Giant pandas coming to Edinburgh zoo? » Edinburgh Zoo

16-05-2008

Do they really think the zoo's going to say "Ok, we'll not get Pandas, just for you lot"?

16-05-2008

One persumes the loan money goes to protect of the wild animals as well as the up keep of the panda's within the breeding centres.

Plus the zoo could argue that Panda's in the zoo will help raise more money for in situ projects.

16-05-2008

I thought Berlin's pair were from the political 'gift' era... not a loan as the article states? So surely they (Berlin) could exhibit the stuffed YanYan if they wanted?

Presumably Bao Bao is still alive..?

16-05-2008

Bao Bao was still there in March. I think he's the oldest Panda in captivity. Any idea if Berlin will replace him when he dies? Hope they would give them a better enclosure if they did.

16-05-2008

Bao Bao was still alive a few days ago. Berlin zoo said unofficially they would try to loan a young pair from China after he dies. Payable, if I understand. No idea about enclosure.

Giant pandas in Berlin are against all stories about pandas as crowd-pullers. They are in carnivore house for years, well visible, well signposted, and I never seen people specially interested at them. People watched lions nearby, which had eye-catching raised enclosure. And monkeys. And hippos in their nice futuristic pool with underwater viewing.

16-05-2008

@Pertinax: Bao Bao and Tjen Tjen (who died in 1984) were political gifts; Yan Yan, brought to the zoo in 1995, was a loan. Therefore, Yan Yan's remains won't be displayed in Berlin, but in China.

Even though they cashed in a lot last year due to Knut, I'm unsure whether the Berlin Zoo is willing to get another pair of Giant Pandas, once the unfortunate event occurs and Bao-Bao is no longer. Tierpark Berlin-Friedrichsfelde would actually be a more promising place for modern Giant Panda enclosures than the crowded inner city zoo. Despite Jurek7's observations, I did see visitors interested in Berlin's Pandas-and saw crows accumulate especially during feeding times. Better housing and presentation could improve this status, but I think it's better to leave good ol' Bao-Bao enjoy his retirement undisturbed...

16-05-2008

Well I wish Edinburgh luck in securing their pandas, but I hope they've done their sums properly, and I also hope they start making some serious improvements to the zoo access and parking because there is no way the current amenities would cope with 1 million visitors a year.

An article in the Strathspey Herald mentioned that the RZSS experience of keeping and breeding Chinese species at HWP was a key factor in the negotiations with China.

21-05-2008

Recieved this in the RZSS Newsletter today:

RZSS has been working with officials in China to bring a breeding pair of giant pandas to Edinburgh Zoo. If successful, Edinburgh would be only the 8th zoo in the Western hemisphere to care for this enigmatic and endangered species. It has been proposed that the pair will be on loan to RZSS for 10 years, in which time they would hopefully give birth to cubs.

Zoo representatives visited China recently with a view to establishing a closer relationship with the Chinese in the field of conservation and associated research. It was during this visit that a Letter of Intent was signed by both parties. This document signifies an initial commitment to bring giant pandas to Edinburgh Zoo.

The population of giant pandas in the wild is currently around 1500. While this is still far too low, the population is being sustained due to research being carried out by selected zoos across the world. David Windmill, Chief Executive of RZSS, said: “Working with giant pandas means so much more to us than introducing a new species to our collection. It is an opportunity to work on a global level with other conservationists to gain a better understanding of the giant panda, the threats they face, and what we can do to ensure their survival.

We have been working on this for nearly a year and, having just returned from China, we are now in the position where we can publicly announce our intention to care for giant pandas. We hope to have giant pandas in Edinburgh Zoo by 2009, which coincides with our centenary. However, this will be a long process and there are still many details to be ironed out. We have received strong support from both UK and Scottish Governments for this initiative. It is essential this continues if we are to reach agreement with the Chinese.”

21-05-2008

Thanks for enlightening me- now I understand the situation....

21-05-2008

You could say much the same about London's last pair Ching Ching and Chia Chia- after the initial few years at least. I believe I also saw Berlin's Bao Bao on loan at London after their own male died- again I noted there seemed to be remarkably little interest in them at that time. Compare to the Chi Chi & An An days when their doomed 'honeymoons' elicited a lot of interest(due to the press interest no doubt) I think its a case of how the Pandas are presented, whether they are newly arrived or long term inhabitants, and of course, if they breed there's a big surge of renewed interest. But older Pandas which sleep a lot don't excite the public much, perhaps understandably.

21-05-2008

I think zoos are far, far better at packaging and marketing new exhibits these days. You don't just pop a couple of Pandas into the primate complex, as London did...these days they'd have to have a whole forest trail with quaint little authentic gift shops and accessory exhibits, probably be opened on chinese new year, and be precededed by countless panda-related promotional gimmicks.....

22-05-2008

yes, Expectation is the keyword here. The greater the build up and expectation, the more the public think they are getting out of an exhibit. 'Gorilla Kingdom' is probably a good current example.

22-05-2008

I think you will find they were put into the primate complex because it was an on the cheap way of displaying them rather than having to fork out real money which they have never really liked to do in the past

22-05-2008

Yes, that's exactly it I think. I can't remember now but ChiChi's old enclosure(now the site of the Lion enclosure) must have already been demolished or was scheduled to be soon?

The Sobell pavilion enclosure actually turned out quite suitable for the Pandas in some ways, as they liked to climb up into the roof structure- which many purpose designed Panda exhibits don't have. But there was no 'special' feel to the exhibit- you just came cross them in a cage. I often remember thinking- especially latterly as the Pandas got inactive, that it was rather a waste of a good monkey enclosure and what extra primate species they could have had instead...

22-05-2008

It is completely indicative of the old management at London pre closure threat. It would be unthinkable now. The hype would start years before. When the last Pandas arrived I think the publicity amounted to having Cilla Black of 'blind date' appear.....I guess marketing has really come on since then..