The Calgary Zoo Pandas Will Run Out Of Food If Their Chinese Visas Don't Get Approved ASAP
Two loveable pandas at the Calgary Zoo are facing starvation. On Wednesday, August 5, the zoo announced that their move to China has been halted due to visa issues. As a result, they're stuck in Calgary and their food supply is set to run out in September.
Back in May, the facility announced that the giant pandas were to be relocated back in China as it had been difficult securing their bamboo food supply during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The zoo said "99% of their diet is made up of fresh bamboo," with each adult eating about 40 kilograms of the plants every day.
Therefore, "Er Shun" and "Da Mao" were all set to head back to China to get their fill of bamboo.
But nearly three months later, staff say that they have been having trouble securing travel permits for the giant pandas.
"To date, China has not been able to approve international permits due to changes in its import laws and quarantine facilities due to COVID-19," said the release.
At the moment, fresh bamboo from British Columbia is an option but even that supply line has an end date.
According to the release, it's "expected to run out in September."
"We believe the best and safest place for Er Shun and Da Mao to be during these challenging and unprecedented times is where bamboo is abundant and easy to access,” said President & CEO, Dr. Clément Lanthier.
He added that the continuous delays in international permits for the pandas are putting their health at risk.
At the moment, the adorable giants are said to be in good health and are getting "exceptional care" by their team.
"If there is any chance that the Zoo cannot bring bamboo to the pandas, the Zoo wants to bring the pandas to the bamboo," said the release.
The pair first arrived in Canada in 2014 as part of a 10-year arrangement between Canada and China.
They spent their first five years in the country at the Toronto Zoo. By the time they moved to Calgary, they had two cubs: Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue.
While the little ones were safely moved back to China in January of 2020, it remains to be seen when their parents will follow.