Britain's only pair of pandas returned to China without offspring
A huge farewell ceremony will be held for the "sun" and "dear" panda couple.
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Edinburgh Zoo announced yesterday that after more than a decade of failed breeding attempts, the only pair of pandas on British soil will return to China this year without any offspring.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland plans to hold a "giant" farewell ceremony for the panda pair Yang Guang (the sun) and Tian Tian (dear), before they leave the country this year.
"They have been very popular with visitors," said the association's chief executive, David Field. "They have helped connect millions of people with nature and raise money for nature conservation."
The panda pair arrived in Edinburgh in December 2011.
But it soon became apparent that the couple had no interest in reproduction.
After several failed mating attempts, the female, Tian Tian, was artificially impregnated in 2013 and 2014, but to no avail.
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