Giant Panda Future in America

Slight pedantry from me here but as it's the kind of thing that leads to people talking at cross-purposes and getting into arguments I thought I'd address it - what you're referring to here is really the question of why contracts were not being renewed (or replaced) more than why they were ending.

They will have had an agreed end date from the start and they will end when that date is reached without there needing to be any more reason than that - so that's why they're ending! It's always possible both parties only ever intended a contract of that period - in which case the contract is over simply because it is over.

 

Adding to this to say I'm now seeing quote tweets of the aforementioned articles with 35K+ likes from many accounts of random people who have no zoologcial background saying things like "Fun fact guys, China can just take back their pandas from countires if they wind up not liking them!"

The general public perception now is that China gives and takes pandas away as a sort of reward/punishment for policy and political positions that they agree with/disagree with, as if there aren't extensive legal contracts and forigen policy in place throughout all of this. This isn't just some black market thing happening here, and that's almost how it comes across in popular media lately.

 

They literally can.

This is a crude but fundamentally correct assessment of China’s policy when it comes to panda diplomacy.

 

Just because they "can" doesn't mean they did in the recent cases of pandas returning to China. The contract expired and the bears were old. Why is it made out to be something it isn't yet?

 

I’m not making it out to be anything, I’m just applying an ounce of critical thought to the situation.

 

From a technical and legalistic perspective, you're completely correct. I used the word "ending" as opposed to "not being renewed" and that isn't legalistic; though in the world of public relations and communicating with the public, a renewed agreement and a new contract with the same public result are often conflated. Still, that was a bit of rhetorical laziness on my part.

The Los Angeles Times coverage mentions the agreement was previously threatened fourteen years ago but it was solved and "the agreement was extended", however, which suggests extensions have been done before. If this was a separate, new contract, someone may feel free to correct me, but it appears agreements have been extended in the past, so it's still an unusual circumstance for them to be ended, much less multiple agreements across several countries all at once; Adelaide and Edinburgh were all very recent. We have acknowledged the Memphis situation was more tense as well.

I'm really not trying to start a whole debate about the legalistic side of this, the contracts being over is not what I meant to dispute, and I'm very obviously not the one in the room when the agreements are being drawn up and discussed. I can, however, judge the public relations side of it, and I maintain my position that the parties involved, China or the US zoos, could be more transparent about the situation. Stopping these editorials from politicizing the situation is entirely within their power if the only issue at hand is that the pandas are geriatric. You can issue a public statement to the press and say the animals are post-reproductive and negotiations will be for younger animals to continue the breeding program. That would not have caused any problems that are not already happening and would have solved some.

 

This.

 

In a bizarre turn of events, it looks like giant pandas will be going to the San Francisco Zoo. This was first reported by @StoppableSan in the thread "San Francisco Zoo News 2024"

 

Interesting to see that California is getting two new pairs of pandas. I would expect somewhere in the east to get a new pair soon.

 

I believe DC is still trying hard to get them, and would expect them to do so given the political implications and the lack of competition.

 

Thos is such an interesting thread. It's really too bad pandas weren't bred successfully (aside from Mexico City) when they were gifts.

 

Any news when Atlanta's are heading back? I thought the cubs were planned to go back in March and the adults later in the year but as far as I know all 4 bears are still in Atlanta.

 

I have great interest in panda politics, but I tend to find it quite boring in the context of these forums. That being said I must chime in and say whenever Xin Xin (sadly) passes away, it would be incredibly disappointing if the CCP did not replace them. Mexico City has been the world leader in panda breeding , and regardless of the cultural or conservation significance it would be a significant PR coup should more pandas come to Mexico City from a country that desperately needs it.

 

It would be nice if pandas could return there when that time comes. After seeing the pandas there in 2022 (my only panda viewing) I've been very interested in their story.

 

News outlets have begun releasing info on the pandas that are coming to San Diego. The male, Yun Chuan, is the son of Zhen Zhen, who was born in San Diego in 2007.

China, US launching new 10-year giant panda conservation partnership

 

I agree, it’s the most fascinating story of any pandas anywhere, and would be a shame to see it end just because Mexico City can’t afford the ludicrous fees.

That being said, I think their life in the old girl yet! I saw her in 2022 also, and she was in great nick. Most active panda I have seen anywhere.

 

This is very interesting. Makes you wonder if San Francisco is just going to be a short term deal, or if they’re actually planning on significantly expanding the number of institutions outside China with pandas?

 

The will leave in late 2024.
Statement on Zoo Atlanta giant panda program - Zoo Atlanta.
I believe all 4 are going back to china together

 

The San Diego Zoo will be receiving a pair of giant pandas from China - male Yun Chuan and female Xin Bao. Yun Chuan is the grandson of Bai Yun and Gao Gao who previously lived at the SDZ before they returned to China. They should hopefully arrive this summer.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Leaders Visit China; Meet Giant Panda Pair To Be Cared For By San Diego Zoo