It’s panda-monium when bears earn their stripes as comic cover stars

EDINBURGH Zoo’s giant pandas are to be given the honour of appearing alongside Dennis the Menace and Gnasher in The Beano.

Tian Tian and Yang Guang will star in the latest edition of the much-loved comic, which sees Dennis visit the zoo. Mike Stirling, editor-in-chief of The Beano and BeanoMax, said: “Dennis and Gnasher’s wild behaviour brought complete panda-monium to Edinburgh Zoo when they gatecrashed to invite Tian Tian and Yang Guang to become our first ever panda cover stars.

“Our giant panda pals were happy to pose for The Beano’s artists, and actually turned out to be giant pranksters, sharing a few wild menacing tricks of their own.”

Sharon Simpson, head of marketing for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), said: “Edinburgh Zoo was delighted to be approached by The Beano to create a special panda edition. Being immortalised in this iconic way is testament to the the popularity and ‘celebrity’ of our giant panda pair. Since their arrival they have fast become central to Scottish culture, and the latest honour bestowed upon them and the RZSS is a real privilege.”