Zoo that used to display giant pandas

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Chia chia had a complicated history. His time in London with Ching Ching is well documented. But when Ching Ching died in 1985 Chia chia was alone. The Cincinnati Zoo's director was determined to bring a Giant panda to Cincinnati and, with Chinese import out of the question, he advocated for bringing Chia chia from London. At this time panda diplomacy was much criticized and using the animals to boost attendance was seen as inappropriate. Cincinnati committed to using any extra proceeds from Chia chia's visit towards the construction of improved Giant panda facilities at the Chapultepec Zoo.
IMO he was a terrible exhibit animal. Cincinnati built an indoor and outdoor facility for him and he would only venture outside early in the morning. By the time the zoo opened each day he had returned inside.
Some background:
London Zoo panda to get Mexican bride
National Archives: Thatcher refused to share flight with panda
Panda ends three-month stay at Cincinnati Zoo

Thats interesting about the Cincinnati zoo and Chia-Chia, I didn't know that they had financed the facilities at Chapultepec, thanks for sharing !

In my opinion and from what I've seen when it comes to pandas they are not really very good exhibit animals full stop when it comes to being active as they tend to be quite lethargic.

That said the public seem to love them anyway so I suppose the sluggishness doesn't actually matter.

 

[Westcoastperson]

Los Angeles
Los Angeles had them for a three month period in the china Pavillion. I have 0 photos and the pavilion was destroyed to make space for Rainforest Of The Americas. So they were at Los Angeles but I don't think there are any photos.
San Diego Zoo
San Diego is one of the most famous zoos in the world to have Pandas but China has not renewed its loan and the zoo hasn't seen Pandas for two years. It features two exhibits that are ok nothing very special. There is a large building dedicated to Panda Research and care right next to the exhibits.

 

[MRJ]

What's the interest to show pandas for so short periods? (4-5 months per zoo or country)

The visit to Melbourne and Sydney was related to the bi-centenary of European settlement of Australia. In Melbourne they stayed in a portion of the then-new gorilla exhibit (before the gorillas occupied it of course). Auckland was an add-on for no particular reason that I can make out except the zoo wanted them.

 

[Pertinax]

The visit to Melbourne and Sydney was related to the bi-centenary of European settlement of Australia. In Melbourne they stayed in a portion of the then-new gorilla exhibit (before the gorillas occupied it of course).

Wasn't the arrangement in Sydney similar, the Pandas had a purpose-built enclosure which the gorillas occupied afterward?

 

[Jambo]

Wasn't the arrangement in Sydney similar, the Pandas had a purpose-built enclosure which the gorillas occupied afterward?

At Taronga, the enclosure was purposely built for Giant Panda, but with the thought in mind that Gorillas would inhabit it soon after. The enclosure is rather small for a large troop of gorillas but seems like it was an adequate size for a pair of Giant Pandas back in the day.

 

[Zoofan15]

At Taronga, the enclosure was purposely built for Giant Panda, but with the thought in mind that Gorillas would inhabit it soon after. The enclosure is rather small for a large troop of gorillas but seems like it was an adequate size for a pair of Giant Pandas back in the day.

According to @Hix: The cages known as 'Running Bird Row' that housed Ostriches, Cassowaries and Rhea were replaced by the Giant Panda enclosures in 1988, and Toby the Brazilian Tapir went into one of those after the pandas left. The whole complex was knocked down and Gorilla Rainforest built on the site in the 1990's.

Source: Taronga Zoo Map 1990 - ZooChat

I agree the gorilla exhibit is on the small size, especially considering their initial import was of a family troop of ten gorillas.

 

[MRJ]

Wasn't the arrangement in Sydney similar, the Pandas had a purpose-built enclosure which the gorillas occupied afterward?

As @Zoofan15 said. There was no intention to hold gorillas at the time.

 

[Pertinax]

Source: Taronga Zoo Map 1990 - ZooChat

I agree the gorilla exhibit is on the small size, especially considering their initial import was of a family troop of ten gorillas.

I saw it when it was Kisabu(?) and his original group from Apenheul- I remember thinking how small it seemed for the(then) number of gorillas. I didn't know at the time about its 'Panda' history. Nowadays the group is considerably smaller, 4 adults plus the young ones I think.

 

[Calvin Stevens]

I remember the Toledo zoo had pandas I think in the 80s or 90s. I remember it was an interesting story but I do not know much about the Toledo zoo so I leave that to someone who knows more about the zoo.

 

[evilmonkey239]

I remember the Toledo zoo had pandas I think in the 80s or 90s. I remember it was an interesting story but I do not know much about the Toledo zoo so I leave that to someone who knows more about the zoo.

Indeed. A sculpture of the two pandas located in the zoo’s entrance plaza reads:

These statues commemorate the historic visit of the giant pandas, Le Le and Nan Nan from from 5/24/88 to 10/25/88, and celebrate the friendship between the People’s Republic of China and the Toledo Zoo.

IIRC, the zoo got the pandas because their at-the-time-brand-new Hippoquarium (TM) won an AZA exhibit of the year award or something like that. The zoo’s display of the bears was criticized by some conservationists because they saw the zoo as exploiting them for money.

 

[Zoofan15]

I saw it when it was Kisabu(?) and his original group from Apenheul- I remember thinking how small it seemed for the(then) number of gorillas. I didn't know at the time about its 'Panda' history. Nowadays the group is considerably smaller, 4 adults plus the young ones I think.

Kibabu was the Apenheul silverback and led a family group of three breeding females - Mouila, Kriba and Frala. Each female had around two offspring within the troop at any given time.

The current troop (led by Kibale) again comprises of a silverback and three adult females - but one is behaviourally non reproductive (Johari); and another is almost post reproductive (Frala).

 

[Tyler]

Toronto Zoo had pandas for 5 years and had babies while they were here. Parents Er Shun had Da Mao had Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue meaning "Canadian Hope", and "Canadian Joy".

 

[Nix]

A

Toronto Zoo had pandas for 5 years and had babies while they were here. Parents Er Shun had Da Mao had Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue meaning "Canadian Hope", and "Canadian Joy". View attachment 484104View attachment 484105

Do you know which year? also Welcome to Zoochat

 

[vogelcommando]

Another zoo which had a pair of Pandas on loan in the same period as Beekse Bergen was the Antwerp Zoo. They were kept in one of the bear-enclosures and the enclosure was realy boaring, just grass. Like the animals at Beekse Bergen they only stayed for a period of less then half a year. Should have more information about these animals but can't find it just now...

 

[Zoofan15]

Do you know which year?

The pandas (Da Mao and Er Shun) were imported in 2013 and were at Toronto Zoo until 2018. They produced 1.1 cubs in 2015 (Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue).

The family was then sent to the Calgary Zoo in 2018, with the cubs returning to China in 2020.

 

[Pertinax]

Kibabu was the Apenheul silverback and led a family group of three breeding females - Mouila, Kriba and Frala. Each female had around two offspring within the troop at any given time.

I can never remember the name Kibabu, as his mother Baby Doll had a previous male baby that died that they named Kisabu, hence the confusion. Invariably get the wrong one.

Yes, the current Taronga group is effectively only the one breeding female now. A pity Johari does not breed- typical example of a desocialised female I think, particularly as her wildcaught mother Julia had no other offspring. Very similar situation as Asante in Twycross UK.

 

[Zoofan15]

I can never remember the name Kibabu, as his mother Baby Doll had a previous male baby that died that they named Kisabu, hence the confusion. Invariably get the wrong one.

Yes, the current Taronga group is effectively only the one breeding female now. A pity Johari does not breed- typical example of a desocialised female I think, particularly as her wildcaught mother Julia had no other offspring. Very similar situation as Asante in Twycross UK.

It also didn’t help that Rigo was the silverback of her group and failed to model typical silverback behaviour. She’s understandably daunted by Kibale at Taronga and stays on the periphery to avoid him.

 

[Pertinax]

It also didn’t help that Rigo was the silverback of her group and failed to model typical silverback behaviour. She’s understandably daunted by Kibale at Taronga and stays on the periphery to avoid him.

The only hope for females in this situation is that a younger male in the group, whom they aren't intimidated by, mates them on the sly. It happened to the female Kera in Bristol, father of baby was the 8 year old blackback.

 

[Zorro]

Whipsnade zoo had Giant Pandas during the second world war after they moved from London zoo for safe keeping.

 

[Zoofan15]

The only hope for females in this situation is that a younger male in the group, whom they aren't intimidated by, mates them on the sly. It happened to the female Kera in Bristol, father of baby was the 8 year old blackback.

Taronga has Mjukuu (2014) and Fabumi (2015), but Johari is on contraception to prevent unwanted attention from Kibale. The zoo are apparently content for her to remain non breeding for the sake of running a cohesive troop - especially after the death of Julia at Melbourne Zoo.