Hugh Roberts, the zoo's chief executive, said the pandas would bring "massive benefits" to the zoo and the UK by supporting panda conservation and its science and education programmes.
This will be awkward for China's elite, who want to claim that all their support for panda conservation has paid off (e.g. stiff penalties for the capture of wild pandas, a logging ban, the Grain for Green policy and the rapid increase in protected areas dedicated for panda conservation).
Made up of GPS units and radio collars, the equipment was provided by Suzanne Braden, director of Pandas International, a Colorado-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting giant panda conservation efforts across the globe.
The San Diego Zoo, which has had pandas since 1996, has been similarly successful at raising money for panda conservation through its exhibit.
The Sichuan government says it is promoting "eco-tourism", but Fan Zhiyong of WWF, a conservation group (and a big contributor to panda conservation in China), is sceptical.
"Although Tian Tian has not successfully given birth, it is important for her individual biology as a female giant panda and for the future of giant panda conservation across the globe that we tried.
Using a new flight from Heathrow to Chengdu, Sichuan, one tour operator has a four-day break that includes a visit to a giant panda conservation centre.
The Chinese government and public are focused on panda conservation.
This was when the Sichuan earthquake devastated the main panda conservation centre, which meant many pandas needed re-homing.
If this leads to panda conservation that is a good thing.
