Fragrance firm help to get pandas in the mood

A LEADING deodorant has been announced as the official sponsoring partner for the panda mating season at Edinburgh Zoo.

Lynx have provided a five-figure sum to sponsor the enclosure complete with private “love tunnel” area where the animals could mate, a webcam, and is also paying for motorcycle couriers which bike sample of Tian Tian’s urine samples to Chester Zoo to test for hormone levels indicating she is ready to breed.

Tian Tain will be fertile for around three days in the near future.

When hormone levels indicate the time is nearing, the pandas who have so far been kept separate, will meet up.

But giant pandas – Tian Tian, the female and the male Yang Guang – will not actually be sprayed with Lynx.

Kieran Danaher, from the company, said: “It’s the perfect time to partner with Edinburgh Zoo and use our attraction know-how to help out with panda mating season.”

Iain Valentine, director of research and conservation at the zoo, said scent was important in the panda world.

“In the wild pandas use a chemical communication system involving pheromones to locate and choose mates.

“Scent is also how males will know that female pandas are fertile.

“Female pandas are notoriously picky about male pandas.

“However the signs have been good to date between Tian Tian and Yang Guang and she has had time to get used to the scents and sounds of Yang Guang.