New Las Vegas Resort Will Include A Panda Preserve

[Blackduiker]

Resorts World Las Vegas, the first mega-resort in Las Vegas in 6 years, will open in 2016. The 87 acre Asian themed complex will include a replica of the Great Wall of China and a Panda Preserve:

Las Vegas: Asian-influenced mega-resort to open in 2016 - latimes.com

Genting goes all-in - plus some pandas - for Asian-themed Las Vegas resort - Business - ReviewJournal.com

Asian firm buys site of stalled Vegas Strip casino - Beaumont Enterprise

 

[elefante]

This could be interesting. I can't imagine pandas in a casino setting.

 

[snowleopard]

This could be interesting. I can't imagine pandas in a casino setting.

Getting giant pandas would be a gamble.

 

[DavidBrown]

The Mandalay Bay tried to get giant pandas several years ago and failed. I seriously doubt that this new place will succeed with it either. It doesn't seem likely that the USFWS would authorize it for a casino with no conservation record or ethic.

 

[Zooplantman]

Genting is BIG. Whether they have the clout in China I have no idea but these guys are huge in Malaysia
Genting Group - Malaysia's Leading Corporation

And mixing animal attractions, resorts and entertainment is not new to them:
http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Attractions/MarineLifePark

Who knows if they will have pandas, but their proposal should be taken more seriously than some other Las Vegas illusions we have read about

 

[Zooish]

Yeah like what Zooplantman said, Genting operates the marine life park in Singapore and they have lots of money and connections in Asia. They just might be able to pull it off. I don't know how 'incorruptible' the USFWS is but Genting is certainly willing to pay their way through red tape.

 

[DavidBrown]

Yeah like what Zooplantman said, Genting operates the marine life park in Singapore and they have lots of money and connections in Asia. They just might be able to pull it off. I don't know how 'incorruptible' the USFWS is but Genting is certainly willing to pay their way through red tape.

It will be interesting to see if it goes anywhere. The Mandalay Bay casino, part of one of the largest U.S. gaming companies, tried to build a panda habitat and hired a biologist, lobbyists, etc. and it never materialized. There was quite an outcry against putting pandas in a casino.

The USFWS is pretty incorruptible when public sentiment is against something.

Casino bets pandas will prove to be a big draw | StAugustine.com

http://www.petitiononline.com/pandas/petition.html

 

[DavidBrown]

Has anybody ever heard anything more about this Las Vegas project and their attempt to get pandas?

If it has gone forward then they have been extremely stealthy about it.

A press release from May 5, 2015 says that construction has just started. No mention is made of pandas. I'm guessing that that idea didn't pan out:
http://www.rwlasvegas.com/news/118-resorts-world-las-vegas-ground-breaking-announced

 

[ctfctf7]

This honestly sounds like the worst possible environment ever for a panda or any animal for that matter. I can't help reading things/plans like this and think that things are shifting back towards entertainment versus education and conservation.

You'd think if pandas were a real conservation priority they'd work on situating them in an isolated and quiet environment rather than Las Vegas of all places.