We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Behavior

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Why Are So Many Zoos About to Lose Their Pandas?

Margaret Lipman
By
Published: Sep 30, 2023
Views: 1
Share

For decades, giant pandas have been star attractions at many zoos across the United States and around the world. But that appears to be changing, as the zoos' respective loan agreements with China, the bears’ home country, are all set to expire by the end of 2024 – with no prospect of renewal in sight.

There are currently only seven pandas in the United States – three at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and four at Zoo Atlanta. Visitors to the National Zoo have just two months left to see Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and their 3-year-old cub Xiao Qi Ji, as all three bears are scheduled to be returned to China by early December. Zoo Atlanta's pandas (twins Ya Lun and Xi Lun and their parents, Lun Lun and Yang Yang) are scheduled to leave by the end of next year. Pandas have been absent from the Memphis Zoo since April 2023 and the San Diego Zoo since 2019.

Likewise, the two pandas in the United Kingdom, at the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, are scheduled to leave for China this December, while Australia’s pandas are scheduled to depart from the Adelaide Zoo in 2024. The Netherlands and Japan also said farewell to their bears recently.

China has not explicitly stated that politics is the reason the loan agreements have not been renewed, but to many observers, the departure of the bears from so many Western nations appears to signal a pause in the practice of “panda diplomacy,” in which China loaned the iconic bears to other countries as a symbol of friendship.

Notably, it will be the first time in over 50 years that the United States is without giant pandas. The first pair was gifted to First Lady Pat Nixon after she made a historic visit to China with President Richard Nixon in 1972. Since then, panda diplomacy has shifted from gifting pandas to a system of long-term leases, with all panda cubs born abroad eventually being sent back to China.

The end of panda diplomacy?

  • Other factors besides politics may have been involved in China’s decision not to renew the contracts with U.S. zoos. Giant pandas were reclassified as “Vulnerable” (rather than “Endangered”) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2016, so perhaps there is less need to turn to the international community to promote their conservation.

  • Still, it’s hard to ignore the apparent political significance of the 2019 agreement that loaned Russia two giant pandas for 15 years. Moscow will soon be home to the only foreign zoo where visitors can see giant pandas outside of China.

  • In 2020, Canada returned its pandas to China several years earlier than planned for a practical, rather than political, reason – it was becoming too difficult to source the enormous quantities of bamboo that the bears need to survive.
Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Margaret Lipman
By Margaret Lipman
With years of experience as an educator, Margaret Lipman produces thoughtful and informative content across a wide range of topics. Her articles cover essential areas such as finance, parenting, health and wellness, nutrition, educational strategies. Margaret's writing is guided by her passion for enriching the lives of her readers through practical advice and well-researched information.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Margaret Lipman
Margaret Lipman
With years of experience as an educator, Margaret Lipman produces thoughtful and informative content across a wide range...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/why-are-so-many-zoos-about-to-lose-their-pandas.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.