Memphis Zoo: China

 Returning East toward the heart of the zoo you encounter a collection of exhibits and habitats all under the larger umbrella "China".  By way of history, Memphis was one of only 5 zoos in North America selected to host Giant Pandas.  The others were Smithsonian National Zoo in DC, Zoo Atlanta in Georgia, the San Diego Zoo in California, and the Toronto Zoo in Canada.  (The Mexico City Zoo had a Giant Panda, too.  But under other arrangements as I understand it).  Part of the "arrangement" that these zoos had with China was an annual fee of upwards of 1 million dollars.  Additionally, the commitment to Giant Panda research and especially breeding.  It was understood that the bears and any potential off-spring would always remain the property of China and would (minus the demise of said "property") be returned to China at China's request.  

Trump 1.1 pissed China off and they recalled their Pandas.  The Memphis Zoo was down to just one, elderly female, after her male companion died.  False rumors were spread by illegitimate news sources that the pair was being mistreated at the Memphis Zoo.  Both the zoo and the Chinese authorities that repatriated the female refuted these, but the taint was in the water, as they say.  Now, the Pandas are back, sort of.  A new pair has been rented on a ten year contract by the National Zoo in DC.  San Diego has announced that it will no longer keep Giant Pandas in the future.  The San Francisco Zoo has stepped in and been given the honor of renting a pair.  The Memphis Zoo?  Has not said publicly, so who knows?  Today they have an amazing habitat and no Giant Pandas.

However, what they do have is worth exploring and honestly in the case of Pere David's Deer, a helluva lot more precious.  By the 1890s this animal was hunted to extinction in the wild and only survived in a few zoos in Germany and France.  Recognizing the peril, an English nobleman named Lord Russell acquired some in the 1910's and bred a large herd on his estate.  In 1980, his grandson gifted several back to China, and today about 10,000 roam again in state managed reserves.

Let's check out "China" at the Memphis Zoo.

The zoo is home to Sumatran Tigers, just not in this area.

Feast your eye on this Pere David's Deer buck.  These are genetically the closest things we have to ice age deer--the ones that run across the cave walls at Lascaux.

While admiring this magnificent fellow, another group of guests arrived and one said, "Hey, Bobby!  Where's your gun?  Boy, I'd shoot that one in a heart beat."  Welcome to Tennessee...

From sculpture to animal, a pair of White-naped Cranes

There were a couple of aviary habitats with Asian pheasant species and other birds like this gorgeous Blue Magpie.

Another habitat had an active Clouded Leopard

Next to it was a pair of Red Pandas.

A statue of Bess and Harry Truman appeared in a courtyard for no apparent reason...

Depending on the way to enter this pagoda is either the first thing that greets you or the last thing you see as you leave.  Bye bye China.