San Diego Zoo Panda Leaves for China
Posted on: Tuesday, 6 November 2007, 09:07 CST
SAN DIEGO (AP) - A male panda born four years ago at the San Diego Zoo left for China on Monday to join that country's breeding program.
Mei Sheng, which translates as "Born in the USA," was sent to the Wolong Nature Reserve for Giant Pandas as part of a loan agreement requiring all pandas born outside China to be returned there after the animals mature, zoo officials said.
"Mei Sheng will be missed ... but his role in the conservation of his species involves a move to China," said Ron Swaisgood of the zoo's Giant Panda Conservation Unit.
"As a critically endangered species, it is vital that Mei Sheng is in a place where he will be around other pandas, and the Wolong Nature Reserve is a great home," Swaisgood said.
Only about 1,600 giant pandas remain in the wild, and fewer than 180 live in captivity.
Mei Sheng was the second giant panda born in the U.S. to be sent to China. Hua Mei, born at the San Diego Zoo in 1999, was also sent to the Wolong reserve. She has since given birth to three cubs in China.
Related Articles
- Two Fossa Babies Born at Omaha's Zoo
- China to Send 2 Giant Pandas to Spain
- China to Set Up Strategic Mineral Reserves
- China's Three Oil Giants Produce 174 Mln Tons of Crude Oil in 2005
- Baby Panda at San Diego Zoo Named Su Lin
- Zoo Staff Discovers Panda Cub Is a Male
- San Diego Zoo's Giant Panda Pregnant
- Giant Panda Cub Born at National Zoo in Washington
- Pandas at San Diego Zoo Successfully Mate
- San Diego Zoo's Giant Panda Gives Birth
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds