GIANT PANDA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION DISCUSS LOAN FESS FOR GIANT PANDAS

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http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=4885098

 

Posted by Dan Taylor

*U.S. Panda Zoos Meet to Discuss Species' Fate*

May 10, 2006 07:06 AM PDT

 

*MEMPHIS, Tenn* -Zoos that have pandas are preparing for a trip to China to

discuss loan fees for the animals.

The Giant Panda Conservation Foundation met in Memphis to discuss specifics

before traveling to China to try to negotiate better terms with the

government there. Most American zoos pay at least one million dollars a year

to borrow pandas for display and research. That money pays for projects in

the pandas' natural habitat, like wildlife preserves, reforestation and

training conservation workers.

 

The Memphis Zoo is paying $1.1 million dollars a year for pandas Ya Ya and

Le Le on a ten-year conservation and research loan that began in 2003.

 

Foundation president Dave Towne said Tuesday he's impressed with the

progress the Chinese have made. Towne said before the money that comes from

U.S. zoos, the country had no funds for wildlife conservation.

 

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