Brown urged to be champion of conservation

Animal welfare groups are increasing the pressure on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to end speculation about the controversial deal which would result in the transfer of two giant pandas from China to Edinburgh Zoo. It was recently revealed that the zoo intends spending £2 million ‘renting’ the animals from the Chinese Government, and that the plan has the support of Alex Salmond, the Princess Royal and Prince Andrew.

It had been reported that Mr. Brown may close the deal with Chinese officials during his visit to Beijing for the Olympic closing ceremony but information received direct from the Prime Minister's office today, reveals that this is not on his current agenda.

Will Travers, CEO of the Born Free Foundation, said: “This publicity-driven commercialisation of wild animals makes a mockery of the desperate need for genuine conservation efforts. It’s a throwback to another age when wild animals were unceremoniously shunted round the world as ‘diplomatic gifts’, a practice countries like India have banned. I am convinced that Alex Salmond, members of the Royal Family, Edinburgh Zoo and their sponsors, Royal Bank of Scotland, have seriously misjudged the mood of the British people. I urge them to ‘step away from the panda’ and for Prime Minister Brown to confirm to his Chinese hosts that no such trade will take place."

Dr Richard Dixon, Scottish director of environmental organisation WWF, has previously stated that "There is little direct conservation benefit to bringing pandas to Edinburgh Zoo. There is also no guarantee that the considerable fees the zoo will be paying will feed directly into panda conservation back in China."

Ross Minett, Campaigns Director for Advocates for Animals said: “Gordon Brown must take this opportunity to end Edinburgh Zoo’s foolhardy plan to rent a pair of giant pandas from the Chinese Government. The use of wild animals as diplomatic gifts is largely consigned to the past, where it belongs. Should a pair of pandas be used in this unethical manner, this would reflect poorly on the UK and Scottish Governments and bring shame on our countries. If Edinburgh Zoo really wishes to help Giant Pandas, it should focus on supporting in situ conservation and habitat protection in Chinese panda reserves. Giant pandas must not end up behind bars in Edinburgh Zoo. The Prime Minister has a golden opportunity to end this ludicrous plan.”

Ross continues: "Members of the Royal family are doing themselves no favours by interfering in this matter. Plans to bring giant pandas to Scotland are clearly primarily politically and commercially motivated and not something which the Royal family should be trying to influence."

Craig Redmond, Campaigns Manager at the Captive Animals' Protection Society quotes: "The involvement of Scotland's First Minister and HRH Princess Royal shows that Edinburgh Zoo has friends in high places to help them secure this commercial transaction. If only the animals had such influential friends who could help prevent two giant pandas being flown from China to spend ten years in a cage in Edinburgh. Conservation will not be helped by keeping animals in zoos and political influence would be better spent supporting efforts that already exist in China to protect the giant panda's natural habitats.”

For more information, log on to Bornfree.org.uk.