Giant Pandas for Adelaide » Adelaide Zoo

04-10-2007

Not forgetting the animals in question are currently in a private institution, and not being sent from a government breeding facility (where Adelaide's animals are coming from. There are rules about private institutions exporting (and importing) CITES I species.

04-10-2007

oh so they even have pandas earmarked eh? not sure of all the jargon surrounding panda "ownership". i know that the only non "china-owned" pandas outside of china are the aging animals in mexico and japan (who refuse to breed!)

anyhow, i wonder if they will change the name of currumbin to "china on the gold coast"

yuk!

Pandas at Currimbin
04-10-2007

Of course they are two different and independent deals. The park in China for the Currumbin pair as apparently well connected and a billionaire. Believe it or not wheels can be greased.

I really cannot understand though why anyone would necessarily favor pandas going to Adelaide versus Currumbin. It is not there is any special expertise at Adelaide that Currumbin cannot replicate. The animals come with Chinese staff anyway.

04-10-2007

the difference is adealide is paid for by govt, and currumbin is paying it them selves, and as discussed some belive it would be hard for a small wildlife park to cope

04-10-2007

I've always been a fan of private zoos having the "attractive" animals (if they are only being used as a drawcard... just because it is likely to increase visitor numbers/income, but I think it needs to be done right and at the right zoo... even though it is little known and could barely afford to support them I think somewhere like Halls Gap would be better suited... climate, terrain and all that stuff... very similar to native china.... i know this is unrealistic but.... just my thoughts Out of the two adelaide I feel is best suited but hey there is a chance both could get them i doubt currumbin would issue press releases without securing it... However does anyone know if import permits have been applied for... I would think that you would want to be sure you can get them in bfore building the enclosures/facilities... then again look what happened with taronga... anyway... that's my rant...

02-12-2007

Giant Pandas, even at $10 million for ten years, are worth every penny. At the San Diego Zoo last year my wife and I waited patiently in line for at least 20 minutes ( and we went to the panda exhibit first thing in the morning! ) and the crowds later in the day were enormous. All to see one of the 8 bear species ( as they are officially bears now ) spend half the time sleeping in the grass.

The giant panda merchandise being sold was incredible, with all sizes of stuffed toys flying around the place. Even at the Adelaide Zoo, which won't receive the crowds that surge through San Diego, there will be a significant monetary impact in terms of toys, gifts, photos, etc. And if the mating pair actually produce offspring then the money will pour through the entrance. With an already stellar Asian section now completed, Adelaide appears to be joining the Aussie big names of Taronga and Melbourne.

03-12-2007

on pandas, now the rudd govt is in, rudd a while ago swore to try and get the pandas back to qld!. i always thought it was 2 diff deals, so more than likely adelaidde will get them 09, and if rudd has anything to do with it, maybe the currumbin bears may come 2

03-12-2007

Will have an update from the environment minister of the new government in the coming days regarding the Giant Pandas and will post on here.

20-02-2008

I'll bred 'em...but what type of breakthroughs are you actually after???

15-03-2008

ben. has there been any releases of plans for the pandas enclosure yet? I've only been to Adelaide once. I remember the lay out of the place. Where are the pandas going? If these questions have already been answered in this thread I'm sorry for repeating them but I was just wondering if there is any news.
Thanks

15-03-2008

All i can say that the placeing has been changed, i dont know for sure where but they are moving.

15-03-2008

thanks for replying, ben. Could you keep us posted.

15-03-2008

yeah i will! will ask on tuesday!

04-04-2008

has anyone been on to the ZOOS SA website yet and checked out the vid clip they have for their new entrance building. its quite an impressive piece of architecture....surely im not the only one getting the vibe that Adelaide Zoo is really coming ahead/catching up/moving beyond at quite a break neck pace.
if all the projects proposed for the zoo and Monarto come to fruition we could be looking at yet another landmark zoo for Australia. the arrival of Giant Pandas makes this zoo, already remarkable but prone to flying under the radar somewhat, should catapult this zoo into the international spotlight.

04-04-2008

I've been praising the Adelaide and Monarto Zoos nonstop here at ZooBeat. With the beautiful new entrance, $4 million envirodome, cafe and giant panda exhibit all poised to boost the attendance past the million mark, the urban zoo is certainly flourishing. Monarto's $1 million chimpanzee exhibit and 2010 Serengeti drivethru means that the tourists coming to see the pandas will have increased options at both zoos.