Zoo Atlanta Zoo Atlanta News 2024

I wasn't aware the pandas were leaving this year! Atlanta is my closest zoo and the one I visit most often, last in 2022. An opportunity to see giant pandas was always an appreciated highlight, but I guess I took them for granted, too. I'll need to go visit them one last time as soon as I can. Do we have any idea what the plan will be for their habitat going forward?

And was Chelsea the zoo's only tiger? I only saw one on my last several visits. She (if it was Chelsea) was obliging enough to slowly walk past the glass in front of me on the last visit. Close enough to touch. You don't always get experiences like that with big cats. Definitely something I'll remember.
 
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JAG said:
I wasn't aware the pandas were leaving this year! Atlanta is my closest zoo and the one I visit most often, last in 2022. An opportunity to see giant pandas was always an appreciated highlight, but I guess I took them for granted, too. I'll need to go visit them one last time as soon as I can. Do we have any idea what the plan will be for their habitat going forward?

And was Chelsea the zoo's only tiger? I only saw one on my last several visits. She (if it was Chelsea) was obliging enough to slowly walk past the glass in front of me on the last visit. Close enough to touch. You don't always get experiences like that with big cats. Definitely something I'll remember.
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There is currently a male tiger at the zoo named Bob.
 
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JAG said:
Do we have any idea what the plan will be for their habitat going forward?
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Nothing has been stated. This is just speculation on my part, but I assume they're going to try and do everything they can to get more pandas before they move anything else into the exhibit. Of course, we have no idea of the full extent to which negotiations are ongoing behind the scenes, but I just can't see them not fighting tooth and nail to get some more.

Off the top of my head, other zoos that have either lost or failed to secure pandas have used those spaces for red panda, clouded leopard, baboons, and another bear species - Atlanta already has most of these species, so it's hard for me to imagine what else could feasibly occupy the current panda area.
 
biggest_dreamer said:
Of course, we have no idea of the full extent to which negotiations are ongoing behind the scenes, but I just can't see them not fighting tooth and nail to get some more.
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The zoo seems pretty clear that there have not been any negotiations, sadly. This is from Facebook last Friday:
While Zoo Atlanta remains committed to the stewardship and long-term conservation of the species, no discussions have yet taken place with partners in China as to the future of the Zoo’s giant panda program following the expiration of Zoo Atlanta’s current agreement.
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I hope they can still reach an agreement in the future, and they could be talking informally, but "no discussions" is pretty disappointing to read.
 
Oof, I somehow missed that. My main takeaway from that update was that nothing had changed and the timeline is still fairly vague, so I clearly just glossed over that part. I hope it's more because it's "too soon" or something and not that either party is disinterested in their return.
 
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