GOVERNMENT WATCH : Panda- Monium

Officials at the San Diego Zoo were taken aback recently when the U.S. government warned them they might not be allowed to import two giant pandas from China because the popular animals are an endangered species. If so, that would be most unfortunate--not just because a permanent panda exhibit at the famous zoo would help boost California tourism but because a prohibition could actually set back efforts to preserve pandas in their native habitat.

The warning came in a letter from U.S. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. It said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was worried that allowing the San Diego Zoo to import pandas might encourage other zoos to do the same. But that overlooks specifics that make San Diego’s request unique.

First, the two pandas--Shi Shi and Shun Shun--were not healthy animals forcibly removed from the wild. Both were found near death from injuries and starvation and were nursed back to health. Chinese officials have not had success reintroducing such pandas back into the wilderness, so life in captivity is all but inevitable for the pair.

Given that fact, San Diego would be an ideal home for them because of the pioneering work that zoologists there have done with pandas, including studies that have helped Chinese zoos breed the animals in captivity.

Babbitt has shown admirable pragmatism in dealing with environmental issues. Once he better understands the good work San Diego Zoo has done in panda research, he surely will want to allow it to import Shi Shi and Shun Shun for permanent display and study.