Why have a policy just for pandas?

Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

are protected by the U.S. Endangered

Species Act (ESA) and the Convention on

International Trade in Endangered

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

(CITES). Any import requires the Fish

and Wildlife Service to issue a permit

under these wildlife measures. The giant

panda is unique. It is highly endangered,

with probably fewer than 1,000 animals in

the wild, extremely popular with the

public worldwide, and capable of

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Giant Panda Policy

Questions & Answers

generating substantial profit when

displayed. Because of this, giant panda

imports have had a controversial history.

Conservationists fear humans will “love

the panda to death.”

What does the policy cover?

The policy clarifies the information

considered in making permit findings

under CITES and the ESA, and assists

persons in filing a complete application

for panda import, export, re-export, take,

or interstate or foreign commerce. The

policy also provides guidance to assist

Service decision-makers and staff in

reviewing panda permit applications to

ensure that permit issuance criteria

have been addressed. The policy

discusses the purposes for which a

permit can be issued and when

exhibition of pandas is allowed. It

provides guidance to ensure that the

import will not contribute to the

removal of pandas from the wild, and

guidance on the use of funds

associated with a panda transfer.

How can an institution meet the

criteria set forth in the policy?

The primary goal of the policy is to

ensure that permitted activities will

directly contribute to the survival and

recovery of the wild panda population.

To accomplish this goal, the Service

will review an application to determine

that it is a proposal for scientific

research, enhancing the sustainability

of the captive population, and

contributing to the recovery of pandas

in the wild. The Service will consider

whether the application:

! Outlines how net profits will be

calculated and fund disbursement

will be monitored, and has a

provision to provide an annual

accounting report that clearly

shows whether a net profit was

made and how the funds were used

in China.

! Includes a bona fide scientific

research proposal, i.e., one that is

properly designed using scientific

methods focusing on a specific

topic, that advances and/or

supplements the scientific

knowledge of panda ecology, and

that is specifically relevant to the

expertise of the institution.
! Addresses how the proposed

research, if related to captive

breeding, supplements China’s

conservation program to achieve a

self-sustaining captive population.

! Relates the origin and biological

background of the panda to those

selected to accomplish the purpose of

the project (this is to ensure that the

requested activity does not cause the

removal of animals from the wild).

! Contains a plan to ensure that the

public display of pandas will not

interfere with the research activities.

! Shows that the applicant has the

expertise, resources, and facilities to

accomplish the stated objectives of the

proposed research.

! Shows that the research is part of a

coordinated panda conservation effort

and that scientific findings will be

quickly shared.

! Contains a description of how funds

associated with the panda loan (loan

money, net profits, or fund-raising

dollars) will support high priority

panda conservation projects identified

by the Panda Office of the China State

Forestry Administration or China’s

Captive Breeding Plan, with a

significant portion of the funds

allocated for panda projects in the

wild, thus, addressing the CITES

criteria that the import is not for

primarily commercial purposes.

! Is a long term loan commitment and

contains a copy of the loan agreement

with the appropriate entity within

China.

! Shows that research on captive

breeding will be coordinated through

the American Zoo and Aquarium

Association’s Species Survival Plan

for giant pandas (or a similar plan) and

with China’s Captive Breeding Plan.

What are the purposes and

circumstances under which a permit

can be issued?

Under the policy, permits can be issued

for the following:

! Scientific research if the research is

directly linked and will contribute to

the recovery of pandas in the wild.

! A combination of both research and

conservation activities that enhance

the survival of the species.

Before the Service can issue a permit, it

must make the following findings under

CITES and the ESA:

! Import is not for primarily

commercial purposes.

! Purpose of the import is not

detrimental to the survival of the

species in the wild.

! Importer has facilities and expertise

to care for the pandas.

! Purpose of the import is consistent

with the ESA (i.e., for scientific

research or for the enhancement of

the survival or propagation of the

species—purposes which benefit the

panda in the wild).

! Import will not jeopardize panda

populations in the wild.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

International Affairs

Division of Management Authority

4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 700

Arlington, VA 22203

703/358-2104 or 800/358-2104

Fax 703/358-2281

e-mail: managementauthority@fws.gov

http://international.fws.gov

http://permits.fws.gov

Summer 2003