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Backlash Against Politician’s Plan to Import Pandas and Put Them on Display in NYC

September 20, 2017 by Leave a Comment


The News

Carolyn Maloney, a U.S. Congresswoman from New York, is working to import a pair of giant pandas from China and display them in New York City.  

In a YouTube video, “The Pandas are Coming to NYC,” Maloney cites several ways in which this endeavor will benefit humans, including education, entertainment, increased tourism, and improved relations with China. She makes no mention, however, of the welfare of the pandas, who, like other wild animals, suffer in captivity.

U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney hosted a “Panda Ball” in NYC to raise money to import pandas from China to NYC.

Pandas are wild animals, not objects for display. In the forests of China, they have rich lives, gathering food, roaming freely and raising their young.  In captivity, they languish in their exhibit spaces while people take selfies through sheets of glass.

In 2012, the Director of Conservation Education at China’s largest panda breeding facility described captive-bred pandas as a “caricature” of the real thing. People who are genuinely interested in learning about pandas can watch nature shows that document their behavior in the wild. Observing pandas in an artificial enclosure will only teach people that wild animals can be imprisoned for our amusement. Furthermore, it will do nothing to help conserve pandas in the wild.

Animal rights activists say pandas are wild animals with instinctual needs that can not be met in captivity.

If Congresswoman Maloney moves forward with her plan to rent pandas from China, she will not only fuel the market for captive pandas but also help to perpetuate the abuse that exists in China’s panda breeding facilities. Undercover video released in July, 2017 showed workers using excessive force on two babies. This disturbing footage reinforces what we already know — that panda breeding facilities are panda mills in disguise. Indeed, the pandas born in captivity are rented out, like commodities, for $1 million/year to zoos.

Wild animal captivity is already losing favor in the mainstream, as evidenced by the closure of Ringling Bros., plummeting attendance at SeaWorld and the newly passed NYC law banning wild animals in circuses. Indeed, public attitudes are already shifting in favor of freedom.

Your Turn

Please sign the Care2 petition asking Carolyn Maloney to call off her plan to import pandas into NYC for display.

Follow No Panda Prison NYC on Facebook.



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TheirTurn.net Comments

  1. Inger says:

    Leave the animals alone. We are only to protect and help them if needed.
    Have some decency!

  2. Monica says:

    No more pandas on display!!!! Period.
    Check online petitions and PETA blogs about Smithsonian’s National zoo’s cruel treatment towards their pandas. SHAME

  3. Susan Good says:

    Leave Pandas where they belong. In their own natural habitat.

  4. Maria W says:

    No more pandas on display!!!! Period.

    How is this happening at a Smithsonian institution and why is no one doing anything about it? The National Zoo is a national disgrace and has abused animals for years, and yet everyone looks the other way and does not want to ruffle any feathers. Why? These animals are suffering for the sake of profit. Who will stand up for Mei Xiang, Bei Bei, and every animal confined to this awful place? They need help. PLEASE DO SOMETHING.
    https://t.co/QlCdRyIHbP
    https://t.co/vc7IJ5a60m
    https://t.co/gYfxpxt0xd

  5. Erie says:

    Please check this petition as well.
    http://bit.ly/2n61yvG
    Smithsonian’s National zoo is treating its panda female, Mei Xiang, as cub making machine. She is now 19 years old(60+ in human age) and going thru Pseudo pregnancy because zoo performed artificial insemination on her after forced separating her still nursing cub 🙁

  6. Sonia Bower says:

    Please stop taking animals from they natural environment, only for the enjoyment of people. Giant Pandas don’t belong in NYC,let’s have compassion for them.

  7. savannah bach says:

    Why do human beings keep doing such ridiculous things???? Leave the panda in the indigenous wild landscape that it belongs in with its immediate and extended family. Human beings have all but wrecked this entire planet and the tiny bit of hope that is left they want to obliterate too! Can this lady just stick to playing politician or whatever it is that she does best and stay far, far away from exploiting animals … obviously for more frivolous financial gain! No Pandas in NYC!!!!!

  8. Julie says:

    This is a disgrace and should never happen! What is wrong with people? Stop this before it starts or there will be many pissed off animal activist trying to shut this down.

  9. Barbara Fernandes says:

    For Gods sake leave them alone get yourself some other kknd of entertainment

  10. Holly Pearson says:

    Giant Pandas do not belong in NYC. Leave them in their homelands, do not toy with their lives.

Comments are closed.