ADELAIDE Zoo has a giant panda debt it will be paying off for a decade, the non-profit conservation charity says.
On the first anniversary of the pandas' Adelaide debut, Zoos SA chief executive Dr Chris West said the zoo was "not floating on a sea of panda dollars" and borrowed $6.7 million to turn the dream into reality, reported AdelaideNow.
"We are a charity, bringing very significant tourism revenue into South Australia but we are not loaded ourselves," he said.
"We are stretched - against a balanced business plan - and will be repaying the bank for a while. The time-frame for paying off the panda debt depends on several factors including visitation, other revenue and panda babies, but at the current rate it looks like it will be closer to 10 years than to five."
Giant pandas Wang Wang and Funi are on loan from the Chinese Government for 10 years.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/wang-wang-leaves-giant-panda-debt-for-adelaide-zoo/story-e6frfkvr-1225976525886#ixzz1xw9mmfv7
Surely our leaders know it is going to be costly to maintain two pandas for 10 years, yet they seem to have a propensity to squander public funds...
China to loan two pandas to Malaysia for 10 years
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/6/11/nation/20120611192706&sec=nation
The question is whether bilateral trade between China and Malaysia will be adversely affected without such an arrangement. It is believed it will cost some Rm50 million to have them here. Among some names suggested by commentators were 'Ring Ring' and 'Beg Beg', as well as 'Ras Ras' and 'Suah Suah'!
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