Memphis Zoo Memphis Zoo News

All of this nonsense is coming from the state-owned Chinese papers that should not be called "news"papers. They're equivalent to the tabloids that say celebrities have been taken by aliens. If there was actual abuse, China would have demanded the animals back, or at the least sent over their own zoologists to check on them. This BS requires Memphis actively abusing - not just neglecting - their animals for a long time, but then also faking data and images to send to the researchers in China who monitored the daily information.

Does that seem like something Memphis would do? With how popular pandas are, and how rare they are in the USA, does it seem logical that the few that got to work with them would actively do these things? Or that no one would whistleblow about it?

Think about what you read and where it's coming from. Don't support these anti-zoo lies.
 
I do not support these anti zoo lies, but I do, however need to question the authencity of these photos.

If these are truly Le Le or Ya Ya, then I also really want to question what is actually happening there. I'm asking here because I know for sure at least someone here who probably has visited there or knows someone who works at Memphis. So I really wanna get to the bottom of what is actually happening instead of just dismissing that post as an anti zoo lies.
 

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Emanuel Theodorus said:
I do not support these anti zoo lies, but I do, however need to question the authencity of these photos.

If these are truly Le Le or Ya Ya, then I also really want to question what is actually happening there. I'm asking here because I know for sure at least someone here who probably has visited there or knows someone who works at Memphis. So I really wanna get to the bottom of what is actually happening instead of just dismissing that post as an anti zoo lies.
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the zoo on several occasions has commented that YaYa has a skin disease that causes her fur to fall out, adding that she is a geriatric animal she won't look her best despite being a healthy bear, other than her looking a bit bad due to the skin disease she passes every health test that is conducted when Chinese specialists fly in to check on her
 
King of Komodo Dragons said:
the zoo on several occasions has commented that YaYa has a skin disease that causes her fur to fall out, adding that she is a geriatric animal she won't look her best despite being a healthy bear, other than her looking a bit bad due to the skin disease she passes every health test that is conducted when Chinese specialists fly in to check on her
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Ah, I see. Is this skin disease a genetic disease or how long she already has it? Also, how true is the claim of Memphis is running out of fresh bamboos for their pandas?
 
Emanuel Theodorus said:
I do not support these anti zoo lies, but I do, however need to question the authencity of these photos.

If these are truly Le Le or Ya Ya, then I also really want to question what is actually happening there. I'm asking here because I know for sure at least someone here who probably has visited there or knows someone who works at Memphis. So I really wanna get to the bottom of what is actually happening instead of just dismissing that post as an anti zoo lies.
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What do you think these images show?
 
TinoPup said:
What do you think these images show?
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For me personally, these photos definitely doesn't show a healthy looking Panda, which is why for one, I want to know whether these are actually YaYa or Le Le and not any other pandas taken somewhere else, and for two, if they are, an explanation of why they look like this.
 
I have a colleague who works with them directly at Memphis Zoo. As mentioned, it's a skin condition the zoo has been transparent about for years. Those pictures are accurate and real images of her. The keepers conduct not only daily, but HOURLY records that they are mandated to keep and are in constant contact with Chinese officials regarding her eating habits, behavior, and stool consistencies. It's a pain for all involved, but just goes to show how dedicated the staff are at Memphis.

Also, they're not running out of fresh bamboo...
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
I have a colleague who works with them directly at Memphis Zoo. As mentioned, it's a skin condition the zoo has been transparent about for years. Those pictures are accurate and real images of her. The keepers conduct not only daily, but HOURLY records that they are mandated to keep and are in constant contact with Chinese officials regarding her eating habits, behavior, and stool consistencies. It's a pain for all involved, but just goes to show how dedicated the staff are at Memphis.

Also, they're not running out of fresh bamboo...
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Thank you for the confirmation. With these pictures circulating online it is definitely kinda hard to know the authencity of the viral "allegedly" neglected looking pandas and especially with YaYa not looking like the healthiest panda either. Now I'm only hoping there's a way for Memphis to fight out the allegations or at least, send Ya Ya back to China as soon as possible to not get further tangled in all of this.
 
Emanuel Theodorus said:
Thank you for the confirmation. With these pictures circulating online it is definitely kinda hard to know the authencity of the viral "allegedly" neglected looking pandas and especially with YaYa not looking like the healthiest panda either. Now I'm only hoping there's a way for Memphis to fight out the allegations or at least, send Ya Ya back to China as soon as possible to not get further tangled in all of this.
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The loan was not extended for the two, so she will be returning to China by the end of the year or early next. I'd imagine the timeline is being pushed up after Le Le passed.
 
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The intention of the deliberate misinformation was likely to prevent the extension of the loan and to justify the pandas being taken home as a patriotic or nationalistic concern instead of as a result of the deteriorating political relationship between the two nations. Some damage is being done to Memphis' reputation in the meantime. Ya Ya is heading back in a month, and will be welcomed back as a victim of abuse and mistreatment who was heroically rescued, rather than the routine scheduled return of a national symbol.
 
Honestly I personally don’t think moving Ya Ya back to China would not be a good idea. For starters a large transfer to any animal is stressful and hard on their body and it doesn’t help she is up there in years and has a skin condition. But I have 0 say in this so…just expressing my concern of moving such an old animal across the world.
 
The plan for Ya Ya to leave is within the next two weeks. I could be incorrect about this info and correct me if I am wrong but if I remember correctly the contract ends on April 7th and the zoo has applied for an export permit for her scheduling her to leave on April 12th.

On another note, the zoo has a program working with locals where the zoo will buy bamboo from people if the quality meets the zoo's standards. Also, there are two videos the zoo posted over the years discussing the bamboo issue.
 
Calvin Stevens said:
On another note, the zoo has a program working with locals where the zoo will buy bamboo from people if the quality meets the zoo's standards. Also, there are two videos the zoo posted over the years discussing the bamboo issue.
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To add for those that might not know, a lot of zoos do this with things like browse. They'll have a regular supplier, but they'll also take untreated, etc. stuff if it meets their standards. Stuff tends to come more from things like roadwork crews than peoples' yards or anything. Local is cheaper, it fosters good relationships with the community, and makes use of vegetation that might otherwise just be dumped.
 
Farewell video to Ya Ya:

Memphis Zoo animals say farewell to Ya Ya

Memphis Zoo have posted a video farewell to Ya Ya, encouraging people to see her before she leaves. A date isn’t mentioned, but it supports comments above her export is imminent.

I wish her a safe return to China. Memphis Zoo have done their best for her, despite the challenges they’ve faced of negative media attention and her chronic skin condition.
 
Wild wolverine said:
I hope the transfer goes smoothly. I can't imagine the media storm if anything even remotely negative were to occur during her shipment, given what the comment section on the zoo's social media accounts look like already. Lots of people think they're suddenly panda experts :rolleyes:
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The general public are similarly quick to condemn zoos for failing to breed Giant pandas with little to no acknowledgement zoos are working with a single pair. The facilities in China can swap out underperforming pairs at a moment’s notice and even offer females a choice of males. I was interested to learn about this species having a lek mating system from someone on here and how it can be used to enhance breeding success in captivity.

In any case, I’m confident the Memphis Zoo have done the best they can - particularly with regards to Ya Ya’s skin condition. The dedication the staff have demonstrated is admirable and it’s disappointing to see this ignored by uneducated sources looking for a sensationalised emotive story.
 
Wild wolverine said:
I hope the transfer goes smoothly. I can't imagine the media storm if anything even remotely negative were to occur during her shipment, given what the comment section on the zoo's social media accounts look like already. Lots of people think they're suddenly panda experts :rolleyes:
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They're already moving on to attacking Smithsonian on social media :( I assume Atlanta is getting the same treatment, too. It's disgusting.
 
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