By the numbers: costing out panda-monium

TORONTO – It’s seems to be black-and-white week at the zoo, until some green gets in the way.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Chinese President Hu Jintao announced Thursday that Canada and China are finalizing details on an agreement that would see the Chinese loan two giant pandas to zoos in Calgary and Toronto for a period of five years each.

Harper will announce more details of a looming agreement on Saturday, including some of the costs associated with this diplomatic move. Until then, here’s a look at how this warm gesture may add-up:

How much will this cost taxpayers?
Toronto Councillor Paul Ainslie said in a recent interview that getting the pandas won’t cost Toronto taxpayers a cent. It’s unclear whether or not this is because of the arrangements made between the two governments.

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How much will this cost the city of Toronto?

If private investors aren’t willing to fork out the cash, the zoo intends to ask the city for a repayable $850,000 loan reports say. This is a request the mayor’s office said it would reject. 

How much will this cost the Toronto Zoo?

The Calgary Zoo spent about $4 million on the 1988 panda project, including $900,000 alone to build a new enclosure, although they couldn’t comment on the latest numbers. The Toronto Zoo could not comment on the expected costs either, but some reports suggest designing and building a panda-pad could cost up to $10 million. 

How much will you have to pay to see the pandas?
Currently, a general admission ticket for adults costs $23 at the Toronto Zoo. For seniors (65+) it’s $17, while kids admission (4-12) costs $13. There may be a premier ticket price to help fund this exhibit says Ainslie.

How many giant pandas are there in the world?
According to the Smithsonian, about 300 pandas are living in captivity and only about 1,600 of them are known to be living in the wild.

How much will it cost to care for them?

Toronto Zoo officials could not provide Globalnews.ca with any figures in regards to feeding costs, but a 2000 report from the National Zoo in Washington D.C. said that it planned to spend about $400,000 a year caring for pandas. The panda’s diet is 99 per cent bamboo, but they can eat honey, eggs, fish, yams, leave oranges, or bananas along with specially prepared feed once in captivity.

How long will the pandas stay in each city?
18 to 24 months.