Giant Panda Future in America
- Thread starter Spike
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Gone from the country, I'd imagine. We probably won't be getting any more any time soon unless US relations with China improve drastically - which looks increasingly unlikely with every coming day, IMO.
Wisp O' Mist
Well-Known Member
Not a terrible thing IMHO, Panda diplomacy has always been a bit of a sham.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
The National Zoo is spending $1.7 Million to attempt to acquire more pandas, but only "in the future" is given as a timeline for getting them. I would not expect more pandas in DC for a little while, but it would be great to see them return there. I'm hoping to see another zoo like Cincinnati or Bronx take on Giant Pandas, but I can't see that happening anytime soon.
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I don't think you will see any new panda holders outside of National anytime soon. The AZA frowns on it now, which is one of (among other) the reasons it did not happen in Columbus when they wanted them for Asia Quest.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
That's very true. Pandas are quite hard to acquire, and the fact that they need tons of bamboo makes it way harder to care for them. Nonetheless I do hope that the National Zoo re-acquires Giant Pandas soon and has a breeding success.
Brayden Delashmutt
Well-Known Member
Wait, why is the AZA discouraging it?
I am not 100% sure why they are not. My guess would be due to the cost of the annual fee to China and the cost of the housing facilities, and the murky accounting of how and where the money is spent. The money would be better spent on projects that directly support conservation in a more measurable way. Also, the "pandamonium" through the 1990's seems to have died down.
Brayden Delashmutt
Well-Known Member
Interesting. Also, idk if anyone here would know, but is there any sign that China’s monopoly over captive panda populations could end? Is there any way to stop it? It’s ridiculous
Sichuan Takins, Markhors or Indian Rhinos would be a great replacement instead of the Pandas coming back.
I don't see how, the amount of non-China owned animals is too small to start a breeding population outside of China. IIRC there is only one animal not owned by China, and it is quite old.
Spike
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately I don’t think so. China uses pandas as a political weapon as well so they certainly won’t give pandas to other countries without something else involved.
Furthermore, it’s an insane allocation of resources to a species which is now classified as ‘Vulnerable’ rather than ‘Endangered.’
Despite the success of US zoos, there’s also no doubt they breed better in Chinese facilities.
The 1.7 million is being spent to upgrade the Panda exhibits, not in attempting to aquire them. The zoo is merely taking advantage of having the exhibits empty to do some needed and upgrade construction projects. It's not being spent directly on trying to get them back.
Not going to happen. Bronx is not interested, there is quite a lot of past indication for that. They have nowhere to easily put pandas, and it would likely be a severe monetary strain for them. I don't see Cincy as being interested either - they already have a star attraction with Fiona and Fritz.
The only facilities likely to go back into pandas are the ones who already have exhibits in place, National, San Diego, and Atlanta, in that order of priority. I highly doubt Memphis wants more after the PR headache surrounding the last ones leaving.
Well... if people still want to see Giant Pandas once they leave Atlanta they can still see them at the following museums:
Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia @Sarus Crane
American Museum of Natural History, New York City @Sarus Crane
Field Museum, Chicago
Source
Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia @Sarus Crane
American Museum of Natural History, New York City @Sarus Crane
Field Museum, Chicago
Source
Zoo adventures
Well-Known Member
Wait for years to see if America and China's relationship becomes better. China is using pandas to sell them, they want other countries to pay for the pandas so they get money. Like the Canadian giant panda, I did not remember how much, but it cost money for Toronto and Calgary, not counting the bamboo price. China is getting a lot of money from these giant pandas.
Wisp O' Mist
Well-Known Member
Pretty sure it's a million dollars per year, per pair.
The bamboo alone can cost upwards of 100k per year.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
None of those places have actual living Giant Pandas though, unless Smithsonian National Zoo gets more pandas that are alive, just replicas of deceased animals otherwise.Well... if people still want to see Giant Pandas once they leave Atlanta they can still see them at the following museums:
Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia @Sarus Crane
American Museum of Natural History, New York City @Sarus Crane
Field Museum, Chicago
Source
Well... if people still want to see Giant Pandas once they leave Atlanta they can still see them at the following museums:
Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia @Sarus Crane
American Museum of Natural History, New York City @Sarus Crane
Field Museum, Chicago
Source
The diorama in the Field Museum looks very good. Of these three museums I’ve only been to AMNH.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Philadelphia and Chicago's showings of Giant Pandas look like paintings!Well... if people still want to see Giant Pandas once they leave Atlanta they can still see them at the following museums:
Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia @Sarus Crane
American Museum of Natural History, New York City @Sarus Crane
Field Museum, Chicago
Source