Giant pandas coming to Edinburgh zoo? » Edinburgh Zoo

12-05-2008

@Sun Wukong: good point about the reference to corporate sponsorship. It seems to me that definitely some big cat exhibits are represented and paid for by large companies, but the vast majority of them worldwide are not. However, giant pandas are a prime example where one can almost guarantee that there will be some sort of funding from an outside corporation. Overall I suppose that the key to breaking even financially for western zoos with giant pandas is for offspring to be born. Without babies then there is the tendency to struggle with the cash flow.

On a side note, the weather in Scotland would probably be much more similar to the rainy, mountain terrain that giant pandas often inhabit. Of the 4 U.S. zoos with pandas, San Diego, Atlanta and Memphis can become scorching hot in the summer. Even Washington, D.C, while having its share of frosty winters, can become extremely humid and muggy in the summer months. Adelaide in South Australia will welcome pandas in 2009, and they will have to install special cooling systems for their 40 degree summer weather. Edinburgh appears to have the best "panda climate" out of those 6 zoos that I just named. However, I do realize that pandas, like many mammals, are extremely adaptable...

12-05-2008

@snowleopard:...after all, they successfully reproduced in Mexico City and San Diego, didn't they?

Don't forget Vienna, Madrid and Berlin (although the later never was successful in breeding) in Your list of "zoos with Giant Pandas"...

13-05-2008

Edinburgh Zoo

It's now official. Even if there is financial doubt many zoo directors would be keen to join the exclusive panda club, with perceived raise in status with the general public. I like pandas but I'd rather see platypus...

Regarding climate - there are a lot of pandas breeding in Chengdu but I understand that it gets pretty hot there too. I'd be more worried about them putting on weight once they get a taste for deep-fried bamboo

13-05-2008

San Diego, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Memphis, Vienna, Madrid, Berlin and Mexico City zoos all have giant pandas. But all of a sudden there is confirmation of Adelaide, and possibly Edinburgh and Oakland (see 2008 exhibit thread). The financial pitfalls to obtaining pandas can't be all that bad!

13-05-2008

If You take a look at Chengdu and Wolong, You know why: they are almost "mass-producing" Giant Pandas now in China. Therefore, I think zoo visitors are going to see more and more of them in western zoos in the future (especially if the Chinese would drop their loan fees and zoos would cooperate in getting the right amount of bamboo..).

13-05-2008

They certainly have put something in the water at those to centres. It would be nice to see giant panda's in the UK. However the loan fee seems too much to pay for most zoo's even Chester are put of with the loan price. Not long ago on this forum it was reported that Edinburgh Zoo was struggling to raise the cash for the development of their master plan and now all of sudden they are looking at keeping an animal that would cost them a $1 million dollars a year to have on show!

Is it me or does something not add up there? Have they sudden managed to find another funding solution?

13-05-2008

Population is climbing up. There is talk about that in Sichuan and Gansu pandas there are different subspecies, but then again just on someones blog.
Hope i find more details about the actual pandas that are coming to edinburgh.
Although they are at a high since a long time pandas still need help, hoepfully the pais will breed they have got 10 years for cubs to emerge. Of course still the property of China.

14-05-2008

In 1986 the Chinese Government offered Australia a temporary loan of two Giant Panda's for their 1988 bi-centenary... These Panda's spent three months in Melbourne Zoo and three at Taronga Zoo before coming to Auckland in October 1988 for a final three month stay... A new enclosure was built (at both Taronga and Auckland Zoos) for the pair, Fei Fei and Xiao Xiao... The pair attracted over 300,000 people in their 3 month Auckland stay...

Source:
Giant Panda - Photo Gallery

General notes:
The exhibit built at Taronga is now in use by its Gorilla troop and Auckland's by a pair of Orangutans.
Amenities were improved at Auckland and still benifit the zoo today.
The 300,000 visitors in three months at Auckland came at a time when the zoo was attracting 300,000 - 400,000 yearly..!

15-05-2008

@NZ Jeremy: for the most part giant pandas are indeed a gold mine, and if babies arrive then they are a neverending ATM machine that spits out millions of dollars. Having said that, they also cost a fantastic amount of money and those that don't give birth can see their star wane as the years go by. Adelaide Zoo will be the next big testing ground for pandas, and there will certainly be a lot of construction going on at that zoo over the next year.

15-05-2008

What happens if one of the Pandas dies in the zoo's care? Is there a penalty or something?

15-05-2008

I wouldn't think so. Most of the time it isn't the zoo's fault if they die.
I never understood the whole loan fee thing, I find it a bit mean that China does it, especially now there are quite a few that have been born in captivity.
I think It's like Africa saying "you have to pay us to keep African elephants", or any other place with any other species.

15-05-2008

Agreed completly, it is rather selfish of them

16-05-2008

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Edinburgh, East and Fife | Calls to stop zoo's panda plans

It was bound to happen at some point...

16-05-2008

It could be a really good way to make zoos support in-situ conservation. Zoos are required to pay the Okapi Conservation Project in the DRC to keep Okapi (1996 SSP/EEP agreement). And both San Diego Zoo and Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, FL support conservation in Swaziland as part of the deal when they acquired elephants a few years back. I wish Australia would do the like for Tasmanian Devils and Platypus or the US for Manatees. It would especially be a good deal for poorer countries with rich diversity that dont have the resources to protect their biodiversity.

16-05-2008

When Yan-Yan died in Berlin zoo last year, there was a bit of a tiff between Berlin and China (although I think most was made up by the media). Yan Yan's remain will most likely be exhibited in China.

Berlin Zoo in Mourning Over Yan Yan: Panda Death Dampens Joy over Knut - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News