We're getting giant pandas

[LemonDifficult]

Really, I shouldn't be so excited, but how cool is the panda news?

Amazing divine-looking rare animals, icons that sum up all the WWF/conservation efforts of the last 40 years and I'll be able to take the DCs to see them. Brilliant.

Anyone else into this?

Erm where?

Edinburgh- poor pandas. They could be somewhere that had a natural climate but they get Edinburgh. A breeding pair- bet they don't bred. Why on earth didn't singapore get them.

They are a gesture of goodwill linked to some trade agreement really hacked me off- be nice to china and get pandas- no thought for welfare of the animals.

Its really hard to bred pandas in captivity, good luck to them.

Masses of thought went into the welfare of the animals. And I'm not sure it is a bad thing that they are considered to be of such high value that they're involved in international trade deals. I bet there's plenty species of whale that would love to swap status.

Edinburgh is an excellent zoo and our climate isn't going to be a problem (except maybe for the visitors).

No-one else excited then?

Their natural climate is damp so they maybe ok!

This is one of 'those' gifts, isn't it? We probably don't want the pandas but can't turn the things down for fear of it being perceived as a major snub. Can't shove them in a museum like other trade gifts. Can't sell them on E-bay. Disaster if they get ill or fail to breed. The FO will be kicking themselves.

I remember the sad pandas in London zoo. I have also seen the one in San Diego. It's really sad- look at the panda cam (that says it all really). Masses of screaming people

I just think these pandas could live in privacy somewhere and would have a better chance.

chris Packham doesn't like pandas

What did they ever do to him?

chris packham and pandas

OK, there are other species that deserve our support but it's crazy to say we can't afford to look after them. I mean, of course we can! In that article Chris Packham doesn't say how much pandas are costing, but it's not exactly going to be a significant part of global economic decision making.

Besides, the panda - like the rhino and tiger - are a task we've set ourselves. Their survival is crucial to how we perceive and value endangered species. So if we can let something as iconic die out, what chance for the weird shrew-type things from the Amazon?

Oh dear, oh no, this got political. And I was hoping for a 'Yippeee, the Pandas came to us!'-type thread, in which we all got excited about the pandas and reminisced about conservation science projects stuck up on sugar paper in the school corridor.

Well I used to sponsor a panda from WWF, it was only £4 a month, I did it because pandas were my sons school project and I thought it would be a good way of getting him more knowledge.

Newgold- apparently a pair are a million a year- for £4 a month you probably got a toe nail.

Lol! We did get a nice wee cuddly panda toy and a picture of "his" panda.

Yay, Pandas!

Saw the london ones years ago.

They are cuuute

but have v low sex drive (am panda)

They could be somewhere that had a natural climate but they get Edinburgh.

I think they like it cool and damp; Edinburgh is cool and damp. Not sure about the wind though. What they don't like is being near humans.

I think that a low sex drive may show high development.

Who needs offspring when there's so much stuff to be eating? I sympathise.

I'm with Chris Packham, and I think this is a very convenient way for the Chinese to look good on the environmental stage when in fact they have an appalling track record and animal rights in China are non-existant.

Pandas are the most boring animal in the world. Fact.
When we lived in Thailand we flew up to Chiang Mai. the zoo had recently taken delivery of a pair that were supposed to breed. These characters just sat around. Our DD caused more interest (blonde and fair).
Just before we left, the zoo had been showing the male panda porn - others breeding in an attempt to get him interested.