City closing in on giant panda deal

By BRYN WEESE – torontosun.com

Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti says the city is getting closer to securing a 10-year loan of a breeding pair of giant pandas from China.

Mammoliti, who is now in China, told the Sun yesterday that Toronto officials made a “necessary first step,” signing letters of intent for the pandas with the Chongqing Zoo and the Chinese national zoo association.

All that’s left, Mammoliti said, is for the federal government to officially ask the Chinese government.

“You can’t do this without (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper now, and all we need from Harper is a letter that basically endorses us going after the pandas,” Mammoliti said.

Toronto Zoo officials estimate a giant panda exhibit would draw an additional 450,000 visitors in the first year, and 150,000 extra visitors in the second year. The exhibit would bring in $19.2 million over 10 years, according to estimates.

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