Favourite panda award for Edinburgh's Tian Tian
A giant panda living at Edinburgh Zoo has won an international award. Tian Tian, also known as Sweetie, has won gold in the the Giant Panda Zoo Awards.
The awards saw panda enthusiasts from around the world vote for their favourite panda outside of China. Nearly a fifth of the votes went to Tian Tian.
It is only the second year in which the awards have been held. The winners were name at a ceremony at Zoo Atlanta.
Tian Tian has already enjoyed the limelight. She was named in the 2011 BBC’s Women of the Year list alongside names like Pippa Middleton and Adele.
Edinburgh Zoo's male giant panda, Yang Guang, also known as Sunshine, won silver in last year's favourite panda outside of China category.
Alison Maclean, team Lleader for giant pandas at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to accept the award on behalf of Tian Tian for Favourite Panda Outside of China. Of course, she is now on equal par with Yang Guang as he got silver last year for Favourite Panda Outside of China.
"We think it’s absolutely amazing that everybody feels the same way about our female panda as we do; it’s just great and thank you to everyone for voting for us.”
Image courtesy of Edinburgh Zoo
Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.
