USA: Zookeepers and panda enthusiasts begin to say good-bye to two animals set to be sent to China.

Record ID: 858242

  • Title: USA: Zookeepers and panda enthusiasts begin to say good-bye to two animals set to be sent to China.
  • Date: 31st January 2010
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRENE RITSEMA, PANDA FAN, SAYING: "Well, it's kind of sad, but we still have two other pandas here, so we're hoping that there will be another baby here to replace him."
  • Embargoed: 15th February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Environment / Natural World
  • Reuters ID: LVACDGIUL3241M2OZ961EZPVQGQE
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Zoo goers in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta bid a bitter-sweet farewell to two giant pandas set to be sent to China.
    Zoo visitors and panda enthusiasts said goodbye to two star attractions in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta Saturday (January 30), as zookeepers prepared to send two giant pandas to China.
    As snow fell in Washington, D.C., hundreds came to Smithsonian's National Zoo to say farewell to Tai Shan, a four and an half year old male giant panda, which was born at the facility.
    Under an agreement with the Chinese government which brought Tai Shan's parents to Washington, it was agreed that any offspring would be sent to China to enter a breeding program.
    But during his years in at the American zoo, Tai Shan became wildly popular.
    "It's pretty amazing. You know, we've had over 50,000,000 hits on our website since he was born because pandas are on the National Zoo webcam all the time. So people feel very, very close to Tai. We had families come from New York, from North Carolina, from Ohio today, to see Tai off and say farewell to him. So, a lot of people are going to miss him. It's bitter-sweet but he is going to help save his species, so we're happy about that," Dr. Donald Moore, Associate Director for Animal Care at Smithsonian's National Zoo said.
    A special travel crate, and even a special aircraft have been prepared for the long journey to China. And Tai Shan won't be traveling alone.
    "Tai Shan has been trained for weeks and months to use a crate that will be his transport crate. It's a steel and Lexan crate. He'll go from here to an international airport in a truck, and then FedEx Express will fly him in a brand new 777, along with Mei Lan from Zoo Atlanta, and zoo keepers, one veterinarian, and the flight crew, direct from Washington, D.C., to Chengdu, China," Dr. Moore said.
    Many zoo visitors said that while it was difficult to see the animal go, they were happy that Tai Shan would soon be paired with a female panda in China.
    "I honestly don't know much about pandas, but I know that they're endangered, and I just appreciate the conservation effort that the Chinese and the Americans are trying to do with one another," Tammy Lin said.
    "Well, we're sad to see him go, but we came here from California to see him. We hope that he'll continue to propagate the species, and help conservation efforts here, and you know, see more of his offspring here in the U.S., as well as in China, and everywhere else," Alice Lu said.
    At Zoo Atlanta in the state of Georgia, some visited with three-year-old female panda Mei Lan for the final time before she departs. Mei Lan, who is actually Tai Shan's cousin, is the only giant panda ever born in Atlanta.
    The two pandas are scheduled to depart the United States on Thursday, February 4th.
    -ENDS-
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