Giant Pandas arrive at Edinburgh Zoo on Sunday!

alyth

I guess it depends on what your into and your perspective - I was lucky enough to be at the back gates and watched the plane come in and them crated off - it was fantastic but as a panda lover this is important to me.

I do agree that the pandas are going to save Edinburgh Zoo, at least in the short term. However, it's good for relations between Scotland/Britain and China, children are able to see an animal that otherwise they would be able to see and ultimately they are part of a captive breeding programme, as many animals are. I've been lucky enough to work with pandas in China and they are not exactly roaming about the mountains of Sechuan.......... Edinburgh Zoo's enclosure look absolutely fantastic, you should see some of the conditions they were kept in in Wolong.

roddydogs

Surely you not guaranteed to see them if you've booked...if their not coming out, they wont.
Also will any babies belong to the Zoo?

Edinburghlass_2

The pandas are only on loan to the zoo for ten years and any babies born belong to China.

Emms

Do we know if you can still get tickets at the Gyle? A friend is going to try go today for me to get them.

Edinburghlass_2

Sorry I didn't see this until today. Yes they are still selling tickets at the Gyle £10 but you need to take your chance of getting a panda slot on arrival at the zoo. Apparently one third of the slots are reserved for people who are paying at the gate, so probably a good idea to get there early.

http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2011/12/09/panda-patrol-to-help-visitors-as-bears-go-on-display/

torbrex

Doors are open on the panda house today, I hope anyone going has a good viewing, they are great to see 'in the flesh' and will make you smile just to look at them

nickyhutch

On the train on our way up :-)

torbrex

nickyhutch wrote: »

On the train on our way up :-)

I hope you have your long-johns on, it is cold out there today, about 0C at the moment, forecast is clear though with just a chance of snow and temp rising to about 3C

nickyhutch

Well it was chilly but we coped.

The zoo needs a bit of TLC but I guess winter isn't the best time to see it. The pandas were beautiful. We went to see them in a group and had around 15 minutes. It's a shame they didn't go out to their outdoor enclosures, but we did get to see the enclosures too. I'm really glad we went, and we had a great day showing my previously Scotland-hating son the wonderful city of Edinburgh.

torbrex

nickyhutch wrote: »

Well it was chilly but we coped.

The zoo needs a bit of TLC but I guess winter isn't the best time to see it. The pandas were beautiful. We went to see them in a group and had around 15 minutes. It's a shame they didn't go out to their outdoor enclosures, but we did get to see the enclosures too. I'm really glad we went, and we had a great day showing my previously Scotland-hating son the wonderful city of Edinburgh.

As far as I am aware the zoo has been like that for a while as the number of visitors has declined, they are hoping that the arrival of the pandas will inject some new life into the place.

I am glad that you had a good day out anyway and were able to see the pandas.