Adelaide Zoo Panda experts check enclosure

Chlidonias

Chlidonias

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Panda experts check enclosure - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Panda experts check enclosure

An inspection is held of the site at Adelaide Zoo where two giant pandas will be housed, as building work continues

Leading zoo officials have inspected the enclosure being built at Adelaide Zoo to house two giant pandas from China.

The enclosure will house pandas Funi and Wang Wang, who are due to arrive from southern China late next year.

More than 300 conservationists are in Adelaide for the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums summit on climate change and endangered species.

Adelaide Zoo's director of conservation, Kevin Evans, says the guests have a wealth of knowledge about pandas.

"We have our colleagues from Bristol Zoo where the director (Dr Jo Gipps) there is the stud-book keeper for giant pandas internationally," he said.

"We have the director of zoology at London Zoo who are in the process of sourcing giant pandas at the moment and also the director of Taipei Zoo who will be receiving their pandas in the next couple of months.

"Having these fantastic colleagues here on our doorstep is a very rare opportunity, it hasn't really happened before to have all these experts come to Australia for this international meeting, so we'll be able to talk about all the challenges, it's fantastic."

Dr Gipps says the giant panda enclosure's design is impressive and should encourage the pandas to mate.

"If you've got a nice compatible pair of pandas, and these are two nice young ones who are coming, to grow up together and are compatible then I have no doubt that there'll be babies in the future," he said.

Dr Gipps expects the pandas to become the Zoo's most popular attraction.

"They'll have an effect on visitor numbers, that's for sure," he said.

"They are very charismatic animals and people love to see them.

"I would actually say this facility here is going to be particularly good because they have thought so hard and long about, you know, how people can get close to the animals and see them clearly."
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there's a video on the link as well
 
I guess so. I just started a thread in the UK section to get the Englanders' hopes up :)
 
Ben,
Any chance of you getting a photo of the work taking place for the new entrance and for the pandas exhibit?
Thanks.
 
What's always the fuss about Panda's. I think there are way more interesting species to keep and watch then Giant Panda's.
 
The fuss for me is the fact that they have only ever been in australia once on loan in 1988. i didn't see them then. i have seen some in San Diego in 2000.
true they aren't the most active animal, but i will still travel to Adelaide to see them.
 
Giant pandas are an enigma, as they barely move while on exhibit and spend half of their lives sleeping and the other half nosily chomping on bamboo. Yet they are extremely popular! This summer I saw pandas at the National Zoo in Washington, Memphis Zoo, Zoo Atlanta and San Diego Zoo...and to be perfectly honest I have to admit that they are by far and away the #1 animal that any zoo visitor is intrigued to see. The scarcity of the animal, the cute and cuddly factor (even if they are bears), the fact that it is the symbol for the WWF, and the sheer marketability of pandas has made them zoo icons. Adelaide will probably see visitor numbers just about double in the first year, and I've said it on this website before but I expect them to be an enormous hit in South Australia. If by some miracle a cub is born then attendance will go through the roof, the zoo will gain extra revenue, and perhaps the $10 million loan will be offset by all of the insane publicity.

On a side note, it looks as if London Zoo is looking into a "Panda Kingdom". Haha
 
I havent been to the Zoo in a while(like 10 weeks ug!) due to work commitments, i will try and get there on Friday after work and get some photos.
 
ZooYouthBen said:
I havent been to the Zoo in a while(like 10 weeks ug!) due to work commitments, i will try and get there on Friday after work and get some photos.
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Thanks Ben. that would be good if you can get some photos.
 
I could catch you there Gln 'cos I've talked my family into going as well.
 
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