KUALA LUMPUR: Despite growing public pressure to send the giant pandas in Zoo Negara back to China, Malaysia cannot do so due to its obligations under the International Giant Panda Conservation Agreement with China.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the agreement inked in 2014 was for China to loan a pair of giant pandas to Malaysia for 10 years.
"Initially, the government wanted to place the giant pandas in Putrajaya.
"However, on the Malaysian Zoological Society's (MZS) request, we agreed to place the pandas at Zoo Negara after considering their strategic collaboration with the government and NGOs, their suitable location, the zoo's high visitorship and its expertise in managing wildlife for over 50 years," he said in a statement today.
Shamsul said the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) and MZS signed an agreement in 2013, where the government agreed to develop the Giant Panda Conservation Centre (PKGP) and pay an annual conservation fee for the giant pandas.
MZS was entrusted with paying for the panda cubs' insurance fee, the cost to send back the cubs to China and the operational costs to manage the pandas.
"Still the government paid for the panda cubs fee, the cost for returning the first panda cub (Nuan Nuan) to China in 2017, and also paid the giant panda experts from China who were deployed to PKGP, as a gesture of concern.
"The second cub (Yi Yi) is now two years old and it was supposed to be returned to China in April. But the plan had to be postponed since the conservation centre in China was closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The ministry will send Yi Yi back as soon as China confirms the date," he said.
Calls to return the giant pandas came after Zoo Negara's zoology, veterinary and PKGP director Dr Mat Naim Ramli revealed on Nov 17 that the zoo had only three months' worth of emergency funds left.
On Nov 30, it was also reported that the Malaysian Animal Association had urged the government to return the pandas to China to help Zoo Negara cope with its financial woes.
Shamsul said he would meet the Zoo Negara management this Thursday to discuss mechanisms to improve its operations, especially for a more progressive management and ensure the welfare of the wildlife.
"The ministry has allocated RM1.3 million from the Prihatin Wildlife Welfare Fund to Zoo Negara on April 10 to cover for food supplies for the wildlife, husbandry management and medicines.
"The government has also given a 15 per cent discount on monthly electricity bills for six months to zoos under the Prihatin stimulus package," he said.
Shamsul also thanked the public for their generous donations to Zoo Negara and urged its management to use the funds prudently.
"Between January and September this year, Zoo Negara has collected RM10.6 million from various parties in the form of monetary contributions and animal food.
"The amount is more than enough to cover for the food supplies of the wildlife based on Zoo Negara's past financial records," he said.