The UK's only giant pandas have set off for China after leaving Edinburgh Zoo.<br /><br />Tian Tian and Yang Guang departed the capital's airport for Chengdu at about 13:40 on Monday.<br /><br />The animals were loaded aboard a Boeing 777 China Southern cargo plane in specially-built crates for the 13-hour flight.<br /><br />It brings their 12-year loan to Scotland to an end after a breeding programme failed to produce a cub.<br /><br />The pandas have been in isolation in Scotland since the start of November in a bid to lessen the risk of catching any diseases.<br /><br />It is expected the animals will be quarantined for a brief period in China before being introduced to their new home in Sichuan province.<br /><br />The pair have been in Scotland since December 2011.<br /><br />Their loan was extended for an additional two years to make up for the zoo's closure during the Covid pandemic.<br /><br />Conservationists had hoped female panda Tian Tian and male Yang Guang would breed while in Scotland.<br /><br />However, the animals were unable to conceive despite several attempts.<br /><br />The zoo and veterinarians from China made eight unsuccessful attempts at artificial insemination between the pair.<br /><br />The last attempt was in 2021, after which the giant panda breeding programme was stopped.
