Millions of Dollars to Protect Pandas Was Spent by China on Roads and Buildings

For decades, American zoos have raised tens of millions of dollars from donors and sent the money to China for the right to host and display pandas.

Regulators with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have for two decades raised concerns about this with American zoo administrators and Chinese officials alike.

Ultimately, the regulators allowed the money to keep flowing and agreed not to check the spending in China so thoroughly, according to records and former officials.

Zoos count on pandas for visitors, merchandise sales and media attention, worried that if Fish and Wildlife cut off the money, China could demand the return of its bears.

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