Pandas arrive in Edinburgh

Tian Tian and Yang Guang arrived at Edinburgh Airport at 1pm on a specially-chartered non-stop flight from China.

The eight-year-old breeding pair then made the short journey to their new home at Edinburgh Zoo, where they will stay for the next 10 years.

Tian Tian, whose name means “sweetie”, and Yang Guang, meaning “sunlight”, travelled from China on board a Boeing 777F flight dubbed the FedEx “Panda Express”, along with a vet and two animal handlers.

Four pilots with “extensive experience” in transporting some of the world’s most precious cargo, including white rhinos and penguins, were also on the flight.

The FedEx plane touched down just after 1pm, with the first sighting of the pandas at around 1.40pm.

They were unloaded from the aircraft to the sound of bagpipes and cheers, with female panda Tian Tian brought out first.

The flight crew was met on the tarmac by a delegation which included Mr Moore, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Edinburgh’s Lord Provost George Grubb.

The animals, who were given an in-flight meal of bamboo, apples, carrots and a special “panda cake”, were greeted at the airport by a large media presence, including foreign journalists.

Their arrival marks the culmination of a five-year effort to bring the giant pandas to Scotland.

They will now have two weeks to settle into their new enclosure before going on display to the public.

It is hoped that the pandas, the first to live in the UK for 17 years, will eventually give birth to cubs.

Zoo bosses have described their arrival as a “historic occasion” for the visitor attraction and the UK as a whole.

The Scottish Government and tourism officials hope the animals’ presence will boost the economy and visitor numbers to the country.

Scottish ministers also said the loan of the pandas symbolises a “growing friendship” between Scotland and China. First Minister Alex Salmond is in China at the moment.

However animal welfare campaigners have criticised the move, suggesting it has more to do with commercial deals and was not a credible way to go about saving the endangered species.

Sweetie and Sunlight were born in 2003 and lived at the Ya’an reserve in Chengdu, China.

During their time in Edinburgh, they will be in the care of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore was at the airport to welcome the pandas.

He said: “The arrival of Tian Tian and Yang Guang in Scotland marks another significant chapter in the relationship between China and the UK.

“The pair will be a huge asset to the Zoo and Edinburgh and today marks the culmination of a great deal of work by UK Government ministers and officials to bring the pandas here.

“That has been made possible by our influence on the world stage and our international network of relations. The pandas are a symbol of the regard in which the UK is held around the world. I have no doubt they will prove a huge attraction and warmly welcome them to their new home here in Scotland.”

Meanwhile, First Minister Alex Salmond, who is currently in China, will thank the Chinese vice premier, Li Keqiang, in a meeting in Beijing tomorrow.

Mr Salmond said: “As panda-mania hits Scotland, and we extend a warm Scottish welcome to Tian Tian and Yang Guang, I am delighted to have the opportunity to personally thank the Chinese government and extend our thanks to vice premier Li Keqiang, who visited Edinburgh himself earlier this year.

“The great gift of these giant pandas symbolises the great and growing relationship between Scotland and China which we will take further forward tomorrow when vice premier Li and I meet and discuss Scotland and China’s business, cultural and diplomatic links which are growing ever stronger to the benefit of both nations.”