Edinburgh Zoo pandas: Two weeks left to see giant pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang before return to China

The giant pandas have been at Edinburgh Zoo since December 2011, but have not produced a cub during that time

Animal lovers have two weeks left to see the UK's only giant pandas as the pair prepare to leave Edinburgh Zoo to return to China.

From Thursday, November 30, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) will restrict access to Yang Guang and Tian Tian – the two giant pandas housed at the zoo.

The pair's enclosure will be closed off as zoo officials prepare to ship them back to China early next month.

Giant panda Yang Guang at Edinburgh Zoo. Picture: RZSS/PA Wire

Yang Guang and Tian Tian arrived in Scotland in December 2011 as part of a ten-year agreement between RZSS and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, which was later extended by two years.

Giant pandas generally live between 15 and 20 years.

Despite efforts to breed the two pandas, female Tian Tian, whose name means Sweetie, has not produced a cub during her time with Yang Guang (Sunshine) in Edinburgh.

David Field, RZSS chief executive, said, "With more than a million species at risk of extinction and our natural world in crisis, Yang Guang and Tian Tian have had an incredible impact by inspiring millions of people to care about nature.

"That added interest in the pandas' departure this year has allowed us to connect many more people with the conservation causes that RZSS is actively involved with, and with nature more generally.

"Through scientific research by our expert veterinary and keeper teams, working alongside the University of Edinburgh, we have made a significant contribution to our understanding around giant panda fertility, husbandry, and veterinary care - which has been of real benefit to efforts to protect this amazing species in China.

"It is encouraging that in recent years the outlook for giant pandas in the wild has improved, which gives real hope for the future."

The giant panda habitat at Edinburgh Zoo will become home to a new species that RZSS can support in the wild, which will be announced next year.

Mr Field said in September: "Our vision is of a world where nature is protected, valued and loved, which is why we have made an important pledge to reverse the decline of at least 50 species by 2030. We have reached significant milestones recently with the release of wildcats, pine hoverflies and dark bordered beauty moths in the Scottish Highlands.”