Only one of our pandas is nominated in the first ever Giant Panda Zoo Awards 2012. And Edinburgh Zoo says is delighted to announce that it has been nominated in several different categories.
- Favourite Panda Outside of China – Yang Guang (Sunshine)
- Human Panda Personality – Iain Valentine
- Panda Campaign of the Year – Edinburgh Zoo’s first breeding season
Amongst the nominees for ‘Favourite Panda Outside of China’ is Edinburgh Zoo’s very own male panda Yang Guang.
The awards nominations – which include many other zoos around the world that also have pandas – have been announced on the Giant Panda Zoo website. The website was established in 2000 by Jeroen Jacobs for giant panda fans, and aims to support and provide up to date information on panda conservation across the globe.
Iain Valentine, Director of Giant Panda Project & Strategic Innovations at Edinburgh Zoo, said:
“We’re delighted to be shortlisted in a number of award categories as part of the Giant Panda Zoo Awards 2012. Run by a panda fan, for panda fans worldwide, the website and its regular newsletters are a hugely informative tool regarding giant pandas and their conservation.
“It’s particularly nice to see that it’s now Yang Guang’s turn to shine with his nomination for ‘Favourite Panda Outside of China’, as at the end of 2011 our female panda Tian Tian was nominated as one of the BBC’s females of the year. I’m of course honoured to be nominated as a ‘Human Panda Personality’ and flattered to sit alongside my fellow nominees. Our final nomination for ‘Panda Campaign of the Year’ for the first breeding season here at Edinburgh Zoo is also very timely as we start to approach the second panda breeding season. Last spring we were delighted that so many people were interested in following the mating season story of Tian Tian and Yang Guang, with over 930 million having the opportunity to see, hear or read the story and coverage appearing in 18 countries around the world.”
To cast your vote in support of Edinburgh Zoo, please visit www.giantpandazoo.com/panda/giant-panda-zoo-awards-2012-about
Be sure to be quick with your vote, as voting closes on 23rd January 2013. The results will be announced shortly after on 24thJanuary 2013.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
