Dear panda lovers,

This month, Panda Voices and In Defense of Animals were thrilled to receive the support of famous superstar Billie Eilish who joined in our efforts to help pandas YaYa and LeLe at Memphis Zoo return to their homeland in China! https://www.idausa.org/campaign/wild-animals-and-habitats/latest-news/media-release-billie-eilish-wants-to-save-abused-memphis-zoo-pandas/

Billie Eilish’s support caused a huge stir, triggering wide press coverage and intense discussions on social media! Feeling the pressure, Memphis Zoo finally unblocked our accounts and released a statement to address the raised concerns. Memphis Zoo’s statement failed to address several concerning issues. Nothing was mentioned about the diets and care suitable for both senior pandas. The obvious signs of stereotypical and self-harming behavior – a manifestation of mental suffering – that both pandas often show, which Panda Voices have reported countless times, also remains unanswered. Zoochosis is a sign that the pandas are not coping with their unnatural environment, yet Memphis Zoo has given no evidence that it is addressing their suffering. Please link here for more details of our official response to Memphis Zoo's statement: https://www.pandavoices.org/post/panda-voices-responds-to-memphiszoo-s-statement

The zoo still attributes the pandas' sickly looks and poor physical and mental conditions to the age instead of offering them the diets and care suitable for their current situations. Time is short. Given YaYa and LeLe's ongoing poor conditions, we'd like to invite you to help RETWEET our petition with one click, (Change.org/TweetMemphisZoo), LIKE and SHARE on TikTok https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdBxg2Yo/ Please join us to urge Memphis Zoo to end pandas YaYa & LeLe's suffering and send them back home now!

“Anyone can see these pandas are in crisis and in urgent need of rescue. We hope Billie’s call on Memphis Zoo CEO Jim Dean will encourage him to stop the torture of YaYa and LeLe and send them back to China. These pandas deserve to have suitable food and medical care, and retire to a life that resembles the wild as closely as possible.” said Fleur Dawes, Communications Director for In Defense of Animals.

Panda Voices and In Defense of Animals are still very much open to a dialogue with the zoo and we would like to invite Memphis Zoo to an online meeting. We hope to be able to work together with the singular objective of helping the pandas. We firmly believe that after more than 18 years of service to Memphis Zoo, it is time for YaYa and LeLe to return to their homeland to retire peacefully in China, the natural home of giant pandas. The Dujiangyan Base in China is, without a doubt, a far more superior place of residence for YaYa and LeLe’s recovery than Memphis Zoo. It is home to 17 returned overseas panda stars and many retired elderly pandas. For sickly pandas like YaYa and LeLe, it is crucial for them to have access to environmental enrichment, special diet, and special care by panda experts.

We hope that Memphis Zoo is able to have some compassion for YaYa and LeLe and act in their best interest at this point in their lives. Please urge the zoo to send YaYa and LeLe back to China to retire comfortably. Please join Billie Eilish to save Memphis Zoo pandas with one click!

Be Like Billie, Act Now to Help! 

Thank you for your time and support!