Edinburgh Zoo s giant pandas may have to return to China next year at the end of their 10-year contract with the Chinese government due to financial pressures amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which runs both Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park, faced enormous financial pressure when it was forced to close for three months during the summer.
Costing about £1 million a year to lease the mating pair - female Tian Tian and male Yang Guang - chief executive of the Society David Field says the charity will have to seriously consider every potential saving including their giant panda contract.
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Edinburgh Zoo s giant pandas may leave the UK next year
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Edinburgh Zoo could lose its giant pandas next year due to coronavirus financial impact
The 10-year contract for the mating pair is set to come to an end next year and it costs the zoo around £1m a year to lease the two animals.
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