Just over a week ago Beeb news reported the birth of a panda at Chiang Mai zoo.
I'm surprised there doesn't seem to have been any further news, or any comment on HHAD as far as I can see.
An event like this is quite an achievement for any zoo, and can only be good for Thailands' image - and tourism - at the moment. I aim to go to Chiang Mai again on my next trip and will certainly go to see the little chap, despite reservations about zoos in general. So is there any more news out there?
A ton of news Mags, in the papers and some on here somewhere. The event was more than a month ago now I believe. They made the pup too much of a spectacle though and I think upon insistence of the Chinese government, they have now returned it to it's mother and stopped the shows.
A Thai envoy is going or has gone to China to lobby to keep the baby longer than originally agreed to in their contract. No idea if China will grant it.
Chiang Mai made plaster Panda statues and placed them in parks, but they turned out to look like pigs. There's a photo on here somewhere that I posted. Caused a huge countrywide laugh. Pete
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So was he just fostered by Thailand then? Sorry I must have missed that bit! But China has longstanding experience of trying to breed pandas in captivity and I would respect their judgement if he was recalled.
margaretcarnes wrote:So was he just fostered by Thailand then? Sorry I must have missed that bit! But China has longstanding experience of trying to breed pandas in captivity and I would respect their judgement if he was recalled.
My understanding is that the adult Panda(s) are on loan from China, therefore any offspring belong to China as well. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Found this in The Nationthis morning, looks like they are trying to get every bahts worth out of it. Still no mention of how long the Chinese will let them keep it but they appear quietly nonplussed about it all.
Panda cub rakes it in
By Kwandao Jitpana The Nation
Published on July 7, 2009
The Chiang Mai Zoo took in more than Bt1 million last weekend, thanks to the panda cub going on direct public display for the first time. Panda project chief Prasertsak Boontrakulpoontawee yesterday said 4,078 tickets were sold to visitors wanting to see the cub on Saturday and another 3,779 on Sunday. The number of tickets sold was much higher than the maximum of 2,000 a day that had been expected.
However, he insisted the baby panda's direct display would not be extended even with the long holiday lasting until tomorrow.
"We're concerned about the panda's health and safety, and taking the cub from its mother, Lin Hui, too many times will reduce Lin Hui's trust in her caretakers," Prasertsak said.
The cub weighed 2.07 kilograms yesterday, 40 grams more than on Sunday.
Prasertsak expects her right eye to open in the next two days. Her left eye opened last Saturday, and the cub should see clearly with it soon.
A poll conducted by Chiang Mai's Maejo University showed about 92 per cent of respondents believed the cub's direct public display and activities celebrating its birth helped tourismrelated business in the province.
A total of 1,100 visitors to the zoo were surveyed on Saturday. Of those, 60.5 per cent came from outside of Chiang Mai.
Sixtyfour per cent said they wanted to buy souvenirs decorated with panda logos. Also, 76.5 per cent wanted to see another direct public display organised after the cub was older and stronger, while 23.5 per cent did not think that was a good idea, due to the risk of infection.
There's a photo on here somewhere that I posted. Caused a huge countrywide laugh. 
Pete 
