
Edinburgh Zoo’s giant pandas may have to return to China next year because of financial pressures(财务压力) brought on by COVID-19. It costs £1 million a year to lease Yang Guang and Tian Tian from Beijing. But the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which runs the zoo, had to close for three months in the summer, leading to a £2 million loss for the year.
The society’s chief executive, David Field, said the charity would have to seriously consider every possible saving including its giant panda contract. Mr Field said, “We have done all we can to protect our charity by taking a government loan, letting staff have a holiday where possible, reducing jobs where necessary and starting a fundraising activity. The support that we have received from our members and animal lovers has helped to keep our doors open and we are very grateful.”
The zoo couldn’t apply for the Government’s zoo fund, which was aimed at smaller zoos. Mr Field added, “We have to seriously consider every possible saving and this includes assessing our giant panda contract and the cost of their daily care. At this stage, it is too soon to say what the answer will be. We will be discussing next steps with our colleagues in China over the coming months.”
本时文内容由奇速英语国际教育研究院原创编写,未经书面授权,禁止复制和任何商业用途,版权所有,侵权必究!(作者投稿及时文阅读定制请联系微信:18980471698)