Edinburgh Zoo Pandas at Edinburgh Zoo

[GeeZee]

{Note from mods - this thread split from here: Edinburgh Zoo news 2024 [Edinburgh Zoo]}



Nice article about the pandas final year, with one of the busiest November on record for the RZSS. Not suprised as it was the busiest I’ve ever seen it.

Panda boost for Edinburgh Zoo

I do wonder if somewhere like London or Dublin Zoo may get pandas again in the future.

 

[Cat-Man]

Nice article about the pandas final year, with one of the busiest November on record for the RZSS. Not suprised as it was the busiest I’ve ever seen it.

Panda boost for Edinburgh Zoo

I do wonder if somewhere like London or Dublin Zoo may get pandas again in the future.

London zoo will not be getting pandas. They don’t have the money or the space at this time. That’s before we even consider the political implications. Anglo-Sino relations are at historically low levels at the moment.

 

[GeeZee]

London zoo will not be getting pandas. They don’t have the money or the space at this time. That’s before we even consider the political implications. Anglo-Sino relations are at historically low levels at the moment.

Unlikely for London in the current climate yes I do agree. But I understand Madrid Zoo are getting some new pandas in the near future, and France have extended their loans recently.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

But I understand Madrid Zoo are getting some new pandas in the near future, and France have extended their loans recently.

That's actually quite the reverse of what I've been hearing lately!

As a matter of fact, I suspect that given all I've been told here and there, we will have rather fewer GP captive holdings in Europe as a whole by the end of the decade.... although your mileage may vary on whether this is a good or bad thing

 

[Laboratory 7]

Nice article about the pandas final year, with one of the busiest November on record for the RZSS. Not suprised as it was the busiest I’ve ever seen it.

Panda boost for Edinburgh Zoo

I do wonder if somewhere like London or Dublin Zoo may get pandas again in the future.

I have to ask this question, but you do know that the bamboo bears have left and aren't coming back,as I'm yet to see a post where you don't mention them, I personally think it is time for you to let them go and enjoy themselves in retirement!

 

[Cat-Man]

Yes, there has been a lot of discussion about the Pandas. FWIW I am happy for the link to the story to be posted here - it is relevant. But further speculation is becoming tedious.

 

[Cobi]

Yes, there has been a lot of discussion about the Pandas. FWIW I am happy for the link to the story to be posted here - it is relevant. But further speculation is becoming tedious.

I don’t see why people can’t discuss pandas as much as they like. If people aren’t interested - and that’s completely legitimate - then they don’t have to take part.

As well as legitimate concerns around the ethics and politics around the panda business, I also feel there is a snobbery around here towards pandas, and by extension panda enthusiasts, which I think is unfair.

 

[Cat-Man]

I don’t see why people can’t discuss pandas as much as they like. If people aren’t interested - and that’s completely legitimate - then they don’t have to take part.

As well as legitimate concerns around the ethics and politics around the panda business, I also feel there is a snobbery around here towards pandas, and by extension panda enthusiasts, which I think is unfair.

I'm a panda enthusiast. I love them more than most on this forum; they're the highlight whenever I visit a zoo which has them. But speculation about Dublin or London getting pandas on the Edinburgh news thread is not relevant.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I don’t see why people can’t discuss pandas as much as they like. If people aren’t interested - and that’s completely legitimate - then they don’t have to take part.

There is, however, a point at which mentioning pandas close to once per post (even where they weren't under discussion before) verges on a compulsion and increasingly off-topic.

 

[Kalaw]

I really don’t understand the attitude expressed by some on here against pandas, and I think the claims that them vanishing from European zoos is a good thing is absurd.

I understand that they are so popular among the general public that they would have to be ridiculously fascinating, unique or active to live up to that hype, and that they are, unfortunately, none of those three, and certainly not the latter. But all the same, they are entertaining and an icon of conservation. My first encounter with Giant Pandas, at Beauval in the summer of 2019, was truly unforgettable. The pagodas, bamboo forest, topiaries of pandas, and mist effects as the panda enclosure slowly appears in the distance, and then the reveal of these bizarre animals, was something I will always treasure as one of my best ever zoo-visiting experiences. The pandas were very active that day, and although my reunion with the species at Edinburgh was a bit of a disappointment, with the animals in question seeming to do nothing but sleep, I still very much look forward to seeing the species yet again.

I see no reason why pandas becoming increasingly rare in European zoos is any less worrying than, say, as a random example, Sloth Bears undergoing the same change. Obviously there are political issues regarding pandas, but that doesn’t change the fact that, in both instances it is a delightful species that will vanish from the continent, and in both instances it will be very unfortunate if they are to vanish. I agree that the speculation upthread is a bit silly, but I do think that there is an element of people on this forum hating on zoos that keep pandas for the sake of standing out - @Cobi found the perfect word for it with ‘snobbery.’

 

[Maguari]

I also feel there is a snobbery around here towards pandas, and by extension panda enthusiasts, which I think is unfair.

This there certainly seems to be. I find it very odd. Maybe because they are the ultimate 'cute and fluffy' animal?

They're not my top favourite but they're a rare zoo animal and not unworthy of discussion.

Whatever else, the article here was recent and about the zoo whose thread it was posted in - it might not be interesting to everyone (I'm not sure it really is to me!) but there's no reason for it not to be relevant to the thread.

 

[Maguari]

I have to ask this question, but you do know that the bamboo bears have left and aren't coming back,as I'm yet to see a post where you don't mention them, I personally think it is time for you to let them go and enjoy themselves in retirement!

There is, however, a point at which mentioning pandas close to once per post (even where they weren't under discussion before) verges on a compulsion and increasingly off-topic.

As above - I'm not really sure how posting a brand new article (posted by the source on 31/03/24) about the zoo to the general news thread can be irrelevant to that zoo's news thread?

 

[Cat-Man]

This there certainly seems to be. I find it very odd. Maybe because they are the ultimate 'cute and fluffy' animal?

It is snobbery. Largely because they're liked by normal people, and as such liking them is considered a bit naff and uncool by the 'in group.' It's a bit like when diehard Beatles fans are scathing whenever a casual one mentions they like 'Hey Jude.'

Like I said above, pandas are the highlight of my visit to any zoo. And it might make me a normie by zoochat standards but I enjoy seeing the rhinos and the elephants too! But speculation about pandas future at London and Dublin have no place in this specific thread.

 

[Maguari]

Like I said above, pandas are the highlight of my visit to any zoo. And it might make me a normie by zoochat standards but I enjoy seeing the rhinos and the elephants too!

I wouldn't worry - one of the biggest nerds I know has elephants and rhinos as his favourite animals - it's not (or shouldn't be) exclusive.

(more of a giraffe man myself!)

But speculation about pandas future at London and Dublin have no place in this specific thread.

True - but the OP was only one passing comment that spun off, it's innocent enough and just how conversation goes sometimes.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I wouldn't worry - one of the biggest nerds I know has elephants and rhinos as his favourite animals - it's not (or shouldn't be) exclusive.

(more of a giraffe man myself!)

It'd only be worrying if we were all the same in likes and dislikes!

 

[Cat-Man]

I wouldn't worry - one of the biggest nerds I know has elephants and rhinos as his favourite animals - it's not (or shouldn't be) exclusive.

(more of a giraffe man myself!)

Oh it doesn't worry me at all . I quite like being enthusiastic about the ABC species as a zoo enthusiast. I find it gives you a bit of perspective about the people zoos need to appeal to the most.

 

[Dassie rat]

Oh it doesn't worry me at all . I quite like being enthusiastic about the ABC species as a zoo enthusiast. I find it gives you a bit of perspective about the people zoos need to appeal to the most.

Hello, Cat-Man. I prefer seeing XYZ animals, especially if I haven't seen them before, but I like seeing interesting behaviour in any animals, whether ABC, XYZ or whatever

 

[GeeZee]

I don’t see why people can’t discuss pandas as much as they like. If people aren’t interested - and that’s completely legitimate - then they don’t have to take part.

As well as legitimate concerns around the ethics and politics around the panda business, I also feel there is a snobbery around here towards pandas, and by extension panda enthusiasts, which I think is unfair.

Thank you for this comment (as well as some of the subsequent comments by other people supporting a similar viewpoint too), I completely agree.

I didn’t actually mean to generate much discussion (but I think it’s a good thing to get people talking), I just liked the article and it is relevant to the EZ news & tying in nicely to what I had said previously about some of the visitor numbers which were released a few days ago & quoted RZSS staff etc.

To most people, Edinburgh Zoo will be known as “the UK zoo with the pandas” and they have played a big part in its history. Perhaps a somewhat similar example could be the elephants at the now defunct Bristol Zoo, particularly Wendy became part of its shared history and cultural image.

I've always found pandas interesting & it was through them whereby I discovered my passion for nature, not only seeing them in person but also because of their international status with the WWF but in terms of geopolitics too which is also a strong interest of mine (but I digress here!).

I believe today RZSS have sent out some invites to their AGM which will be June now, in recent years it’s been in May. Looking forward to see what they have to announce.

 

[GeeZee]

Hello all,

I see this has now been moved to its own dedicated thread so I may as well post this here in light of the recent AGM meeting and a few developments since (my notes from the AGM are in the EZ thread).

It would appear since my last posting here that several zoos have since signed new agreements with the CWCA bringing Pandas back into the forefront and giving the green light for either a further extension of their ongoing loans, or a new breeding pair of Pandas to replace the aging ones that they have, Vienna & Adelaide Zoo are notable examples , but also Washington Zoo is now going to be expecting a new arrival soon.

While this has taken me by surprise, it is - of course in my eyes a good step forward , it does beg the question why this wasn’t possible for Edinburgh? The Panda enclosure was purpose built in 2019 & could have easily accommodated a new arrival etc.

Edinburgh is a great zoo with or without pandas of course, but RZSS do keep their cards close to their chest in general, (especially when you look at how transparent other zoos are such as the Bristol Zoo Project). I can’t help but feel they didn’t really try and keep the Pandas perhaps partly because the current leadership are quite different to their predecessors with regards to their outlook to the zoo and its future.

Maybe I’m wrong, but that is the impression I get, especially in light of the recent news that other Zoos have managed to broker agreements, which is a shame because Pandas at UK zoos have always been a bit of a rarity as it is.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

It would appear since my last posting here that several zoos have since signed new agreements with the CWCA bringing Pandas back into the forefront and giving the green light for either a further extension of their ongoing loans, or a new breeding pair of Pandas to replace the aging ones that they have, Vienna & Adelaide Zoo are notable examples , but also Washington Zoo is now going to be expecting a new arrival soon.

I'd be interested to see your source as regards Vienna obtaining a loan extension since your last post in April 2024 - particularly given the potential ramifications which come with the fact Vienna is now involved with the pangolin programme managed by Taipei!