Pandas still coming to Scotland, says zoo

Published on Sunday 10 May 2009 23:15

EDINBURGH Zoo insists it is on course to bring two giant pandas to Scotland next year, quashing fears that financial problems at the Royal Bank of Scotland have scuppered the deal.

Last year, both The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and the Scottish Government said that RBS had agreed to "underwrite" the ten-year loan of a pair of pandas to the city from China.

The whole project appeared in doubt this week after it was revealed that the bank had never made a formal agreement to fund either the 3.5-4 million it will cost to home the pandas in Edinburgh or the allied conservation work in China.

But the zoo told The Scotsman yesterday that its bid to secure the animals is not dependent on funding from the RBS, and there had been a misunderstanding.

David Windmill, chief executive of the RZSS, said:

"The government would have asked us how we were going to fund it and I would have said that we are in talks with our bank, which was RBS at the time. RBS knew about the project, as one of its directors was on our board. It had shown an interest, but that was all."

In the last year the society has moved its banking to Lloyds TSB, which is aware of the project but has not yet been approached for any formal funding. The zoo is now in talks with several possible sponsors and expects to find funding once the loan of the pandas has been agreed with the Chinese government.

"It is not just about bringing the two pandas here, this is about the opportunity to play a role in the conservation of the giant panda in China," said Mr Windmill. "It will be very important for Scotland."

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: "The government have no plans to underwrite any such costs, and, indeed, have not been approached to do so. Given the potential benefits, it is highly likely the RZSS will find another sponsor."