Oakland Zoo Baboons Replace Pandas At Oakland Zoo

snowleopard

snowleopard

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Life's harsh sometimes, isn't it? Much as I like Hamadryas, 10 years of planning and $1m to end up with 5 baboons is a heck of an anticlimax.

I have fond memories of Oakland from a visit in 1998 (probably about the time they started planning this!) so I hope they can now move on in new directions.

EDIT: reading the article more closely, it seems the pandas are still on the cards, in which case I wish them luck and hope that they don't lose out too much on this.
 
Blackduiker

Maguari said:
Life's harsh sometimes, isn't it? Much as I like Hamadryas, 10 years of planning and $1m to end up with 5 baboons is a heck of an anticlimax.

I have fond memories of Oakland from a visit in 1998 (probably about the time they started planning this!) so I hope they can now move on in new directions.

EDIT: reading the article more closely, it seems the pandas are still on the cards, in which case I wish them luck and hope that they don't lose out too much on this.
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Don't hold your breath. The Chinese officials are notorious for leading zoos on about Pandas and Golden Monkeys. I wish you the best, but they don't seem to be to quick to send these rare national treasures to any California zoos other than San Diego. In the L.A. Zoo's case, it seems the argument was that the Pandas would be to close in proximity to San Diegos Pandas. That was the official excuse from the Chinese for why we were denied them here. The Golden Monkeys fiasco still baffles all understanding.
 
Omaha: Promised Pandas (China backed out)
Albeqeurque: Promised Pandas (China backed out)
LA: Promised Pandas, the proposed Omaha and Albeqerque ones (China backed out
Oakland: Promised Pandas (Still "waiting")
Toronto: Due to recieve pandas (Highly douby China will stay in the deal)
LA: Promised Golden Monkeys (Built the exhibit and everyhting, China backed out)

As you can see, China doesn't like following though with theses "promises" so don't expect pandas to happen for sure (And if it happens, most likely years away)
 
@ColumbusZoo001: I agree! That neatly manicured lawn is a major disappointment, even though Hamadryas baboons are always a joy to watch.
 
This thread is now almost two and a half years old and still no Oakland pandas. I don't think that they're coming.
 
DavidBrown said:
This thread is now almost two and a half years old and still no Oakland pandas. I don't think that they're coming.
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The "Panda People" over on Facebook (it's a group) are still discussing the possibility of Pandas in Oakland and still seem to think they'll eventually show up, especially in light of China finally sending some to Scotland. Who knows. But I'd be pretty peeved if I was a zoo that spent a boatload of money to build an exhibit for a specific animal only to have the home country of that animal suddenly yell "JUST KIDDING!". Personally, I think more than just 4 zoos should be able to have Pandas...assuming they can afford the rent. hahahaha.
 
azcheetah2 said:
The "Panda People" over on Facebook (it's a group) are still discussing the possibility of Pandas in Oakland and still seem to think they'll eventually show up, especially in light of China finally sending some to Scotland. Who knows. But I'd be pretty peeved if I was a zoo that spent a boatload of money to build an exhibit for a specific animal only to have the home country of that animal suddenly yell "JUST KIDDING!". Personally, I think more than just 4 zoos should be able to have Pandas...assuming they can afford the rent. hahahaha.
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I wonder how much longer the present situation will prevail. The animal is starting to breed regularly outside China, and inside China it's pretty obvious it's breeding very well. Quite how much longer the Chinese will be able to ration the supply of these animals strikes me as questionable.
 
2018 and still no pandas. Most likely we're not getting any pandas but it would be nice. The zoo could have a new asian section with pandas, amur leopards, and other east asian animals. It's nice to imagine but I don't know what Oakland zoo plans on doing after California trail, they don't really have a master plan (or a released one) so only time can tell...
 
Sorry to bump an old thread but I think a major reason for China backing out of the panda deal might have been Oakland zoo’s close association with Taiwan. The sun bear exhibit was funded by Taiwan tourism so one can assume due to the political climate between Taiwan and China, the fact Oakland was working with Taiwan could be a contribution towards China’s backing out. Not to mention that the zoo now has a sister zoo in Taiwan.
 
TheEthiopianWolf03 said:
Sorry to bump an old thread but I think a major reason for China backing out of the panda deal might have been Oakland zoo’s close association with Taiwan. The sun bear exhibit was funded by Taiwan tourism so one can assume due to the political climate between Taiwan and China, the fact Oakland was working with Taiwan could be a contribution towards China’s backing out. Not to mention that the zoo now has a sister zoo in Taiwan.
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The connection between Oakland and Taiwan only seems to go back to 2015

... and you know that there are China-owned pandas in Taiwan at Taipei Zoo, right?
 
Chlidonias said:
The connection between Oakland and Taiwan only seems to go back to 2015

... and you know that there are China-owned pandas in Taiwan at Taipei Zoo, right?
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In the case of the panda diplomacy I’ve read that there are many Taiwanese people who are upset with the arrival of pandas on their island because they see it as Communist China’s attempts of full government power over the island via diplomacy but I might be wrong.

The sun bear exhibit is sponsored by Taiwan tourism since 2010 and sponsorship could have been planned a few years beforehand (unless I am miss understanding zoo sponsored exhibits).

Anyways this is just a theory of a factor that could have led to China’s decision so I’m sure there are other problems to this besides the ones you listed.
 
DavidBrown said:
With giant pandas on the wane in North America and no pandas seen in Oakland in the 15 years since this thread started, it seems safe to assume that they aren't coming to Oakland Zoo.
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Which begs a question, are there any US or Canadian zoos in conversation to have them? It seems that a decade or so ago there were a handful of zoos that were in some level of discussion, but now I am not aware of any, and the two that are left are tenuous.

This may be a question better posed in the NA forum.
 
Jxckson said:
this kinda off topic but how many zoos in the US have had or still had Pandas?
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Zoo Atlanta still has their pandas for awhile longer, but they are leaving soon. By the end of 2024 there will likely be no giant pandas in the United States....although supposedly China is sending more pandas to San Diego Zoo, so who knows...
 
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