Zoo bosses expect to sign a lease extending the residency of Edinburgh’s giant pandas beyond the end of the year, it has been revealed.
Female Tian Tian and male counterpart Yang Guang arrived in the capital as part of a ten-year agreement with China in 2011, but are due to return to their homeland by December.
High level talks with Beijing remain open despite criticism over the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's (RZSS) breeding programme from animal rights groups.
But emails between the organisation's chief executive, David Field, and Scottish Government chiefs reveal an extension to the lease - which includes a £1 million payment to support giant panda conservation, welfare and research - is due to be rubber stamped next month.
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed a host of communications between conservation and government officials regarding the animals, which have been popular attractions at the zoo since their arrival, over the last 12 months.
In February, one note suggests that China "wants the RZSS to visit in early summer to sign the extension," though it is unknown if this trip will take place amid the coronavirus pandemic.
It also revealed the US embassy set up a global summit engaging all countries with pandas in their care to discuss and analyse the differences in each individual agreement.
But in another email, going from Field to an unnamed government official, reads: "The agreement was signed in January 2011 but the effective end is December 2021.
"Any new extension should be agreed by June 2021."
It comes despite initial fears the zoo may not be able to renew the contract due to financial pressure following the pandemic.
The pandas cost some £35,000 per month in upkeep costs and last year, emails revealed the Scottish Government had sent requests for support to help maintain their built environment in the zoo.
Tian Tian was artificially inseminated earlier this month for the eighth time since arriving in the Capital from China, despite coming to the end of her reproductive life.
Male Yang Guang meanwhile is intfertile after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer and animal rights group PETA accused the organisation of "sexually assaulting" the animals to put profit before animal welfare - which RZSS strenuously denies.
Keepers will not know whether or not Tian Tian is pregnant until she would be due to actually give birth in August or September, due to it being very difficult to examine if a panda is pregnant.
A spokesperson for the zoo confirmed discussions with China were "ongoing".
