In December 2009, Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti and Director Dr. William Rapley returned from a mission to China with a letter of intent that its sister zoo, Chongqing Zoological Gardens, will help Toronto get a pair of giant pandas.
A commitment to supply Toronto with a pair of the endangered pandas for breeding and exhibit was made already in 2003.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has thrown his support behind the Toronto Zoo’s panda campaign. The political support is a crucial step in the panda bid.