Description: This video was shot at the Chengdu Panda Research Centre... you can't help but marvel at these delightful animals in this 'nearly-natural' environment... Did you hear about the two giant pandas being sent to Taiwan? Turns out a different type of rights are in the news in China and Taiwan these days... Animal-rights groups are protesting against China's plan to send two giant pandas to Taiwan - their position is that the endangered animals should remain in their natural habitat. Beijing says the decision to send the pandas to Taiwan was intended as a 'peace gesture'. Sounds like the whole situation is now in the hands of each country's respective diplomats. Some believe Taiwanese officials plan to approve receiving the pandas for education and research purposes. Animal rights activists say the money would be better spent on habitat and research for the pandas... but on the mainland, as the Taipei Zoo is already over crowded and under funded. The zoo has already started construction on an enclosure for the pandas. Meanwhile, the rights organizations are rallying in opposition to the idea. More than 20 animal rights, environmental, social and women's groups have announced they will sign a petition against the panda plan, and will launch a signature-gathering drive on their Web sites. Pandas are endangered animals and their movements are strictly monitored by the UN Convention on International Trade and Endangered Species (CITES). But CITES has said that it regards Beijing's giving pandas to Taiwan as China's internal affair and does not want to be involved in it. C'mon folks... they're endangered.

Tags:

animal rights

chengdu

china

cites

country

panda

panda research

peta

taipei zoo

Groups: Animal Rights