National Zoo’s panda won’t be deported

A crowd of panda lovers and dignitaries gathered for a Tuesday morning news conference at the Giant Panda Habitat erupted in cheers when China’s ambassador to the United States, Zhou Wenzhong, said his country has “agreed that the stay of Tai Shan will be extended two more years.”

“The giant panda is a gift of nature for not only China, but for the whole world,” Ambassador Zhou said.

Tai Shan was born at the zoo on July 9, 2005 and, like his parents, is on loan from China. Breeding giant pandas has long been a difficult proposition, with about 220 them living in zoos worldwide. In the wild, their number is about 1,600. The National Zoo, according to its Web site, has the largest Department ofReproductive Sciences of any zoo worldwide.

Tai Shan was to have been sent to China for breeding some time after his second birthday. A zoo spokeswoman said Tuesday that negotiations to extend Tai Shan’s stay in D.C. began in December when zoo director John Berry visited China’s Wolong Giant Panda Research Center.

The hope, zoo associate director of communications Pamela Baker-Masson told The Examiner, is that Tai Shan will be good for the city and for his species.

“We know that the general public is learning a great deal about giant pandas and about conservation” by visiting him at the zoo, Baker-Masson said. “By continuing to have another giant panda here, his keepers will be able to learn more about giant panda behavior … and about nutrition.”

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, on hand for Tuesday morning’s announcement, realizes the value of his furry, 125-pound star resident.

“Having Tai Shan here for a couple more years, maybe longer” Fenty said, “will be a dramatic lift for our tourism.”

Since Tai Shan’s public debut on Dec. 8, 2005, Baker-Masson said, 2.25 million visitors have gone through the panda exhibit.

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