THE first pictures have emerged of Edinburgh Zoo’s male giant panda in the bear’s new habitat.
Yang Guang, aka Sunshine, took his first steps outside in his new home after he and the female panda Tian Tian (Sweetie) moved in last week.
The former Corstorphine Hospital next to the zoo is being redeveloped, meaning the pandas have been moved to ensure they feel no disturbance or vibrations from the building work.
Darren McGarry, head of living collections at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “It was fantastic to see Yang Guang out for the first time and exploring his new home.
“He was very excited to take a good look around, climb up the nearest tree and get up on the climbing frame.”
Measures are being put in place to move or protect other animals close to the site, while the zoo’s female panda Tian Tian also moved home last week.
The online panda cam has shown her enjoying the new habitat’s indoor area.
Visitors to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) site are being advised to check the zoo’s website for updates with a gradual public opening for the new habitat.
In April, Tian Tian was artificially inseminated during her annual health check in a new attempt to produce a cub.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here