A short history of panda fever worldwide

( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2017-07-06

UK

Tian Tian, a giant panda eats bamboo in the outdoor enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo ,Scotland April 12, 2016. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh will perform research into the complexity of the panda diet. [Photo/Agencies]

Tian Tian and Yang Guang, who moved to Britain in 2011, were the only two giant pandas in the UK. Their arrival brought a new impetus to the local economy in Scotland. The annual income of Edinburgh Zoo has risen from 5 million pounds ($6 million) to 15 million pounds ($18 million) since the pandas' arrival, with a 51% increase in visitors. The zoo even installed a panda cam for people to view the pandas' daily life through the internet.

One key issue that concerned most British during the Scotland Independence Referendum is who the two pandas would belong to. As a gift to the UK, they would be moved to England if Scotland became independent, which angered the Scottish, whose rallying cry was "Keep your hands off our pandas".