American zoos seek to raise money for Chinese pandas
The San Diego Zoo, the National Zoo in Washington and two other U.S. zoos that have giant pandas are launching a fundraising effort for colleagues in the earthquake-ravaged region of China, home to a famous panda facility. The Washington Post reports:
The Wolong National Nature Reserve, in Sichuan province, was a short distance from the epicenter of the earthquake that struck May 12. National Zoo officials said five workers at the reserve are believed to have died in the disaster.
Two of the approximately 50 pandas at the reserve's breeding center escaped, though one was found, a zoo official said. There was extensive damage in the region, and staff members are living in tents, the zoo's website says. An appeal for donations has been posted.
Photo: Teh Eng Koon AFP/Getty Images
