Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond on Tuesday visited the pandas at Edinburgh Zoo to celebrate the zoo's one hundredth anniversary.

The visit was Salmond's first visit to the pandas, which have already attracted more than half a million visitors to Edinburgh Zoo since female panda Tian Tian (Sweetie) and male panda Yang Guang (Sunshine) arrived the Zoo in December 2011.

"All of Scotland has been delighted to welcome Tian Tian and Yang Guang to Edinburgh Zoo and I'm thrilled finally to see them in their home," he noted.

"Their presence here is proving to be a huge draw for visitors to the Zoo, meaning a welcome boost for tourism and the economy. Already, they have attracted more than 500,000 visitors in their first year," Salmond added.

The Scottish First Minister called the pandas a further proof of the international reputation of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which owns and manages Edinburgh Zoo, and its standing abroad in the fields of science, research and conservation.

"Edinburgh Zoo is 100 years old and is celebrating its centenary. It's the most successful year in history thanks enormously to the arrival of Tian Tian and Yang Guang from China, which gives fresh impetus to the Zoo," Salmond told Xinhua.

He also noted that there is no news of the expected baby pandas at this stage, adding that he will be crossing his fingers and hoping for the best and good news for the Zoo in the coming weeks, "let's wait and see".

Yang Guang and Tian Tian arrived at Edinburgh Zoo in December of 2011 from China for a 10-year exchange program, after which they will be returned to China. Any panda cubs born during that time will stay with the mother until the age of two before they are handed over to China.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)