Alison MacLean and two other keepers from Edinburgh Zoo have made their first visit to China to receive training on looking after Giant Pandas.

She said: “It’s a real honour. I’m extremely excited to be working so closely with these precious bears.”

"The training is very similar to how we work with the bears currently at Edinburgh Zoo and I find it essential in caring for such animals. It enables us to work closely and safely with the bears and means we can spot any physical changes quickly."

She will return in the coming months to continue her training with Giant Pandas, which will be very important for the welfare of the pandas and noticing if Tian Tian NameTian Tian Chinese Names甜甜 Stud Number569 Date of Birth2003-Aug-24 SexFemale Current LocationEDINBURGH Born atBeijing Zoological Gardens MotherNu Nu - #421 FatherYing Ying - #369 has become pregnant in the future.

We wish Alison all the best and good luck in the future with looking after our favourite animals.