I would like some panda poems about what pandas coming to Edinburgh Zoo has meant to you.
This is why RZSS brought pandas to Scotland:
One of the main roles of zoos is to take part in breeding programmes to help conserve endangered species. Before the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan province in China, there were only about 1,500 to 2,000 giant pandas in the wild. It is not known how many survived the disaster but a worldwide captive breeding programme is now needed more than ever before.
The ‘Conservation Breeding Specialist Group’ for giant pandas at the IUCN says that there should be a captive population of 300 – at the moment there are only around 200.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland will pay money to the Chinese Government for the loan of the two giant pandas. This money will go directly towards giant panda conservation projects in the wild.
We will be able to research panda behaviour in the zoo and this will help us understand more about pandas which also helps their survival in the wild.
Thinking about why RZSS brought the pandas to Scotland along with what you think it has meant to you and your life, can you write a poem? There will be a small gift for everyone who writes a poem and something extra for the winning entries. The winning poems will be used in a new education resource.
Only open to those registered to Postal Zoo Club.
Poems emailed to me by 10th February 2012 – srobb@rzss.org.uk
