Help plea to China over pandas
The Scottish government went cap in hand to China to ask for help with country’s only resident giant pandas as Edinburgh Zoo struggled with the financial implications of the coronavirus lockdown.
Tian Tian and Yang Guang are currently on loan at Edinburgh Zoo in decade-long deal with China due to end later this year.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) which runs the zoo, was forced to close the attraction to visitors when Scotland went into lockdown last year, and borrowed £5 million to help it stay afloat as it lost vital revenue while having to find £700,000 to look after animals in its care.
Now, letters between the Scottish government and authorities in China, released under freedom of information laws, have revealed Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham asked Chunliang Li, the vice-administrator of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration in Beijing, for help in April last year.
China appears to have offered support, although the Scottish government has redacted details in their response.
In a letter dated April 23, Ms Cunningham describes the giant pandas at Edinburgh Zoo to Li as "a great symbol of the friendship between Scotland and China".
She adds: "Co-operation and solidarity between countries is ever more important at this challenging time as we collectively respond (sic) the Covid-19 global pandemic.
"My officials have been in touch with officials at Edinburgh Zoo, who have reported that the giant pandas are in good health with a plentiful supply of bamboo.
"They have also confirmed that, in line with government advice, the zoo is currently closed to visitors and it is
anticipated that it will remain closed for a minimum of three months.
"This will of course have financial implications.
"Any support that you can give to the Royal Zoological
Society of Scotland, which runs Edinburgh Zoo, during this difficult period, with regard to the giant panda conservation programme, would be very much appreciated."
The Chinese Consul General
in Edinburgh and the Secretary General of the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) were also copied into the letter.