Have a crate flight! Pandas all set for a nap on farewell journey
- Panda followers are visiting Edinbrugh Zoo of their droves to say farewell earlier than the enclosure is closed to the general public, with ultimate viewing on Thursday
The UK’S solely big pandas will fly to China ‘in the next week’, it was revealed yesterday.
Edinburgh Zoo’s star points of interest Yang Guang and Tian Tian – also called Sunshine and Sweetie – are already in coaching for his or her imminent flight dwelling.
They have been sleeping of their travelling crates in order that when the time involves fly, it will likely be similar to travelling ‘in their beds’.
Panda followers are visiting of their droves to say farewell earlier than the enclosure is closed to the general public, with ultimate viewing on Thursday.
Yang Guang and Tian Tian, above, turned the primary big pandas within the UK for 17 years once they arrived in Edinburgh in December 2011
David Field, Chief Executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), revealed the plans are nicely underway.
He confirmed that, though the ultimate particulars are nonetheless to be confirmed by the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA), the animals will fly direct from Edinburgh to Chengdu.
Mr Field stated: ‘They’ll be going out within the subsequent week. We’ve simply bought to finalise all of the final well being exams and get the ultimate licenses via.
‘The flights are all being organised by our Chinese colleagues, the CWCA. There are a couple of slots.’
Yang Guang and Tian Tian turned the primary big pandas within the UK for 17 years once they arrived in Edinburgh in December 2011.
Their return after virtually precisely 12 years has been rigorously managed, from monitoring of the animals’ well being and health to journey to the specs of their crates and efforts to familiarise the pandas with them.
The pandas will sleep of their particular person crates the night time earlier than their departure and, within the morning, be loaded right into a haulage van for transportation just some miles to Edinburgh Airport, the place they may board a chartered aeroplane.
They will probably be accompanied on board by acquainted faces together with senior animal keeper Michael Livingstone and veterinary surgeon Dr Stephanie Mota.
Mr Field stated: ‘The pandas have been introduced to their crates so they have their smells, their bedding and they feel comfortable in them. They are already sleeping in them.
‘In colloquial terms they’re travelling of their beds. They’ll simply mattress down and sleep via most of it.’
