Toronto Zoo Wants Pandas

From Toronto Star/ Toronto Sun/ Globe & Mail - 2009

The Toronto Zoo board recently announced its intention to spend $82,000 (including $20,000 to hire a lobbyist) to send up to nine zoo representatives to China in a bid to bring a pair of pandas to the zoo.

Despite widespread criticism of China's panda loan program and strong advice against the trip from Toronto Mayor David Miller, the Chinese government and consular officials, the zoo board decided to push ahead with their  plan.

The panda acquisition is supposed to be a major draw in the zoo's ongoing fundraising efforts. However, the zoo would have to find up to $15 million to construct a facility for the pandas and that could mean cuts to other projects, including eliminating exhibits for animals that already live at the zoo and reducing the scope of the Canadian Wilderness Orientation Center.

The zoo board recently downsized it's panda proposal, presumably in response to the negative attention it generated, and the budget for the China trip was reduced to $28,000. The Toronto Star reported that the board voted 4-2 in favour of sending four people to China.

Many wildlife protection groups, including Zoocheck Canada, believe panda loans are focused more on fundraising and entertainment than conservation. Zoocheck Canada is opposed to the Toronto Zoo's plan and advocates that funds instead be directed at improving the lives of the animals already held captive at the zoo.

Toronto Zoo Defies Directive to Cut Budget

Toronto Star, October 29, 2009

After being instructed to chop their budget by 5 per cent by Toronto's city manager, directors of the Toronto Zoo dug in their heels Thursday and voted instead to increase it by 3.2 per cent.

Saying their job is to be advocates for the zoo, they openly defied the directive to all city agencies, issued only last week by city manager Joe Pennachetti, to slash their budgets by 5 per cent. Councillor Paul Ainslie - a member of the city's budget committee - moved to hold the zoo budget at last year's level - meaning a city grant of $11,677,000. Other directors took that a step further, voting to add $373,000.

"We have a moral obligation to those animals locked in their cages to give them the best care possible," said Councillor Glenn de Baeremaeker in supporting the plan.

Ainslie said that in past cost-cutting campaigns in the city, agencies that offered up spending cuts took a heavy hit while those who refused to slash suffered "no repercussions at all."

"Before we rush into anything, we should see how dire an operating position the city's in," Ainslie said. Toronto's operating budget isn't due to be set until the new year, but it's predicted the city will face a shortfall of up to $500 million. The zoo's budget still needs city council's approval. The board did slash its travel budget, voting to trim travel spending to about $82,000 from the $114,000 spent in 2009. That would appear to threaten the ability of the zoo to send a delegation to China next year to ask for pandas.

Not Shooting the Hippo

Toronto Star Editorial, November 2, 2009

In a display of arrogance that insults Toronto taxpayers, the local zoo board is calling for a $373,000 (3.2 per cent) increase in funding from the city. The request blatantly contravenes city hall's instructions to all its departments and agencies to cut their net operating budgets by 5 per cent, as Toronto grapples with a reported $400 million shortfall.

Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker, who serves on the zoo board, played the animal welfare card in an attempt to justify the increase; he argued that the board has a "moral obligation" to provide "the best care possible."

But we are not witnessing a replay of the famous 1990s incident in New Zealand, where a baby hippopotamus was shot because the zoo could no longer afford to maintain it after funding cuts. Rather, the Toronto zoo is seeking more money to expand its staff. The board also approved spending about $82,000 on travel. Some board members deemed that a sign of fiscal discipline, as they spent even more on travel in the past. City council mustn't let this stand.

If the zoo board is allowed to evade spending restraints, it will make a mockery of Toronto's effort to live within its means.

Zoocheck Canada does not support any increase in municipal funding for the Toronto Zoo.