According to the British "Sky News" local time 4**, the only pair of giant pandas in the United Kingdom, "Sunshine" and "Tiantian", after living at Edinburgh Zoo for 12 years, will leave for China today.
According to the report, since arriving at Edinburgh Zoo in 2011, giant pandas "Sunshine" and "Tian Tian" have been the "stars" of the zoo. David Field, chief executive of the Royal Scottish Zoological Society, said it had an incredible impact on pandas inspiring millions of people to care for nature. Last week, before preparing to return to China, tourists said their final goodbyes to Sunshine and Tiantian.
The report mentioned that the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and the China Wildlife Conservation Society had previously reached a ten-year agreement. According to the agreement, "Sunshine" and "Tiantian" were originally scheduled to return to China in 2021, but due to the impact of the epidemic, the contract was extended to 2023.
Regarding the imminent return of giant pandas "Sunshine" and "Tiantian" living in the United Kingdom to China, spokesman Wang Wenbin said in response to relevant questions on December 1 that China and the UK have established a good cooperative relationship since the launch of international cooperation in giant panda conservation and research in 2011, and have achieved positive results in giant panda conservation and management, scientific research, scientific and technological exchanges and public education, and have played an important role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and British peoples. According to the provisions of the cooperation agreement signed between China and the UK, the giant pandas "Sunshine" and "Tiantian" will return to China after the cooperation agreement expires in December this year, Wang Wenbin said. The Chinese side has made all preparations to welcome "Sunshine" and "Tiantian" back to China.