Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 16th December 2011
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel
Public to see Giant Pandas at Edinburgh Zoo
Photo: Robyn Rowles
Tian Tian and Yung Guang to go on display

Edinburgh Zoo's new star attractions, the giant pandas Tian Tian ('Sweetie') and Yang Guang ('Sunshine'), are going on display to the general public for the first time.

The pair originally arrived in the UK on December 4th, but their keepers felt it best to let them recover from their trip from China before they were introduced to the public. They were welcomed to the UK in a ceremony attended by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Secretary Michael Moore, Edinburgh's Lord Provost George Grubb and the Chinese Charge d'Affaires Qin Gang.

The first six hundred visitors to their new ￡250,000 enclosures at Edinburgh Zoo booked far in advance of the 9.15 AM showing, but subsequent showings will occur every half  hour. Visitor numbers are already expected to be double the usual of a Friday in December, and Zoo officials also said that pre-booked tickets for the first weekend were up 80% on that expected of a December weekend.

It is hoped that the pair will be able to breed. Tian Tian has had cubs in the past and Yang Guang has previously fathered cubs, although they have not mated together. The pair will be introduced to each other when Tian Tian comes into season, which is expected to be some time around February or March. The Giant Panda is so severely endangered it is at risk of outright extinction, so any cubs would be welcomed warmly by conservationists.

Edinburgh's world-renowned Zoo is delighted with their new animals, but the pandas will hopefully appreciate their new surrounding too. BBC Scotland correspondent Colin Blane said: "I have been told the male panda, Yang Guang, is very fond of a roll around in the snow. The conditions should be to his liking.”

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.