January 4th – According to the news of the British Guardian and Sky News Network on the 4th, due to the financial pressure caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, the Edinburgh Zoo may have to send the only pair of giant pandas in Britain back to China.
It is reported that the giant pandas “Sweet” and “Sunshine” in Britain were leased to the Edinburgh Zoo in December 2011 for a 10-year contract, which is the only two giant pandas in the UK.
David Field, chief executive of the Royal Scottish Zoological Society, which operates the Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park, said that the epidemic has closed the zoo for three months and caused a cumulative loss of 2 million pounds.
The agency will have to “seriously consider every potential savings”, including the giant panda contract, which is rented for £1 million per year.
Although the zoo has reopened, restrictions on the number of visitors and social distancing will last for some time, which means that the park’s revenue will be reduced.
Field added: “At this stage, it is too early to say what the result is. In the next few months, we will discuss the next step with our Chinese colleagues.
Over the past nine years, ‘Sunny’ and ‘Sweet’ have impressed our visitors, helping millions of people get close to nature and stimulating their interest in wildlife conservation.
I hope they stay with us for a few more years, which is certainly my goal at present.
It’s not just the Edinburgh Zoo in the United Kingdom.
At the end of November 2020, the Canadian Calgary Zoo sent giant pandas back to China because it could not provide enough bamboo.
After the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the international transportation industry has been affected, and it is difficult for the garden to obtain fresh and sufficient bamboo.
Two brigades, “Ershun” and “Damao”, had to return home early.
