Despite new luxury home, 3 rare golden monkeys won’t be coming to Los Angeles Zoo from China
By APThursday, June 11, 2009
China not sending 3 rare golden monkeys to LA Zoo
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Zoo will not get a trio of rare golden monkeys from China as promised, after the city spent more than $7 million to build them a new home and hired a feng shui expert to see that it was suitable.
City Councilman Tom LaBonge said Wednesday that withholding the monkeys was a decision by the Chinese government. He said the city’s disappointed.
Then-mayor James Hahn went to China in 2002 seeking pandas for the zoo, but returned with the promise of the blue-faced, blond-haired monkeys as substitutes.
The special exhibit — which cost about $7.4 million — was designed to create the sense of a rural Chinese village.
Zoo Commission President Shelby Kaplan Sloan says the zoo will find other monkeys for the space.
Information from: (Los Angeles) Daily News, www.dailynews.com
Tags: Asia, California, China, East Asia, Greater China, Los Angeles, Municipal Governments, North America, President, Recreation And Leisure, United States, Us-no-show-monkeys, Zoological Parks
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June 27, 2009: 8:11 pm
It’s a shame when a nation like China cannot keep its word! The LA Zoo did everything asked for these golden monkeys, but it’s China’s fault they’re not coming. Hopefully they can bring in some great substitute, such as Vietnamese douc langur monkeys — with a unique Vietnamese theme. The Los Angeles Zoo still has a terrific future, with the new Elephant Forest, new reptile house, and also a new South American rain forest exhibit. |
 White Elephant For Taxpayers |
June 12, 2009: 3:24 am
So the Los Angeles Zoo spends $7 million taxpayers dollars to build an elaborate Golden Monkey exhibit, based on just a “promise.” And now they can’t get the monkeys. No wonder the City is in a deficit! Whatever happened to securing a signed agreement, prior to spending money for construction? Now that’s what I call REAL MONKEY BUSINESS. |
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