This week, there was a bit of pandemonium around here. I mean panda-monium. In recent weeks, I’ve grown accustomed to being inundated with repeated media messages about which political candidate we can count on to save the day for all of us and which one will surely drive us down into the ground so that we can never recover. The same message over and over and over again. So, I was surprised when I started seeing a new unrelated message which came at me relentlessly from all angles. Day and night I heard the cry: Last call, y’all, the pandas are packing up! A message from the local zoo. Over and over, again and again.
My thoughts? Oh crap, I forgot. Is it that time already?
As many of you may not know, Zoo Atlanta is a well-regarded, highly rated zoo here in Metro Atlanta, Georgia. As of right now, it is the only zoo in the U.S. of A. that has Giant Pandas. And, they are leaving. Like, now.
First things first, though. I know that some people are anti-zoo, set the animals free, and all that. I get it. Prowling around in an enclosed carefully appointed habitat space is not the same as roaming free in a natural environment. I can’t argue with the fundamental truths about that. If I were an animal, I would much rather be out there in the world taking my chances than cooped up in someone’s enclosure. But, setting that aside, I do think there are many positives about modern zoos.
In zoos, there are conservation efforts that help to sustain endangered species, and there are medicines and procedures which help animals who might be vulnerable in the wild. For instance, according to zoo staff, if a Giant Panda mom births a set of twins, she will typically pick one of them to nurse and nurture, leaving the other one to fend for itself, basically a death sentence. Born in the zoo, both babies can be deftly cared for by zoo keepers, who rotate each one in with the mother so it can get both mama's love and expert behind-the-scenes nursery care. That sounds like a win-win situation.
Also, zoos provide educational opportunities so that regular people can interact with animals that they would never be able to see otherwise. There are chances for children and adults to come face-to-face with exotic animals and learn more about them. See their behaviors, hear their sounds, smell their smells. Which is more than one can get from a photo or a video experience. Zoos are full of wow moments. I am pro zoo.
Back to my story. I remembered that we had been warned a while ago that the Giant Pandas would be leaving Atlanta and returning to China. Now, it turns out, the going-away party at the zoo was set for the next weekend. Yikes! I’ve gotta get to the zoo! Knowing that I did not want to get caught up in the weekend going-away party crowd, I did one of those ‘drop everything’ moves and headed down to Zoo Atlanta so that I could see the pandas properly before those cuties bid adieu. Or, more properly, zái jián. (OK, my keyboard won’t put the accents on correctly, but, at least I tried.)
According to my research, Giant Pandas are considered a national treasure in China. In the 1980s China began to allow long-term leases, so that zoos around the world could house and breed the pandas. Four zoos in the US received pandas with the stipulation that any cubs born here would be returned to China within a few years of their birth. Zoo Atlanta renewed the leasing agreement with China for 25 years, so Giant Pandas have been in Atlanta since 1999. In the last few years, China decided not to re-up any panda leases as they started to expire. All pandas in the US have been shipped back to China, with Atlanta’s Lun Lun, Yang Yang, and their two children set to take the voyage within a few days. Via Fedex Panda Express. After that, there will be no Giant Pandas in the US.
I had seen the Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta multiple times. Why did I feel compelled to see them one last time? I can’t really explain, except that I wanted to make the most of the opportunity that was before me. For a long time, I didn’t realize how special it was. Sometimes, if you are accustomed to having something at your fingertips, you fail to understand the rarity of the situation. But, when I did begin to understand how significant the situation was, I wanted to take advantage of it. Rather than say, “Oh, that’s such a cute animal; I said, “I am so glad I have a chance to see one of the world’s most endangered species in person, with my own eyes.”* I think there is a big difference in attitude there. Recognizing the significance. Appreciating the unique nature of the situation. Being thankful that I was lucky enough to behold the creature in all of its cuddly glory. Not everyone gets to see a live Giant Panda. I wanted to pay attention. Savor the moment.
*According to World Wildlife Fund wwf.org, Giant Pandas have recently been upgraded from ‘endangered’ to ‘vulnerable’. That’s good news! Conservation efforts pay off!
I am a tried and true animal lover. At the zoo, I am always amazed to see such a variety of wildlife all in one place. I take about a million pictures of the animals as I try to catch their personalities and capture their essence. Here are a few favorite photos of animals from some of my zoo visits, past and present.
There's good news, too. Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute has announced that the National Zoo in Washington DC has been negotiating a new lease with China, and should hopefully be receiving a pair of Giant Pandas before too long. That’s a relief for my panda-loving daughter who was disheartened when she heard that I was going to say farewell to the big bears** without her. But, it was a weekday, yall, and she’s still workin' for da man, so she couldn’t go with me. At least, it seems, the pandas will make it back to our country in the near future. Who knows, maybe we'll get lucky and the pandas will return to Atlanta one day. Fire up the FedEx Panda Express again!
**I've often heard that pandas are not really classified as bears, but a statement from National Geographic says: after DNA and molecular studies, Giant Pandas have been determined to be "firmly now in the family Ursidae (bears)."
So, I have to ask:
- Are you obsessed with animals?
- Have you ever seen a Giant Panda in person?
- Do you want to?
- Do you like zoos, or no?
- Do you attach significance to things such as this?
I'm not particularly animal obsessed, well except for the OMG cute Red Pandas at Zoo Atlanta. I feel lucky to have seen the Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta. I think the conservation efforts of zoos make them valuable and necessary.
Kayla, those red pandas are so darn cute! But, it's so hard to get a good picture of them because they are always all curled up in the trees.
Are you obsessed with animals? Interested in the habits and welfare of, but not obsessed with animals
Have you ever seen a Giant Panda in person? Yes, at the Atlanta Zoo!
Do you like zoos, or no? I like zoos that are properly maintained so that the animals don't live in squalor
Do you attach significance to things such as this? Interesting question, for me the significance may be less about the Giant Pandas per se and more about how time goes by quickly. I swear it was last week when they were first arriving in the US.
Ally, agreed about the accelerated passage of time. Which adds to my FOMO concerns--if I don't do something now, will I ever get the chance again?! But, not in a unhealthy way, just in a take-advantage-of-what-you-can way, lol.
Are you obsessed with animals?
Only the sexy ones.
Have you ever seen a Giant Panda in person?
Nope, but I've seen giant persons. Next best thing?
Do you want to?
Giant persons? Nah, I'm good. Pandas? Heck yeah!
Do you like zoos, or no?
I do. I've never understood why people are against them. The animals are getting free room and board! How is this a bad thing?
Do you attach significance to things such as this?
Totally get it. When I lived in the PNW, Keiko ("Free Willy") was a big draw at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Even though I'd seen him several times, when it was announced that life was imitating art and they were freeing him for real, I made one more trip down there to see him off.
Mark, I wonder if the Naked Mole Rat is one of the sexy animals you like? Yeah, I saw them at Zoo Atlanta too. I would have loved to see Keiko before his big exit. And, just now I had to look it up online to see how it turned out for him. Seems he lived for about 5 years in the wild then died in Norway. In case you wanted to know. Not only that, since you are a fan of giant people, I found out that the tallest person in the world is a Turkish farmer who measures 8ft 2.82in. Aren't you glad you commented on my post?
I've seen naked mole rats at the Oregon Zoo. Let's just say their name is way more enticing than they are.
Yes, Keiko was a big story in the PNW. We all mourned his passing in Norway after being released. Poor guy probably would have been better off remaining in captivity (which, again, is why I'm not anti-zoo).
Holy crap, that's one big person...
I have seen them at the Atlanta Zoo, and they’re super cute. Like you said, the U.S. and China negotiated a new agreement, and they are coming back. That’s a good thing.
Edward, an article in NYT today complains that pandas are not really being released back into the wild at the rate that was expected. But, whatever politics are involved, I'm just glad that there has been some international cooperation and we have an opportunity to see them.
Oh, that’s not good. I hope they can return more pandas to the wild.
Great post and yes to all the questions at the end. I appreciate zoos in the hope that they inspire love and conservation of animals and their habitat in the wild.
Todd, seems like most people agree with you. I think the anti-zoo group is small, but (perhaps) loud.
I have mixed feelings about zoos. It's hard to see animals not roaming free, and I loathe the noise levels and obnoxious children (and sometimes stupid adults) knocking on the glass of their indoor enclosures, but I can't deny the good that good zoos can do. I wish all zoos around the world were accredited. I'm pretty sure there are some bad zoos out there. I love animals, but I'm only obsessed with three right now: two cats and a bunny. 🙂
T/A, animals at home are the best! Agreed that some zoos don't provide proper environment or care, unfortunately. I like that our zoo is designed with many different walking paths, so that, if you find yourself surrounded by too many (obnoxious) people, you can just take a walk-about and come back around when things have cleared out. It's shaded and would be nice to walk around even if the animals weren't there, lol.
Oh, I love that you dropped everything to visit them. What an incredible post - your pictures are fantastic, I love the plane. And I'm with you about being an animal lover and appreciating the good that zoos can do. I've never seen pandas so I'm glad to hear the Panda Express will be riding again soon!