Edinburgh Zoo might have to send their two giant pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang, back to China after the pair have been living there for a decade.
The zoo shared its worries about the two pandas in a social media post that celebrated their 10 year anniversary.
Despite many attempts, both natural breeding and artificial insemination, the pair have not managed to breed during their time at the zoo.
Thousands of visitors flock to the Scottish tourist attraction each year to see the pair.
The zoo's post read: "Ten years ago today we welcomed a very special package!
"What a decade it's been since Tian Tian and Yang Guang arrived in Edinburgh.
"We still hope to extend their stay and remain in talks with our colleagues in China. We'll update everyone as soon as we can."
Edinburgh Zoo, which pays about one million dollars a year to rent the pandas, had been hoping to reach a new lease agreement with China in summer of this year, according to a Freedom of Information request put in by Deadline News.
In January 2021, RZSS’s chief executive David Field sent an email saying: “The agreement was signed in January 2011, but the effective end is December 2021.
“Any new extension should be agreed by June 2021.”
It was initially hoped that Tian Tian and Yang Guang would breed and produce panda cubs in Scotland. Unfortunately they have not done so.
The two pandas were flown to Edinburgh Airport from the Sichuan province in the 'FedEx Panda Express' cargo plane in 2011. It was specifically chartered for their journey.
