Panda shakedown
June 20, 2009 at 8:22 am by Scott Henry in News
Panda for ransom
Zoo Atlanta CEO Dennis Kelly announced this past week that unless individual donors come up with a half-million dollars to help pay off the Chinese government, the zoo will be forced to give back all four pandas — parents Yang Yang and Lun Lun, as well as their two offspring — when their lease runs out at the end of the year. Corporate donors have already pledged $2 million. The zoo has launched a website, www.givesotheystay.org, to solicit contributions.
“The Chinese people have asked for our help in giving them science and management techniques to protect the remaining 1,500 pandas in the wild.”
— Kelly, from a video on the www.givesotheystay.org website
“It would break my heart, because it doesn’t get any cuter than this.”
— Nell Mayer of Atlanta, as quoted by Fox 5, on the prospect of losing the pandas
“If we had named that panda P-dizzle, would they want him back?”
— James, from Metroblogging.com
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