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Everyone's favorite (free) Chicago zoo needs $163 to build "nest boxes" for these adorable critters to have some privacy while "courting." How awesome would it be if the Windy Citizens raised enough money to buy one?!
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All right, here's my thinking on this.
These red pandas are absolutely adorable! Just Google image search "red panda" and you'll think they are cuter than LOLcats.
The zoo needs $163 to build their red pandas a place where they can make more adorable baby red pandas in private, away from the prying eyes of the public.
Now, $163 is probably a hefty chunk of change for you or me, but what if all of us chipped in?
I'll commit the first $20. Anyone else with me on this?
I mean, come on. Look at these things!
This is a terrific idea. I'm in for $10.
In my excitement of helping to create more red pandas, I forgot to link to the Lincoln Park Zoo site's donation page:
http://www.lpzoo.org/sup_ind_wish.php
Also, here's another adorable red panda. Let's help create more of them!
Yoshi, you're such a romantic guy. I'm in too. For love!
This is an awesome idea. I'm in for $20. Am setting up a paypal account right now where people can send donations....
In case you folks aren't convinced... here are some random red panda facts that I found via Google!
+ Did you know red pandas have semi-retractable claws? This makes them like the fuzzy version of Wolverine. Snikt!
+ They're herbivores, but apparently also will eat bird eggs. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that.
+ They are endangered and have a life span of about 14 years. All the more reason to create more!
+ They are "shy" creatures, except when mating (go figure), but after the baby is born, the father becomes a deadbeat while the mother looks after the cubs, who I can only assume grow up to have "daddy issues."
I've set up a paypal account to collect the funds. Once we hit our goal I'll deliver them to the LP Zoo!
Edit: This Widget appears to not be updating in real time. You can monitor progress here: http://windycitizen.chipin.com/lincoln-park-red-panda-sex-fund
Hmm, seems like this box doesn't update instantly. Maybe it takes a while?
EDIT: Never mind, it works now. Takes a few minutes.
Hey, they're not the only ones needing some house improvements! Here are all of them (with donate button included at the bottom of each pic)
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Lincoln-Park-Zoo-Wishlist-6496...
Weird. I just chipped in. We're at $40!
Yeah, I don't want to take away from the needs of other animals (I, myself, am a HUGE fan of birds. LOVE 'EM!) but I figured a fundraising project like this that gets a community to buy something together would be a good thing, especially since most of us can't afford to throw down $163 all at once to hook some pandas up with ... hooking up.
But, certainly, help the zoo in any way you'd like!
Wow, did someone seriously VOTE DOWN this item? Why the hate on pandas?!?
Don't hate, donate.
It's democracy in action. Perhaps the person was mauled by a red panda as a child.
semi-retractable claws.
Hey guys, it's time to promote the heck out of this thing.
If you're on Digg, then digg it:
http://digg.com/pets_animals/Help_endangered_red_pandas_at_Lincoln_Park_...
If you're on Tumblr, reblog it:
http://windycity.tumblr.com/post/219139374/lets-help-the-red-pandas-at-l...
Obviously, Tweet it, too!
Dugg.
Thank you so much Windy Citizens for your care, concern and contributions to Lincoln Park Zoo! Our adorable red pandas thank you too! Feel free to check out other items on the zoo's wishlist as well. Items range from $1 to several hundred (like the red panda nest (love) boxes you are helping us purchase!). Every bit helps! www.lpzoo.org/wishlist
Thank you, thank you!
Also Dugg. And major points for filing this under "Relationships."
Also in for $10. We just cracked $100!
They look like cats but i donated $25.
Real Bear pic.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3311/3273762907_9df3a99880_b.jpg
Chicagoist did a blog post about this:
http://chicagoist.com/2009/10/21/spend_a_few_bucks_help_red_pandas_f.php
And now it's up to $150. For a mere $13 more the red pandas have themselves a new love nest!
Looks like we made it halfway there. One enclosure down. One more to go.
Holy pandas! You guys did it! We've raised enough money to get not just one, but TWO nest boxes for LPZ!
Thanks to everyone who donated, ya'll rock.
And if you didn't get a chance to donate, but still want to help out, then head over to the Lincoln Park Zoo wish list and get them something:
http://www.lpzoo.org/sup_ind_wish.php
Awesome stuff, everyone.
Ok. I just talked to someone at the Zoo. Here's the scoop:
1. As much as I'd like us to show up with a giant check with a big Windy Citizen logo on it and to do a photo-op with people in red panda outfits, the easiest thing for the LP Zoo people is for us to buy the enclosure's through their wish list web site ASAP.
So I'll do that, spending the funds donated into the paypal account I set up.
2. The people at the zoo are tickled pink by this little viral fundraiser and want to do something fun for us. However, the pandas won't be meeting in their new nesting enclosures until the winter. Apparently the two red pandas have not yet been introduced. When they are, perhaps we can organize a WC field trip out to the Zoo to check them out. The Zoo is checking on that as a possibility.
In the meantime, I'll place the order for the two enclosures. Great work everyone. This was hilarious.
That's totally awesome. And the field trip sounds like a blast. I'm really curious as to what these enclosures look like.
Me, too. I just e-mailed everyone who donated and invited them to this thread to read up on what's happening now. Will get a blog post about this up very soon. What an odd, hilarious thing you did today.
This is great. I'm glad we were able to pull it off. These are my favorite animals at the zoo and I will now steal their baby and domesticate it. ;-)
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHICAGO! Our red pandas are going to be some happy critters, thanks to you! We'll keep you posted on their mating progress over this winter. Thank you so much for your support!!
Glad you could join in. I'm now strangely attached to what happens to these two pandas.
Rats. Looks like one of the enclosures was purchased already.
Suggestions?
We could buy the other enclosure plus
the polar bear giant ice cube - $128
http://lpzoo.tamretail.net/SelectSKU.aspx?skuid=99017983
the kingfisher breeding plant - $20
http://lpzoo.tamretail.net/SelectSKU.aspx?skuid=99017975
And a chimpanzee fastener - $15
http://lpzoo.tamretail.net/SelectSKU.aspx?skuid=99017974
Thoughts?
Do it.
All of those sound great. And if we have $163 remaining, why not get all three.
That's the plan. Luckily the Kingfisher plant appears to also be related to breeding. So we'll be staying on task. I'm not sure how the chimp fastener can be tied in to animal sex, but I'm sure we can think of a way.
Yay for a field trip! That would be amazing, especially if we got some sort of special access or something. In any event, it would be awesome!!!
Agreed. We'll try to make it happen.
Dugg, tweeted, reposted. Why I am always late for these sort of things....
It was a heck of a thread!