VARIOUS STUFF

▼

Monday, March 11, 2013

On the Tedium of Pandas

I'd hoped to ignite a real controversy with this Almanac. At the time of it's publication, the Chinese government had just announced that pandas would cost American zoos 10 million bucks a pop for a ten-year rental. I thought it was pretty steep, given how disappointing my visits to the panda enclosure at the National Zoo always turned out. The putative pandas, black & white carpet samples posed clumsily on a little hill, just sat there, fooling nobody except for the hordes of gullible tourists who oohed and aahed and snapped photos, pretending they were witness to one of Nature's own marvels.

I'd always favored elephants, or a least rhinoceroses, both for their size, their smell, and their implausibility. Also, they're fun to draw.

But no controversy arose, and it's been at least eight years. So I'm assuming everybody secretly agrees with me about the over-ratedness of pandas. They just too scared to admit it.
at

11 comments:

  1. talltaleradioMarch 11, 2013 at 2:13 PM

    Living in San Diego, home of the most excellent San Diego Zoo...so I know from pandas. And let me say, I totally agree. Why we're wasting millions of dollars on an animal that should've probably died out a long time ago is beyond me. Oh, wait! They're cute! I forgot.

    ReplyDelete
  2. MikeMarch 11, 2013 at 2:23 PM

    I cannot believe that this blog allows Mr. Thompson to perpetuate his ignorant and unscientific attacks on pandas. Pandas are NOT marsupials and if Mr. Thompson cared he would have known that. Pandas are a precious resource that must be respected and preserved, and such unwarranted attacks on this charming animal can only hasten the demise of our civilization. Please cancel my subscription at once!

    ReplyDelete
  3. conwaydeMarch 11, 2013 at 3:04 PM

    I have it on good authority, that the above poster, Mike, is actually a Panda in disguise. Boo, to surreptitious Pandas, those dastardly underhanded marsupials! Please cancel my subscription at once!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mike RhodeMarch 11, 2013 at 3:06 PM

    Personally I miss the midget hippo they got rid of a couple of years ago.

    ReplyDelete
  5. sdnMarch 11, 2013 at 3:22 PM

    I much prefer elephants. They have trunks. Pandas are indeed boring.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Octavo DiaMarch 11, 2013 at 3:45 PM

    I ceaselessly advocate the superiority of red pandas, so the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Washington CubeMarch 11, 2013 at 4:04 PM

    When little Butterstick was born, I did a watercolor of his mewling self and invented a panda cocktail (black and white layers.) But...midget hippos? YES! And may I make a bid of interest toward the naked mole rat? A personal favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  8. LeslieMarch 11, 2013 at 4:10 PM

    The Detroit Zoo has neither pandas nor elephants. I feel deprived.

    ReplyDelete
  9. gilda92March 11, 2013 at 8:12 PM

    OhOh! Toronto will join the panda group, the Toronto Zoo proudly announced: "As part of a long-term conservation partnership agreement between China and Canada, signed by Hu Jintao, President of China and Mr. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, China will loan two giant pandas to two Canadian Zoos (Toronto and Calgary) for a ten year period. The good news is that Toronto Zoo will be home to the breeding pair for a minimum of five years, beginning in the spring of 2013. The pandas will then relocate to the Calgary Zoo sometime in 2018."

    ReplyDelete
  10. MikeMarch 12, 2013 at 2:22 AM

    ... because once the baby panda starts school, it will be much harder for them to relocate.

    ReplyDelete
  11. SonnyMoon42March 12, 2013 at 5:17 AM

    How DARE you mock the cute little Pandas? I for one am OUTRAGED! What are you, some kind of animal hater? (Just trying to stir up some controversy)

    ReplyDelete