Vice Mayor Henry Chang has admired the Giant Panda since he was a child growing up in China. At an early age, he realized the importance of protecting the panda, which today is on the endangered species list. Scientists speculate there may be just 1,000 left in the world, living in a small region in China.

With that in mind, Henry began work in 1999 to bring two Giant Pandas to Oakland for study, and to help stabilize the declining panda population. It has been a complicated labor of love marked by official visits and letters of support.

Henry first received a letter of intent from the Sichuan government. Henry, City Council member Ignacio De La Fuente and officials from the cities of Mianyang and Ping Wu signed the letter accepting a male and female panda. The Sichuan government and the Beijing Wildlife Conservation Committee then agreed to begin a long process that could, ultimately, release two Giant Pandas to Oakland for study and research.

As part of this agreement, Henry, City Council member Larry Reid and others traveled to China in May 1999 to observe the panda, as well as discuss the needs of Chinese scientists to carry out their mission to preserve and protect the Giant Panda population.

Much work remains to be done. A Giant Panda Committee has been formed in Oakland to begin the planning process. In addition to studying the size and needs of the panda, and how those can be met at the Oakland Zoo, the committee will search for funding to support the Oakland Pandas Project and continue negotiating with the Chinese government.

For information on how you can help, email Henry at cityochang@aol.com or call his office at (510) 238-7008.

In search of Pandas

High up in the mountain with Chinese Panda specialists and Police escort at the Panda Reserve Station