China Bans Demeaning Panda Images

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Panda couture took China Fashion Week by storm with models sporting black and white negligées and fluffy ears, but censors failed to see its funny side. They were so incensed by the pictures, considered demeaning to an animal that has become a symbol, that any more uncomplimentary images will be banned under a draft law.

Even pictures of the bald, pink newborn cubs may be outlawed. The southwestern city of Chengdu, where most of the country’s test-tube panda babies are born as part of a drive to save an animal notoriously reluctant to have sex, has begun drafting the world’s first panda law. Officials cannot say how people who use the panda’s image might be punished.

They were moved to act against the self-styled panda artist Zhao Bandi, whose trademark is a cap designed to resemble a panda cub and who is often photographed with scantily clad models in panda-ear head-dresses. His Bandi-Panda fashion show at China Fashion Week sparked nationwide concern that the panda’s image as a friendly symbol was being abused.

An official at the city’s Forestry Bureau said: “Zhao’s commercial stunt has prompted us to accelerate the drafting of legislation.” Another said: “The panda is not simply seen as an endangered animal here in Chengdu, but an asset representing the city’s image.” China’s biggest panda research centre and reserve lies outside Chengdu.

Only about 1,590 giant pandas are believed to survive in the wild, mostly in southwest China’s mountainous regions. By the end of 2006 about 239 pandas lived in captivity in China.

A rare survey of public opinion could scupper the city’s plans. It indicated that only 47 per cent of respondents favoured such a law while 45 per cent were opposed. Half agreed that artists should have free licence to portray the panda.

The fashion designer said it was most unexpected that his styles could be outlawed. “To me human beings are always more important than pandas. I have no intention of making fun of pandas. I am a fan of pandas. People deem giant pandas to be China’s state treasure. I am also a treasure for China, no less significant than the panda.”

Severe penalties already exist for harming the panda – including the death sentence for killing any of these rare animals.
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Insert comment regarding panda humor being endangered.
 
Does this mean no Mandarin version of Kung-fu panda? Honestly though, pandas are serious business.
 
Woah, woah, woah, you can get the death sentence for killing a panda? I knew extreme laws went into place when you started dealing with endangered animals, but death over panda?

Panda's are adorable, but sheesh, this is insanity. It's not like they're even using panda fur, it's just a design! Shouldn't panda ears promote the creature more than demean it?

Gah...I guess this means China hates Piyoko-chan. .__.
 
Great, so how's "Pistols for Pandas" going to succeed now, huh?

*shot*

China needs to learn the difference between fake and real fur. >_>
 
Yotsuba said:
Woah, woah, woah, you can get the death sentence for killing a panda? I knew extreme laws went into place when you started dealing with endangered animals, but death over panda?
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There are only about 2000 left. I'D kill someone for killing a panda at this point.
 
China has death sentences for a lot of things. Including white-collar crimes like corruption.
 
So Pokemon is now banned because of Spinda?
 
Probably not since Spinda seems to suppose to be a Red Panda, which is more of a raccoon like creature.
 
In other news, Katamari developers go in search of new animals to fill doped up panda spots.
 
..What about Panda Z? (Though I wonder if a panda in a badass mecha kicking ass among other silent hijinks would be "demeaning")
 
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