Lun Lun and Yang Yang have needs. They require an expensive all-vegetarian diet — 84 pounds a day, each. They are attended by a four-person entourage, and both crave privacy. Would-be divas could take notes.
But the real sticker shock comes from the annual fees that Zoo Atlanta and three other American zoos must pay the Chinese government, $2 million a year, essentially to rent a pair of pandas.
The financial headache caused by the costly loan obligations has driven Dennis W. Kelly, chief executive of Zoo Atlanta, to join with the directors of the three other United States zoos — in Washington, San Diego and Memphis — that exhibit pandas to negotiate some budgetary breathing room. If no agreement with China can be made, Mr. Kelly said, the zoos may have to return their star attractions.
“If we can’t renegotiate, they absolutely will go back,” Mr. Kelly said. “Unless there are significant renegotiations, you’ll see far fewer pandas in the United States at the end of this current agreement.”
San Diego’s contract with China is the first to expire, in 2008. The last contract, in Memphis, ends in 2013.
Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez six months ago, in his 2005 State of the City Address:
They can look at the bio park, it’s incredible. They can see animals from all over the world, and I can tell you this evening, we are going to have pandas next year at the Albuquerque zoo. And I think we should have them just because its great to have Albuquerque be part of a world breeding program for one of the most marvelous species ever thought of by our Creator. But, it will also attract investment. Everyone, that maybe in the past went to Santa Fe, Taos and we were just the way to get there, will stop and see the pandas.
Sounds like Albuquerque might be able to get a sub-let set of Panda’s from Atlanta or Memphis.