Tuesday, November 16, 2010
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A Blog designed for discussion of topics related to, but not limited to, Circus, Zoos, Animal Training, and Animal Welfare/Husbandry. Sometimes opening up the dialog is the best starting point of all. And if for nothing else when people who agree and don't agree, get together and start discussing it, it will open up a lot of peoples minds. Debate and discussion even amongst themselves opens a window where there wasn't one before.
4 comments:
The Toronto Zoo was supposed to be getting a pair of giant pandas, to be shared with the Calgary and Granby zoos, but I think the new mayor of Toronto wants to cancel the deal. Sincerely Paul
Paul,
The new mayor doesn't want to "cancel" the deal. He doesn't want the tax payers to pay for it, and would rather the 20 million dollars(isn't that incredible) needed for the "relocation" be gotten from a private partner instead. Makes sound fiscal sense to me. TES, PAWS, peta etc. have made a lucrative identity out of the same concept. Folks are upset because the Toronto Zoo no longer has a fund raising branch to "schmoos" the costs, and feel the city should foot the bill. If folks realized that the majority of "fund raising scams/schmooses" are much in line with organizations like peta, in which 90% of the handouts/extortions are used for "administration costs" and 10% for the actual mission, they might just drop a check off at the admissions office at the zoo, instead of handing it over after they have been plied with feel good, phony bs at the cocktail high line, black tie only banquet.
Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti and zoo staff are flying back and forth to China to work on the deal. Who's footing the nickle for those junkets of wasted, although admittedly good times? Toronto is struggling to hold onto their elephants at the moment, and the city is spending funds for Panda trips to China? Come on, Paul. In my Private Idaho, I respect and value Panda's a lot more then bringing them to Toronto under the pretext of "education" and "conserving an endangered species". That same respect and value holds true for the elephants currently receiving their mail at the zoo. Besides, if Canada show's the United States it is possible, we might get off China's tit and quit kissing her ass also.
Wade
Wade, I am not sure what to say. I just read a short newspaper article on the subject and then briefly discussed the issue with a lawyer who lives in Toronto. You are obviously much better informed than either one of us. The article I read did'nt say anything about $20 million dollars. Sincerely Paul
Paul,
That's because you were reading a White Tiger article. LOL
Read these ones from Silobreaker:
Nov. 1,2010
Pandas coming to Toronto – for $20 million
The pandas are coming, but they’re not coming cheap.
In a deal reached Friday, the Toronto Zoo board and China reached a deal to bring two pandas to Toronto.
They could cost as much as $20 million for the five years they will be here –not including all the bamboo shoots they like to eat.
However, the deal is designed so that city taxpayers won’t foot the bill, according to Toronto Zoo board member Giorgio Mammoliti.
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Inside Toronto Nov. 1, 2010
Agreement with China would cost in neighbourhood of $20 million
It will cost $20 million to bring two pandas to the Toronto Zoo - and the only way that's going to fly is if either the private sector or another level of government foots the bill.
"I've been saying right from the beginning this cannot happen without a public private partnership," said Ward 7 (York West) Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, the Toronto Zoo Board member who's been spearheading negotiations with China to bring a pair of pandas to the zoo.
On Friday, Oct. 29, the zoo completed those negotiations, which will see the pandas tour through three Canadian zoos including Toronto. The pandas will come to Toronto in 2012.
Wade
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