Yang Guang and Tian Tian back on show following illness

Published on Monday 30 January 2012 17:16

THE UK’s only giant pandas went back on public display today after a bout of illness.

The male, Yang Guang, was removed from public viewing earlier this month because he had colic.

Tian Tian, the female panda, was taken off show on Saturday with the same condition.

Edinburgh Zoo vet Romain Pizzi said Yang Guang is “recovering steadily” and Tian Tian is much better.

He said: “I am delighted to advise that both Tian Tian and Yang Guang are back on show today. Tian Tian is much brighter after having been a little under the weather this weekend and both I and panda keeper Alison Maclean are happy with her.

“As previously advised, colic is not uncommon in giant pandas and is not a great cause for concern. Pandas have sensitive digestive systems and it is likely Tian Tian and Yang Guang are simply adapting to eating slightly different bamboo. All normal and to be expected.”

Yang Guang, whose name means Sunshine, and Tian Tian (Sweetie) arrived in Edinburgh from the Ya’an reserve in Chengdu, China on December 4.

They went on show to zoo visitors for the first time on December 16 after acclimatising to their new surroundings away from the public glare.

Yang Guang started feeling ill less than a month after the pair went on display at their new home.

Colic is a common condition which, in humans, affects around one in five babies of both sexes. Its cause is unknown. The most common symptom of colic is excessive crying in a baby which otherwise appears healthy and well fed.

Edinburgh Zoo will be the animals’ home for the next 10 years and it is hoped that the breeding pair, the first pandas in the UK for 17 years, will produce cubs during their stay.

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Chappit Tatties

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 06:51 AM

If you want to see the Pandas, I would trot along to Edinburgh Zoo soon. 'Cos once the Dalai Lama speaks at three venues in Scotland this summer, the Chinese are going to want to take them back!!!!!

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