Pandaomics: Adelaide Zoo’s panda budget payday explained

Many were left bamboozled when what Aussie taxpayers will spend on Adelaide’s giant pandas was revealed this week. But did they really get a pandout? We take a look.

Many Aussies were left bamboozled this week when budget papers revealed Adelaide Zoo’s new giant panda duo would attract $760,00 a year – or $14,615 a week – in federal government funding every week for the next decade.

But according to Zoos SA chief Elaine Bensted, there are no pandouts when it comes to taking care of Xing Qiu and Yi Lan.

She said the funding would not go to the day-to-day care of the bears – which is the responsibility of Zoos SA – but rather to funding the pandas’ loan agreement from China.

“The funding that has been received … is money that the zoo then funds to the China Wildlife Conservation Association to enable us to be part of that cooperative research,” Ms Bensted said.

“We are responsible for the full care of the animals that we hold, including the giant pandas.”

Zoos SA chief Elaine Bensted put it in black and white. There are no pandouts when it comes to taking care of Xing Qiu and Yi Lan. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Known as the practice of panda diplomacy, pandas are on loan from China to any country.

They are subject to loan agreements, including the payment of fees.

“Adelaide Zoo, to be really clear, has not received any additional funding,” Ms Benstead said.

“We pay for all of the costs for the care of the pandas.”

“The number that was quoted was simply someone doing maths from the budget papers of the amount.

“That had … nothing to do with the costs that we incur to look after pandas.”

The funding will go to the China Wildlife Conservation Association, not on bamboo. Picture: Brett Hartwig

This week’s federal budget announcement marks the third funding agreement to keep pandas in South Australia.

For the first ten years following the arrival of Wang Wang and Fu-ni at Adelaide Zoo in 2009, there was a 50-50 split in funding between the state and federal governments.

In 2019, the Marshall Government announced it would cover the full cost of upcoming funding, in exchange for the Morrison Government spending $11 million on zoo upgrades.

Adelaide Zoo director Dr Phil Ainsley said the zoo was “grateful for the support that allows us to be involved in the cooperative research collaboration with China”.

He said pandas were one of the most “iconic” conservation species globally – and that South Australians should be “proud” the conservation status of pandas had been on the improve.

Panda diplomacy means Xing Qiu isn’t just a bear – he’s an ambassador. Picture: ZoosSA

According to South Australian Tourism Commission, about 47,000 people have visited Adelaide Zoo in the first two months since Xing Qiu and Yi Lan’s debuted in January.

“Former longtime residents, Wang Wang and Fu-ni were a major tourism attraction since arriving in 2009, helping to drive local, interstate and overseas visitors,” a spokesperson said.

“Visitation increased by 150,000 people in the first year of the panda’s arrival in 2009, and for 15 years, the pair continued to be one of the most popular attractions of the Adelaide Zoo.”

But the federal government’s decision to lean in to panda diplomacy drew the ire of many Aussies, who scored a tax cut of just $5.15 a week from July next year, rising to $10.30 in 2027.

Originally published as Pandaomics: Adelaide Zoo’s panda budget payday explained