
Many of you have helped in the past with specific fund raising events for pandas, whether it be for a bamboo cooler in San Diego, ice machine in Atlanta or new enrichment items for any one of the zoo across the world.
CEO & President of Zoo Atlanta, Dennis Kelly made a plea yesterday to the community,not for a new piece of equipment or something else to help keep Lun, Yang, Mei and Xi comfortable and healthy, but help to keep the pandas at Zoo Atlanta. Wow, did I hear right? This news came as quite a jolt as I cannot imagine the possibility of NO giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta.
The zoo has successfully negotiated new terms with the Chinese to continue their research and care of the pandas at Zoo Atlanta, but coming up with the money to renew the loan agreement is another matter.
We all know how hard it is to pay our bills and keep ourselves out of debt. So, you know first hand what challenges the zoo has in these slow economic times and add on top of that, this new loan agreement.
Over the last several or more months, the zoo has actively pursued donations, sponsorships and other avenues to raise the additional funds they will need to finalize this agreement with China . Unfortunately, time is running out and the zoo is still $500,000 short of what they need.
I am so grateful they are openly asking for help from the community, rather then just giving up. I know we can help Zoo Atlanta, I know there are many tenacious panda fans out there. So, I am asking you to join me in rallying behind Zoo Atlanta and contribute in any way-you-can to the 'Give so they stay' program.
I am not willing to accept the fact, that there will no longer be giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta, I am betting that you feel the same. It's rally time for panda lovers to be there when it counts.
GIVE SO THEY STAY!