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Pandas 'very well' but jet lagged at Edinburgh Zoo | Pandas 'very well' but jet lagged at Edinburgh Zoo |
(about 21 hours later) | |
Two giant pandas are settling in "very well" in their new home at Edinburgh Zoo but are "jet lagged", officials have confirmed. | Two giant pandas are settling in "very well" in their new home at Edinburgh Zoo but are "jet lagged", officials have confirmed. |
Tian Tian and Yang Guang, who arrived from China on Sunday by specially-chartered jet, are the first giant pandas to live in the UK for 17 years. | Tian Tian and Yang Guang, who arrived from China on Sunday by specially-chartered jet, are the first giant pandas to live in the UK for 17 years. |
They have been sleeping and eating in a two-hour sequence in a bid to recover from their long journey. | They have been sleeping and eating in a two-hour sequence in a bid to recover from their long journey. |
They go on public display from Friday 16 December. | They go on public display from Friday 16 December. |
First Minister Alex Salmond has met Chinese vice-premier Li Keqiang in China to discuss further business links, and has personally thanked him for sending the pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang. | First Minister Alex Salmond has met Chinese vice-premier Li Keqiang in China to discuss further business links, and has personally thanked him for sending the pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang. |
Gary Wilson, Edinburgh Zoo's director of business operations, said: "They are getting on very well. We were really surprised how well they settled into their enclosure. | Gary Wilson, Edinburgh Zoo's director of business operations, said: "They are getting on very well. We were really surprised how well they settled into their enclosure. |
"They are obviously quite jet lagged. | "They are obviously quite jet lagged. |
"They are in a strange sequence of sleeping for two hours and eating for two hours, a bit like most humans when they fly half way around the world. | "They are in a strange sequence of sleeping for two hours and eating for two hours, a bit like most humans when they fly half way around the world. |
"They are very active within the internal area, they are walking around, they are doing a lot of eating of bamboo, scenting the area and getting familiarised, just like when you have a new home yourself." | "They are very active within the internal area, they are walking around, they are doing a lot of eating of bamboo, scenting the area and getting familiarised, just like when you have a new home yourself." |
During their nine-hour flight to Edinburgh by FedEx Express, the pair ate in-flight meals of bamboo, apples, carrots, a special panda cake and mineral water. | During their nine-hour flight to Edinburgh by FedEx Express, the pair ate in-flight meals of bamboo, apples, carrots, a special panda cake and mineral water. |
They were accompanied by a vet and two animal handlers from Edinburgh Zoo and the Bifengxia Panda Base. | They were accompanied by a vet and two animal handlers from Edinburgh Zoo and the Bifengxia Panda Base. |
Crowds gathered at the zoo to welcome the pandas as they arrived. | Crowds gathered at the zoo to welcome the pandas as they arrived. |
Tian Tian, meaning "sweetie", and Yang Guang, meaning "sunshine", will have two weeks to settle in to their new enclosure before going on display to the public. | Tian Tian, meaning "sweetie", and Yang Guang, meaning "sunshine", will have two weeks to settle in to their new enclosure before going on display to the public. |
Darren McGarry, head of animals at Edinburgh Zoo, told BBC Scotland: "Tian Tian is a bit of a sweetie, she is much more relaxed. She is a smaller panda, she likes to spend a lot of time away from the keepers. | Darren McGarry, head of animals at Edinburgh Zoo, told BBC Scotland: "Tian Tian is a bit of a sweetie, she is much more relaxed. She is a smaller panda, she likes to spend a lot of time away from the keepers. |
"Yang Guang is a big ray of sunshine. He's a huge panda, really impressive. | "Yang Guang is a big ray of sunshine. He's a huge panda, really impressive. |
"He spent a lot of time eating last night and seemed really happy as he was scent-marking his enclosure to say this is my territory. | "He spent a lot of time eating last night and seemed really happy as he was scent-marking his enclosure to say this is my territory. |
"He is a big gregarious panda so I know he is going to be really popular with the visitors." | "He is a big gregarious panda so I know he is going to be really popular with the visitors." |
The pandas' new £250,000 home at the zoo includes two separate enclosures. | The pandas' new £250,000 home at the zoo includes two separate enclosures. |
When Tian Tian comes into season the pair will be introduced to each other - possibly in February or March. | When Tian Tian comes into season the pair will be introduced to each other - possibly in February or March. |
Tian Tian has had twin cubs in the past, and Yang Guang has also fathered cubs - though not as a pair together. | Tian Tian has had twin cubs in the past, and Yang Guang has also fathered cubs - though not as a pair together. |
Animal welfare campaigners have criticised the zoo for accepting the pandas, saying it is a "primarily commercial deal". | Animal welfare campaigners have criticised the zoo for accepting the pandas, saying it is a "primarily commercial deal". |
They claim it is not a credible way to go about saving the giant panda. | They claim it is not a credible way to go about saving the giant panda. |
Bringing the pandas to Edinburgh has involved a five-year effort by the zoo. | Bringing the pandas to Edinburgh has involved a five-year effort by the zoo. |
The eight-year-old pair will stay at the zoo for at least 10 years. | The eight-year-old pair will stay at the zoo for at least 10 years. |
First Minister Alex Salmond thanked Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang for the "generous gift" of the pandas when they met on Monday during his visit to China. | First Minister Alex Salmond thanked Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang for the "generous gift" of the pandas when they met on Monday during his visit to China. |
The meeting in Beijing looked at how to build on the business and cultural links already established between the two countries. | The meeting in Beijing looked at how to build on the business and cultural links already established between the two countries. |