Shipping Pandas to China

Mei Lan the panda is on her way to Chengdu, China. She was born at Zoo Atlanta in 2006 under an agreement that all pandas in American zoos belong to China. Today she is being shipped to Washington DC, where she will join Tai Shan, the panda born at the National Zoo. The two will be the only cargo aboard a FedEx 14-hour non-stop flight to China.
After a caravan to the airport and a ride past dozens of waiting photographers, Mei Lan was lifted into the 777 Freighter emblazoned with panda logos. Shortly after 8 a.m., the door was closed, the plane taxied and the flight took off.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed agreed it was fine to be “reflective, or even wistful” about Mei Lan’s departure, but important, too, to remember that she’s a healthy member of an endangered species, and by moving to China, she can help her kind survive. (Reeds advice to her: “be fruitful and multiply.”) Scientists estimate there are about 1,600 Giant Pandas in the wild. About 300 live in captivity, mostly in China.

Three giant pandas remain at the Atlanta Zoo, Mei Lan's parents and an infant. Link -via Metafilter

More on Mei Lan.

More on Tai Shan.

Comments (6)

Newest 5
Newest 5 Comments

with climate change and the worlds energy crisis you'd think that the zooworkers (i.e. scientists) wouldn't want to waste thousands of gallons of jet fuel on two panda bears and no other cargo... makes one wonder whether they actually believe their own rhetoric.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I can have conversations with my cat without tricks, per se.

Usually I just go: Fat cats say meow. He could also, sort of, say hello. But he stopped once he realized I'd feed him whether or not he said it.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Awww. What a cute kitty.

Watching this makes me sad, though. My sweet little girl Kit N. sounded like this cat all the time. We lost her on Thursday. She was 10 years old.

I miss you, Kit N. :-(
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I think the owner is mostly saying the cat's name and nicknames (Matsuko-san, Mat-chan), asking if he wants to eat ("Tabenai no?" "Gohan wa?"), asking if he's sleepy ("Nemui desu ka?") and making cat noises.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Email This Post to a Friend
"Shipping Pandas to China"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More