Billie Eilish joins campaign to save Memphis Zoo pandas

MEMPHIS, Tenn.– ‘Happier Than Ever’ singer Billie Eilish is partnering with In Protection of Animals and Panda Voices to contact for the fast retirement of two Memphis Zoo pandas.

Huge Pandas Ya Ya and Le Le were transported to the Memphis Zoo from Beijing, China in 2003.

According to In Defense for Animals, Beijing Zoo released an official reaction to deal with fears elevated by Chinese panda enthusiasts about Ya Ya in August 2021. Beijing Zoo and the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens (CAZG) advised that the Memphis Zoo handle standard panda treatment these as feeding her bamboo shoots all through the 12 months and treating her for Demodex mites.

You can examine CAZG’s translated reaction below.

In the similar thirty day period, the Memphis Zoo tackled issues about Ya Ya’s weight, saying she appears to be like standard for her age and dimensions and that her fur is ‘not as robust as regular pandas’. They also stated that equally pandas obtain typical veterinary examinations.

This is not the initially time the zoo has resolved the public’s considerations about YaYa’s overall health. In 2019, the Memphis Zoo responded, saying she is “a little on the smaller facet as far as pandas go” and thanking the general public for their concern in a Fb write-up.

In Protection of Animals explained Ya Ya has revealed intense signs of psychological distress and has suffered 4 miscarriages since 2012. The intercontinental protection nonprofit also mentioned Le Le has experienced from stereotypical behaviors and dental challenges.

“The footage and substance delivered by In Protection of Animals and Panda Voices clearly exhibits there is major induce for problem for the captive pandas at Memphis Zoo,” reported Marc Bekoff, a professor of emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the College of Colorado. “I have beforehand highlighted the intense stress brought about to pandas born and lifted in captivity, but the exceptionally poor physical and mental ailment of YaYa and LeLe provides this to a new level of urgency. It is time for Memphis Zoo to send these poor pandas residence in which at least some of their fundamental wants can be achieved.”

The group explained even with latest general public worry and their significant marketing campaign that has obtained Eilish’s assist, the Memphis Zoo has refused to interact with the worries or have a dialogue with them.

In excess of 110,000 people have signed a Change.org petition and In Protection of Animals inform to categorical their problem for the pandas’ welfare.

Tom Clemenson, a agent of Panda Voices claimed the organization has achieved out to the Memphis Zoo to provide guidance for the pandas, but they hardly ever received a reaction.

“Instead, they commenced blocking all panda admirers who depart opinions about the pandas or question concerns about Ya Ya and Le Le on their social media,” Clemenson stated. “We question if Memphis Zoo is putting limitations among the animals and the group. Becoming wholly shut to dialogue is not the best way to offer with this challenge. Is the zoo definitely performing in the animals’ greatest interest at all? We hope that the affect and the arrive at of Billie’s voice can press Memphis Zoo to increase the panda’s high-quality of life and to return them to China, wherever they will dwell in a much better atmosphere for huge pandas and receive proper treatment,”

Panda Voices stated that Chinese institutions are obtaining difficulties getting in get in touch with with the Memphis Zoo.

“Weekly due to the fact March, a member of Panda Voices has contacted Beijing Zoo and Shanghai Zoo, the house owners of Ya Ya and Le Le, respectively. The two zoos complained that they rarely get a constructive reaction from the Memphis Zoo,” said Vera Yevseeva, an additional agent of Panda Voices.

The zoo presently holds the quantity 8 place on In Defense of Animals’ 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants in North The united states.

Billie Eilish is no stranger to increasing consciousness about animal cruelty and defending animal legal rights. Right before the 2021 Fulfilled Gala, Eilish explained to designer Oscar de la Renta she would don the company’s design if they no for a longer time use fur in their models likely ahead. She is also vegan and encourages her fans to contemplate a plant-primarily based diet regime.

“We are thrilled that Billie Eilish has joined our marketing campaign to free of charge Ya Ya and Le Le from horrendous struggling at Memphis Zoo,” said Fleur Dawes, Communications Director for In Protection of Animals. “Anyone can see these pandas are in crisis and in urgent need of rescue. We hope Billie’s contact on Memphis Zoo CEO Jim Dean will stimulate him to prevent the torture of YaYa and LeLe and deliver them back to China. These pandas are entitled to to have suitable food items and professional medical care, and retire to a daily life that resembles the wild as closely as feasible.”

The Memphis Zoo issued a statement Tuesday afternoon in regards to the latest aim on the nicely-being of Ya Ya and Le Le. You can study their whole assertion beneath:

The Memphis Zoo would like to handle the misinformation that has been dispersed not too long ago relating to the overall health and nicely-getting of our Large Pandas, Le Le and Ya Ya. These pandas have referred to as the Memphis Zoo dwelling because 2003. Our pandas have been the inspiration for various study scientific tests with regards to nourishment, reproduction, and forestry habitat restoration, all of which have contributed to the massive results of acquiring the Giant Panda taken out from the endangered species list. We are partnered with the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens (CAZG) who we are in consistent interaction with relating to the standing of our pandas. We report to CAZG regular sharing the standing of husbandry, reproductive, and dietary data for both equally bears. These reports contain graphs of the pandas’ weights, volume of meals consumed and defecated, as properly as the enrichment they obtain.

Because their arrival in 2003, equally our male and feminine pandas have experienced complete annual actual physical exams which have constantly consisted of considerable diagnostic screening in order to consider them internally as perfectly as externally. These examinations have also concerned supplemental enter by multiple industry experts in reproductive physiology, ultrasonography, and dentistry. For each the way of the CAZG, for the duration of these annual examinations we have gathered semen from our male and executed artificial insemination on our woman. As our bears have entered a geriatric stage of lifestyle, we have amplified the variety of bodily exams carried out yearly to reassure both our companions and the public that these bears are currently being vigilantly monitored. Through voluntary participation, acknowledged as operant conditioning, our bears have blood and urine samples examined monthly which are monitored for early indicators of an infection or sickness, as properly as the proper functioning of their organ systems. These tests are finished both equally proactively and for diagnostic needs to be certain our bears are receiving exemplary treatment.

In addition, there have been quite a few worries surrounding our woman Giant Panda, Ya Ya. In spite of once-a-year attempts of natural breeding and synthetic insemination as for every suggestion and consultation with CAZG, this person more than the last 20 many years has experienced minimum results conceiving and zero results protecting a being pregnant. About her stature, people today have mentioned that she is a really modest bear. Phenotypically speaking, this does not stem from her diet, but her familial genetics. In summary, Ya Ya also life with a long-term skin and fur issue which is inherently linked to her immune process and directly impacted by hormonal fluctuations. This problem does not influence her high quality of existence but does once in a while make her hair seem slim and patchy. The situation is carefully monitored by our animal care staff and veterinary employees.

With an lively study staff who is devoted to expanding the conservation affect of our zoo, they have produced approaches for synthetic insemination that let for sperm to be frozen, transported throughout the entire world to China, then thawed to be evaluated and used for synthetic insemination all over the planet. Our male Huge Panda, Le Le, has sired offspring by way of this procedure. Furthermore, our groups have been a section of global restoration coalitions to restore forests for the organic populations of Huge Pandas.

We are exceptionally happy of the work and devotion of our animal treatment teams, veterinary team, and investigate groups. They are devoted to world-wide conservation as properly as the animals in their care. We are incredibly grateful to our loyal zoo supporters who have adopted Le Le and Ya Ya’s life in excess of the very last two decades. We stimulate anyone who desires to understand additional about our bears and our mission as a zoo to occur visit us.