and supported our charity’s work to save animals from extinction in Scotland and around the world.
“While our limited panda Magic Moments and breakfast tours are now sold out, we will be providing as many opportunities as possible for people to say goodbye and celebrate the tremendous impact Yang Guang and Tian Tian have had on our communities.”
The RZSS said funds raised would be used to help save wildlife from extinction, including species in Scotland such as the wildcat and pine hoverfly, chimpanzees in Uganda and giant armadillos in Brazil.
Panda lovers who missed out on gold-dust tickets have been added to waiting lists.
Tian Tian and Yang Guang arrived in Edinburgh in December 2011 as part of a 10-year arrangement between RZSS and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. The RZSS later negotiated a two-year extension due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The animals will return to China without having any offspring, however, despite attempts at natural breeding and artificial insemination since 2013.
Field recently admitted that, while the iconic animals appeared to be a perfect genetic match, they just didn’t click, adding: “If it was Tinder perhaps Tian Tian wouldn’t have swiped right”.
The male, Yang Guang was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2018, and was later castrated. The RZSS has confirmed that breeding will not be attempted during the animals’ remaining period in Scotland.
The pandas will eventually be replaced by another “exciting” species yet to be announced.
Giant pandas, a vulnerable species that seldom reproduces in the wild, are considered a national treasure and symbol of China.
The country is known for so-called panda diplomacy whereby deals are done with foreign nations to ship pairs of the animals overseas.
Edinburgh Zoo has been paying £750,000 annually to China for the pandas but its visitor numbers have soared since the loan agreement began.
When the pandas arrived at the zoo in December 2011, then Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Scotland’s relationship with China is hugely important and the pandas represent a fantastic opportunity to deepen our business, cultural and diplomatic ties.”
The arrangement was also welcomed by then Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who said: “I know that a huge amount of work has gone into securing their loan and they will be a great showcase for UK-China links in science and research.”
More recently, China extended its panda diplomacy to the Middle East for the first time when a pair of giant pandas arrived in Qatar as a gift ahead of the World Cup.
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