British conservationist Chris Packham said that panda bears have reached an "evolutionary cul-de-sac" and that the species may not be worth saving from extinction. Packham said millions of dollars are spent on panda conservation when that money could be used elsewhere to help other species.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1215188/Chris-Packham-Let-giant-pandas-die-out.html
Chris Backham Quotes about Pandas
"'Here is a species that, of its own accord, has gone down an evolutionary cul-de-sac. It's not a strong species."http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1215188/Chris-Packham-Let-giant-pandas-die-out.html
"'Unfortunately, it's big and cute and a symbol of the World Wide Fund for Nature and we pour millions of pounds into panda conservation."http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1215188/Chris-Packham-Let-giant-pandas-die-out.html
"Can we really afford these big charismatic animals that suck up so much of our funding?"http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/wild-life-expert-pandas-die/story?id=8668627
"The truth is, pandas are extraordinarily expensive to keep going. We spend millions and millions of pounds on pretty much this one species, and a few others, when we know that the best thing we could do would be to look after the world's biodiversity hot spots with greater care."
References
Fast Facts
-
Fact:
Chris Packham is a BBC Nature host
-
Fact:
Pandas are a rare type of bear that are native to China
-
Fact:
Packham said "pandas are extraordinarily expensive to keep going"
-
Fact:
Said the money spent on panda conservation would be better spent on "the world's biodiversity hot spots"
