China needs to step up and provide policy for leased pandas

Prelimanary findings are reporting that Quan Quan may have died from gas poisoning.

This report comes from Xinhuanet.com

"Initial investigations showed that the panda died after inhaling gas disinfectant from a nearby former air-raid shelter. The gas was composed of chlorine, chlorine hydride and carbon monoxide, said Liu Jungang, deputy Party secretary of Jinan Zoo. Workers were disinfecting the air-raid shelter when the gas leaked to the zoo's panda house through an air-pipe. Police are investigating the case. The panda was found poisoned at around 7 p.m. and died in a local hospital after three hours of treatment failed."

The China Global Times presents a good article on the whole business of leasing giant pandas. I recommend that you read it in its entirety. "Quan Quan's passing revived concern that the attention surrounding the species is too much. Critics say the leasing of pandas, which disturbs their normal habits, has become some zoos' way of luring tourists."

In 1963 the  United States Fish and Wildlife Service stepped in and stopped all shipments of giant pandas to the U.S. when they began to see problems with how pandas were being be cared for.  Before this there were no guidelines that zoos or anyone else who wanted to showcase them, had to follow when they received their pandas.

Fortunately, due to the diligence of some concerned people they got the FWS involved and before any pandas could arrive into the U.S. a permit had to be requested, stringent guidelines and rules were set up which also included the facility that would house them.

This is from their Q & A page on their website, you can read the complete Giant Panda Policy and Q&A page:

Why have a policy just for pandas? 
Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)are protected by the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES).

Any import requires the Fish and Wildlife Service to issue a permit under these wildlife measures. The giant panda is unique. It is highly endangered,with probably fewer than 1,000 animals in the wild, extremely popular with the public worldwide, and capable of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Giant Panda Policy Questions & Answers Generating substantial profit when displayed. Because of this, giant panda imports have had a controversial history.

Conservationists fear humans will “love  the panda to death.”

It is time that China took the initiative themselves and set up stringent policy to protect leased pandas, NOW before any further leasing of giant pandas continues. How many more panda deaths need to occur before someone wakes up from this nightmare that is happening over and over again!