U.S. money for panda conservation misused in China

In recent years, significant concerns have been raised regarding the use of funds allocated for panda conservation in China. The U.S. zoos enter agreements paying about $1 million annually to host pandas, permitted under the Endangered Species Act. However, a report uncovered that these funds, totaling approximately $86 million over two decades, were misappropriated for unrelated projects such as apartment buildings, roads, and technology expenses. Fish and Wildlife Service regulators, who had been investigating these financial activities, encountered resistance from their Chinese counterparts when requesting clarity on fund allocation. In instances where the spending details were not adequately reported, the U.S. government took measures such as freezing payments. In 2010, further complications arose when regulators stopped getting reports altogether, leading to a substantial financial hold, further fueling tensions in the ongoing partnership between U.S. zoos and Chinese organizations. Ultimately, to avoid losing access to pandas, which are vital for zoo attendance, the Fish and Wildlife Service decided to lessen oversight, allowing direct funding to Chinese institutions without their prior approval, despite the previous requirements for verifying how the funds were utilized. This alteration in contract terms has raised alarms regarding the effectiveness of conservation efforts, as the territory available to wild pandas has significantly diminished since the 1980s.