By Choi Yearn-hong
WASHINGTON ― Tai Shan will be sent to China soon. Who is Tai Shan? He is a giant panda cub born in the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
You may still wonder and ask me: What are you talking about? Why is the cub heading to China? I didn't have any idea. I have been a resident in the Washington area since 2006, but I too was surprised to learn more about the Tai Shan story.
My first response was: There are as many as 1,600 giant pandas in Sichuan, China. So why is the America-born cub being sent to China? But the cub has a complex story following its birth and even long before it was born in the National Zoo.
Many visitors to the Zoo will miss Tai Shan. No doubt about it. He has been popular among visitors over the years. Giant pandas look unique with their black-and-white color ― black fur on the ears, eye patches, muzzle, legs, and shoulders, and white for the rest of the animal's coat.
They always look peaceful and cute in the bamboo forests. Many children love the animal and I too am one of the adults who love to see the black-and-white bear. But Tai Shan must be sent back to China for his future, according to agreements signed by China and the National Zoo years ago.
The cub's life was long ago stipulated in an agreement between the two nations. Under the agreement, giant Panda cubs born at the National Zoo belong to China and are to be sent to Wolong Beifengxia base in Ya'an, Sichuan sometime after the cub turns two.
In April 2007, shortly before his second birthday, China granted the National Zoo a two-year extension for Tai Shan to remain in Washington, D.C.; that extension expired in July but the zoo was provided a second extension to January 2010.
Tai Shan will be trained to enter and calmly remain in a specially designed crate for his flight to China. Logistics and details for his safe transport are being finalized. It is expected that Tai Shan will enter the breeding program in China, where he will contribute to species conservation.
Tai Shan's parents, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, also belong to China and are on a 10-year loan as part of a research, conservation and breeding program.
This agreement expires in 2010. This year is critical to the giant panda couple in Washington. Very soon, the National Zoo and Chinese officials will begin negotiations about their future.
Since his public debut in December 2005, Tai Shan has delighted millions of visitors who have come to National Zoo to see him. His departure will sadden many current and future visitors. But he should go to his mother's country.
I hope his return will help the giant panda prosper and get off the list of endangered species through happy mating and healthy offspring.
It may be fun to read the zoo director's farewell speech:
``Tai Shan leaving Washington is terribly sad for the zoo, the community, and his fans around the world. He has become so special to the staff and the public ― and we have learned so much from him in just a few short years.''
It continues, ``By providing a two-year extension, our Chinese partner, the China Wildlife Conservation Association, allowed us the chance to learn more about giant pandas by charting his growth and development. It is hard to say goodbye, but we are so thankful for the many memories and huge opportunities Tai Shan has provided to the National Zoo.''
I was surprised to find annual payments of $1 million to China for Mei Xing and Tian Tian on the part of the U.S. taxpayers. Giant pandas are expensive animals for the zoo, probably the most expensive.
I had thought that the giant panda couple was a gift from China to the United States as a token of the diplomatic normalization between the two gigantic nations.
Once the monetary deal of renting the panda couple is known to the public, the panda presence in the zoo may become more political. But how many people will care about such a political deal?
Tai Shan is one of the most important animals, more important than an average man or woman. It seems to me that China and the United States pay much more attention to Tai Shan than any man or woman on Earth.
There must be a reason why. Perhaps the lovely animal from the Sichuan bamboo grove can attract millions of visitors to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. It may be worthwhile to pay $1 million per year.
I just hope China and the United States pay adequate attention to the starving people in North Korea, too. Why? Human beings deserve at least as much attention as a giant panda cub or any other precious animal.
There are many hungry and starving people in North Korea ― many are wandering in Manchuria looking for food even at this moment.
China should care for its neighboring country under dictatorial rule since 1948 as much as it protects and cares for one giant panda cub. This is my 2010 wish for China.
Dr. Choi is an environmentalist in the Washington area. He can be reached at yearnhc@hanmail.net.