PANDA-NOMICS

Giant pandas are a big business – both for China and the zoos lucky enough to score a visitor. It is estimated there are about 2500 pandas alive in the wild. Around 350 pandas live under human care at zoos or breeding centres globally, and roughly 50 of those bears are outside China. China retains ownership of almost all the giant pandas around the world, which are selectively loaned to other countries. The fee for a pair is usually US$1 million a year, with funds going towards panda conservation.