Zoo asks for help over panda costs

ZOO bosses are set to ask for government help over the cost of bringing two giant pandas to the Capital.

Edinburgh Zoo will have to pay millions of pounds to lease Tian Tian and Yangguang from China for a decade, it was reported today.

But private sponsors have been unable to cough up the full cost for the pair, who will be Britain's first giant pandas.

Gary Wilson, chief operating officer at the zoo, said: "We will approach the Scottish Government. We are a charity and hopefully we'll be able to fund some of this through sponsorship."

But Green MSP Robin Harper said: "The money should not come from the Scottish taxpayer."

A Scottish Government spokesman added: "We are delighted to have played our part in securing the agreement to bring giant pandas to Edinburgh Zoo and have made it clear we expect funding for the pandas to come from commercial sponsorship and other revenue sources."