About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 2024)
2B Weekend Edition-February 23-24, 2024 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia I gainesvilletimes.com LIFE China plans to send San Diego Zoo more pandas BY JULIE WATSON Associated Press Lenny Ignelzi Associated Press Hua Mei, the baby panda at the San Diego Zoo, peeks over a branch while enjoying a bamboo breakfast at the Zoo, on Aug. 15, 2000, in San Diego. SAN DIEGO — China plans to send a new pair of giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo, renewing its longstanding gesture of friendship toward the United States after nearly all the iconic bears on loan to U.S. zoos were sent back as relations soured between the two nations. San Diego Zoo officials told The Associated Press that if all permits and other requirements are approved, two bears, a male and a female, are expected to arrive by the end of summer, about five years after the zoo sent its last pandas back to China. “We're very excited and hopeful," said Megan Owen of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and vice president of Wildlife Conservation Science. “They've expressed a tremendous amount of enthusiasm to re-initiate panda cooperation starting with the San Diego Zoo.” The China Wildlife Conservation Association said Thursday it also signed cooperation agreements with the zoo in the Spanish capital of Madrid, and is in talks with zoos in Washington, D.C., and Vienna. The partnership will include research on disease prevention and habitat protection, and contribute to China's national panda park construction, the organization said. “We look forward to further expanding the research outcomes on the conservation of endangered species such as giant pandas, and promoting mutual understanding and friendship among peoples through the new round of international cooperation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in Beijing. Fears over the future of so-called panda diplomacy escalated last year when the zoos in Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tennessee, returned their pandas to China, leaving only four pandas in the United States, all at the zoo in Atlanta. That loan agreement expires later this year. But in November, Chinese President Xi Jinping raised hopes his country would start sending pandas to the U.S. again after he and President Joe Biden convened in Northern California for their first face-to-face meeting in a year and pledged to try to reduce tensions. China is considering a pair that includes a female descendent of Bai Yun and Gao Gao, two of the zoo's former residents, said Owen, an expert in panda behavior who has worked in San Diego and China. Bai Yun, who was born in captivity in China, lived at the zoo for more than 20 years and gave birth to six cubs there. She and her son were the zoo's last pandas and returned to China in 2019. Gao Gao was bom in the wild in China and lived at the San Diego Zoo from 2003 to 2018 before being sent back. Decades of conservation efforts in the wild and study in captivity saved the giant panda species from extinction, increasing its population from fewer than 1,000 at one time to more than 1,800 in the wild and captivity. The black-and-white bears have long been the symbol of the U.S.- China friendship since Beijing gifted a pair of pandas to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in 1972, ahead of the normalization of bilateral relations. China later loaned pandas to zoos to help breed cubs and boost the population. Zoos typically pay a fee of $1 million a year for two pandas, with the money earmarked for China's conservation efforts, according to a 2022 report by America's Congressional Research Service. The U.S., Spain and Austria were among the first countries to work with China on panda conservation, and 28 pandas have been born in those countries, China's official Xinhua News Agency said. Demands for the return of giant pandas, known as China's “national treasure,” grew among the Chinese public as unproven allegations that U.S. zoos mistreated the pandas flooded Chinese social media. Many loan agreements were for 10 years and often were extended well beyond. But negotiations last year to extend the agreements or send more pandas did not produce results. China watchers speculated that Beijing was gradually pulling its pandas from Western nations because of deteriorating diplomatic relations with the U.S. and other countries. Then on Nov. 15, 2023, a week after the National Zoo's pandas departed for China, Xi spoke at a dinner in downtown San Francisco with American business executives and signaled that more pandas might be sent. He said he learned the San Diego Zoo and people in California “very much look forward to welcoming pandas back.” “I was told that many American people, especially children, were really reluctant to say goodbye to the pandas and went to the zoo to see them off,” Xi said. The San Diego Zoo continued to work with their Chinese counterparts even after it no longer had any pandas. Owen said China is particularly interested in exchanging information on the zoo's successful breeding of pandas in captivity. Giant pandas are difficult to breed in part because the female's reproductive window is extremely narrow, lasting only 48 to 72 hours each year. Bai Yun's first cub, Hua Mei, was also the first panda born through artificial insemination to survive into adulthood outside of China, and would go on to produce 12 cubs on her own after she was sent to China. Bai Yun, meanwhile, remained at the zoo where she gave birth to two more females and three males. With cameras in her den, researchers monitored her, contributing to the understanding of maternal care behavior, Owen said. “We have a lot of institutional knowledge and capacity from our last cooperative agreement, which we will be able to parlay into this next chapter, as well as training the next generation of panda conservationists,” she said. Chinese experts would travel with the bears and spend months in San Diego, Owen said. She said the return of the bears is not only good for San Diego but the giant panda's recovery as a species. “We do talk about panda diplomacy all the time,” Owen said. “Diplomacy is a critical part of conservation in any number of contexts If we can't learn to work together, you know, in sometimes difficult situations or situations that are completely out of the control of conservationists, then we're not going to succeed.” Robert J. Dillon March 21, 1931- February 17, 2024 Robert was born March 21, 1931, in Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania, the second child of Paul Andrew and Anna Bender Dillon. Rob ert passed away peace fully Saturday, February 17, at the Atlanta Veterans Administrative Hospital in Decatur, Georgia after being surrounded by family in prayer. In addition to his parents and stepfather, Charles A. Lantzy, Robert was preceded in death by wife, Joyce Eileen Dillon (Hertzog), sons Joseph Paul Dillon and James Robert Dillon, brother Richard Dillon and sisters Pauline Dillon and JoAnne Ownes Maneval (Dillon). He graduated from high school in Hastings, Penn sylvania in 1949, and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1950. He served 4 years during the Korean War from 1950- 1954. After receiving his honorable discharge, he was accepted to Penn State University where he studied music and mechanical engineer ing, receiving a Bach elor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. Robert’s career as an Auto motive Design Engineer spanned over 4 decades starting with Ford Motors in Detroit, Michigan, Brock way Motors in Cortland, New York, Mack Trucks in Hagerstown, Maryland and South Carolina until retiring in 1993. He was a long-standing member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and received licensing as a Professional Engineer in three states. In 2001 he relocated to Gainesville, Georgia to be closer to his daughters & grandson.Robert was devoted to his family, faith, church, and country. He served as a volunteer for multiple church ministries, school organizations and the American Legion. Robert continued his love for music playing his saxo phone and clarinet in local big bands, orchestras, and church ministries until the age of ninety. He once per formed as a guest musi cian for the Guy Lombardo Orchestra. Robert is survived by two daughters, Julie Anne Hol loway (Robert) and Joni Lynne Bennett (Bhupendra Cchetri), one grandchild, James Perry Holloway and two step grandchildren, Robert Carl Holloway and Cassandra Lynn Holloway (Deborah Stone) and many loving nieces, nephews, and friends. The family will receive fam ily and friends at Memorial Park South Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 27, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, 4121 Falcon Parkway, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542. Funeral Mass will be held at Prince of Peace Catho lic Church, 6439 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542 on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at 11:30 AM. There will be a luncheon immedi ately after the service. A Memorial Service will be held by the Veterans Administration in his honor at the chapel in the Veterans Administration Hospital, Decatur, Georgia. The family will announce a future date. Robert will be inurned at Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Cortland, New York. The family will announce a future date. In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made in Robert’s name to The American Legion Post 0007, 2343 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, Georgia 30501 Joyce Watson Cash February 19, 2024 Joyce Watson Cash, 66 of Gainesville, GA, passed away Monday, Febru ary 19. She was born in Gainesville, GAto the late Paul and Ollie Watson. Joyce was of the Baptist Faith and was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law, Philip Baker. Joyce loved her two dogs, Happy and Maggie, but most of all she loved her family. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts. Survivors include her lov ing husband of 33 years, Larry Cash; sister, Diane Baker; brother & sister- in-law, Danny & Norma Watson; step-daughter, Cherie Morrison; special niece and special nephew, Renee & Shane Gazaway and Ben Dougherty & Angela Dooley; step-grand- children, Malorie & Robert Clinton, Taylor & Sara Golden; nieces, Michelle & Blake Jones, Stephanie & Damien Vann; great-nieces and nephews, Emma Grace, Rhett, Ken- ley, Jacob, Watson, Riley, Haleigh, Baleigh & Dylon; step-great-grandchildren, Keylie, Ryder, Mattie, Rick; special friend, Linda Woody & other family members also survive. Memorial services will be held at 3:30PM, Saturday, February 24, 2024, in the chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 2:30PM until the ser vice time. The family is accepting flowers but those who wish, may make a dona tion in Joyce’s memory to Cross Roads Baptist Church Outreach, 6105 Jett Rd., Dawsonville, GA 30534, or your favorite charity. Memorial Park Funeral Home along with South- Care Cremation & Funeral Society is in charge of arrangements. Death Notices Andrew J. Brown February 12 2024 Andrew J. Brown, who preferred AJ, of Hoschton, Georgia, passed away on Monday, February 12 at home with family. He was 46 years old. The family will receive friends at Memorial Park South Funeral Home on March 16, from 12:00 -2:00 p.m. followed by a Memorial Service at 2:00 p.m. A reception will directly follow the service. Bertha Mealor Green February 19, 2024 Bertha Mealor Green, age 83, of Mt. Airy, passed away on Monday, February 19. Funeral services were 2 pm on Friday, Febru ary 23, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stew art. Interment followed in Camp Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. The family received friends from 6-8 pm on Thursday, February 22, at the funeral home. Charlene Fox Perry February 20, 2024 Charlene Fox Perry, age 68, of Buford, GA, passed away Tuesday, February 20. A Memorial Service was held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 23, 2024, in the Chapel of Flanigan Funeral Home, Buford, GA. Charles Ray Henderson February 15, 2024 Charles Ray Henderson, age 82 of Gainesville, passed away on Thursday, February 15. Funeral services were held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, February 23, at Memorial Park South Chapel with interment fol lowing at Memorial Park South Cemetery. The fam ily received friends from 12:00 to 2:00 P.M. prior to the service at Memorial Park South Funeral Home. Claude Perry Smith February 13, 2024. Claude Perry Smith, 86, of Cleveland, died peacefully on Tuesday February 13. Please join us to celebrate Claude’s life on Saturday March 9th at 11:00 A.M. at The Chapel of Barrett Funeral Home in Cleve land. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Mountain Shadows Chapel. David Paul Hardy February 19, 2024 HARDY, David Paul, age 78, of Lawrenceville, GA, passed away Monday, February 19. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 24, in the Chapel of Flanigan Funeral Home, Buford, GA. Earnest Pyles February 6, 2024 Earnest (Ernie) Pyles 02/06/ 2024. Ernie will be cremated, and a Celebra tion of Life will be held 2:00 PM, Saturday, Febru ary 24, at Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel. Ear nest (Ernie) Pyles. Visita tion will be at 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM, prior to the ser vice and the Inurnment will follow in the Yonah Memo rial Gardens. Please join us to remember Ernie. Emma Gunnin Stro- nigan Feb. 19, 2024 Emma “Ruth” Gunnin Stro- nigan, age 100 of Green ville, SC passed away on Monday, Feb. 19. Grave side services took place at 2 pm Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 at lla Cemetery. Francis Marion Bond February 18th, 2024 Francis Marion F.M. Bond, aka Squeaky, passed away peacefully at his residence on February 18th, at the age of 95. Celebration of life service will be at Hazel Creek Bap tist March 9, at 11am. Jacob Shelton February 11, 2024 Jacob Shelton, age 29, of Flowery Branch, GA, passed away Sunday, Feb ruary 11. The Memorial Service will be held at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, February 25,in the Chapel of Flani gan Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. James Garmon February 16, 2024 GARMON, James Regnal, age 78, of Braselton, GA, passed away Friday, Feb ruary 16. A Graveside Service will be held at 4:00 p.m. , Febru ary 25, 2024, at Broadlawn Memorial Gardens, Buford, GA. Janet Ann Lawrence Hansen February 17, 2024 Janet Ann Lawrence Han son, age 88, of Auburn, GA, passed away on Sat urday, February 17. A Celebration of Life was held at the Hansen Home on Friday, February 23, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Jeremiah James Bounds Feb. 18, 2024 Jeremiah James Bounds, age 21 of Commerce, GA passed away on Sunday, Feb. 18. A cremation will be taking place per the deceased wishes. Jewell Grady Witherow February 24, 2024 Jewell Grady Witherow, age 86, of Flowery Branch passed away Tuesday, February 20. Funeral Ser vices will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 24, in the Chapel of Memorial Park South Funeral Home with interment following at Memorial Park South Cemetery. The family received friends 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Friday, February 23 at Memorial Park South Funeral Home. Jon Florian Stiehr February 2, 2024 Jon Florian Stiehr, age 76, of Hoschton, passed away on Friday, February 2. The memorial service will be held Saturday, March 2, at Chestnut Mountain Presby terian Church. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00 A.M until the memorial service begins at 11 A.M. Kenneth Stephens February 20, 2024 Kenneth Stephens, 83, of Dawsonville passed away Tuesday, February 20. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 24, at 2 p.m. at Bearden Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Dawsonville Memorial Gar dens. The family received friends at the funeral home on Friday, February 23 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and on Saturday from noon until the hour of service. Vaughn Cyril Wood ring February 21,2024 Vaughn Cyril Woodring, 99, of Gainesville, went home to Jesus and other loved ones on February 21. A graveside service will be held Sunday February 25th at 2PM at Memorial Park Funeral Home Cemetery. William C. Pfeiffer III February 17, 2024 William C. “Bill” Pfeiffer III, age 71, of Cleveland, passed away on Saturday, February 17. Funeral services were scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Friday, February 23, at The Chapel of Barrett Funeral Home. Interment followed in Yonah View Memorial Gardens. William Keesee February 19, 2024 Mr. William Keesee, 89, of Gainesville, passed away Monday, February 19, at his residence. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 22, 2024 at Beth lehem Baptist Church.
