The zoo community’s savvy exploitation of one of the world’s most “aww”-inspiring animals has been a marketing coup. Since the onset of the panda program in the 1970s, the public has been systematically manipulated into believing that they must  see this particular animal. Zoos barter, beg and negotiate to display pandas and their babies, specifically to bring in millions of paying visitors. The original intent of the program — habitat preservation in China — is rarely even mentioned anymore. Besieged by a constant onslaught of visitors, artificially and invasively bred, and forever denied their freedom, the bears themselves are the only ones not reaping any benefits from the hoopla.

Like all bears, panda moms are protective and nurturing. But the conditions of China’s loan program require that cubs be returned home within two years of birth. Treated as commodities, the young pandas and their mothers will likely never see each other again. In China’s breeding centers, cubs are typically taken from mothers before they reach six months of age to force females to go into estrus again. And that, in itself, is far from simple. Female pandas are only fertile for a day or two. When a female shows signs of going into heat, she’s poked and prodded and her vagina is swabbed to see if she is ovulating. 

Pandas are sensitive and shy animals who, if left unmolested, will shun contact with humans. Their soulful eyes and endearing appearance disguise the very real suffering they endure when traipsed around from zoo to zoo as profitable marketing props.

Sincerely,

Jennifer O’Connor

Staff Writer,

PETA Foundation